Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Convergence of Food Security, Energy Security and Sustainable Agriculture pp 333–350Cite as

The Importance of Herbicides for Natural Resource Conservation in the USA

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1770 Accesses

Part of the book series: Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry ((AGRICULTURE,volume 67))

Abstract

Early American agriculture was on an unsustainable path. Westward expansion in the nineteenth century continually brought new land into production; thus, good land management was not a priority. Much of the nation’s soil was lost to erosion from exhaustive tillage operations. The Dust Bowl storms of the 1930s brought the value of this method of weed control into question. Today, growers address the issue of soil erosion by using herbicides to control weeds. Herbicides are so crucial to preserving soil that modern farm conservation practices are not possible without them. Herbicides also contribute to water and fuel savings by easing irrigation demands and reducing plowing.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Amosson SH et al (2005) Water management strategies for reducing irrigation demands in Region A. Report to the Panhandle Water Planning Group, Amarillo TX. Available at: http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/rwpg/2006_RWP/RegionA/Appendices/Appendix%20Q.pdf. Cited 15 Jan 2012

  • Anderson RL, Smika DE (1984) Chemical fallow in the Central Great Plains. Colorado State University Experiment Station, Fort Collins bulletin 588S

    Google Scholar 

  • Archer DW et al (2007) Crop productivity and economics during the transition to alternative cropping systems. Agron J 99:1538–1547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ashworth W (2006) Ogallala blue. Countryman, Woodstock, VT

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennett HH, Loudermilk WC (1938) General aspects of the soil-erosion problem. USDA Yearbook of Agriculture, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Bidwell PW, Falconer JI (1973) History of agriculture in the northern United States, 1620-1860. Augustus M. Kelley, New York, NY

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown D, Stenberg P, McGath C (2008) Farm operators turn to energy-saving practices. Amber Waves Apr:7–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvert LJ (1990) The good earth. Oregon’s Agricultural Progress Spr-Sum:25–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Cates JS, Cox HR (1912) The weed factor in the cultivation of corn. USDA Bureau of Plant Industry, Soils and Agricultural Engineering bulletin no. 257

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavigelli MA, Djurickovic M, Rasmann C, Spargo JT, Mirsky SB, Maul JE (2009) Global warming potential of organic and conventional grain cropping systems in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the U.S. In: Proceedings of the farming systems design conference, Monterey, CA, 25 Aug 2009, pp 51–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland CJ (1995a) Resource degradation, technical change, and the productivity of energy use in U.S. agriculture. Ecol Econ 13:185–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland CJ (1995b) The direct and indirect use of fossil fuels and electricity in USA agriculture, 1910-1990. Agr Ecosyst Environ 55:111–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conservation Technology Information Center (2004) National crop residue management survey. Available at: http://www.ctic.purdue.edu/CRM/. Cited 26 Jan 2012

  • Davis AS, Renner KA, Gross KL (2005) Weed seedbank and community shifts in a long-term cropping systems experiment. Weed Sci 53:296–306

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Derksen DA, Anderson RL, Blackshaw RE, Maxwell B (2002) Weed dynamics and management strategies for cropping systems in the Northern Great Plains. Agron J 94:174–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faulkner EH (1943) Plowman’s folly. University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, OK

    Google Scholar 

  • Frye WW, Phillips SH (1980) How to grow crops with less energy. USDA Yearbook of Agriculture, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Funtanilla M, Lyford C, Wang C (2009) An evaluation of the organic cotton marketing opportunity. In: AAEA & ACCI joint annual meeting, Milwaukee, WI, 26–28 July

    Google Scholar 

  • Fussel B (1992) The story of corn. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, NM

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallagher RS et al (2010) Alternative strategies for transitioning to organic production in direct-seeded grain systems in eastern Washington I: crop agronomy. J Sustain Agr 34:483–503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gianessi LP, Reigner NP (2007) The value of herbicides in U.S. crop production. Weed Technol 21:559–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gollehon N, Quinby W (2006) Irrigation resources and water costs. In: Agricultural resources and environmental indicators, 2006 ed. USDA ERS

    Google Scholar 

  • Greb BW (1979) Reducing drought effects on croplands in the West-Central Great Plains. USDA agriculture information bulletin no.420

    Google Scholar 

  • Greb BW (1983) Water conservation: Central Great Plains. Dryland agriculture ASA-CSSA-SSSA agronomy monograph no. 23

    Google Scholar 

  • Greb BW, Zimdahl RL (1980) Ecofallow comes of age in the Central Great Plains. J Soil Water Conserv 35:230–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Green S, Cavigelli M, Dao T, Flanagan D (2005a) Soil and nutrient erosion potential of organic and conventional cropping systems. USDA ARS Chesapeake Bay Day, 5 Oct 2005, Beltsville, MD. Available at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/12650400/FSP%20Research%20Summaries.pdf

  • Green S, Cavigelli M, Dao T, Flanagan D (2005b) Soil physical properties and aggregate-associated C, N, and P distributions in organic and conventional cropping systems. Soil Sci 170(10):822–831

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanna M (2001) Fuel required for field operations. PM 709, Iowa State University Extension, Ames, IA

    Google Scholar 

  • Harman WL, Regier GC, Wiese AF, Lansford VD (1998) Water conservation and economic impacts when integrating irrigation with no-tillage. J Soil Water Conserv 53(4):341

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrell D (2007) Redefining optimum seeding rates in Clearfield varieties. Tex Rice 7(3):2

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedtcke JL, Posner JL (2006) Increasing crop rotation diversity: a comparison of conventional grain systems on WICST (1998-2006). In: WICST 11th technical report

    Google Scholar 

  • Helms D (2010) Hugh Hammond Bennett and the creation of the Soil Conservation Service. J Soil Water Conserv 65(2):37A–47A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz J, Ebel R, Ueda K (2010) “No-till” farming is a growing practice. USDA ERS economic information bulletin no. 70

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones OR, Unger PW, Fryrear DW (1985) Agricultural technology and conservation in the Southern Plains. J Soil Water Conserv 40(2):195–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Kok H (2007) Impact assessment. Solutions to environmental and economic problems (STEEP), October

    Google Scholar 

  • Kok H, Papendick RI, Saxton KE (2009) STEEP: Impact of long-term conservation farming research and education in Pacific Northwest wheatlands. J Soil Water Conserv 64(4):253–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lal R, Reicosky DC, Hanson JD (2006) Evolution of the plow over 10,000 years and the rationale for no-till farming. Soil Till Res 93:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linscombe S (2007) Sustainable rice production in Louisiana. Tex Rice 7(4):4

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu Y-C, Watkins B, Teasdale J (1999) Economic analysis of sustainable agricultural cropping systems for mid-Atlantic states. J Sustain Agr 15(2/3):77–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magleby R (2003) Soil management and conservation. In: Agricultural resources and environmental indicators 2003. USDA ERS agricultural handbook no. AH722

    Google Scholar 

  • Manley SW (ed) (2008) Conservation in ricelands of North America. The Rice Foundation, Stuttgart, AR. Available at: http://www.usarice.com/index.php?option=com_doclibrary&view=subcat&Itemid=220. Cited 12 Jan 2012

  • Meith HC, Parsons PS (1965) Nontillage and strip weed control cut almond production costs in Butte County test. Calif Agr 19(6):2–4

    Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery DR (2007) Dirt: the erosion of civilizations. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA

    Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery DR (2008) Agriculture’s no-till revolution? J Soil Water Conserv 63(3):64A–65A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munawar A, Blevins RL, Frye WW, Saul MR (1990) Tillage and cover crop management for soil water conservation. Agron J 82:773–777

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mutch D (2008) Evaluation of a no-till organic soybean system in Michigan. N Cent Weed Sci Soc Proc 63:173

    Google Scholar 

  • Nail EL, Young DL, Schillinger WF (2007) Diesel and glyphosate price changes benefit the economics of conservation tillage versus traditional tillage. Soil Till Res 94:321–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (2000) The future role of pesticides in US agriculture. National Academy Press, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen DC, Vigil MF (2010) Precipitation storage efficiency during fallow in wheat-fallow systems. Agron J 102(2):537–543

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oosterwyk J, Posner JL (2000) 1992-2000 Energy use and output/input ratios for the Wisconsin Integrated Cropping Systems Trial. In: WICST 8th technical report. Available at: http://wicst.wisc.edu/core-systems-trial/protecting-the-environment/1992-2000-energy-use-and-outputinput- ratios-for-the-wisconsin-integrated-cropping-systems-trial/. Cited 15 Feb 2012

  • Peterson GA, Westfall DG (2004) Managing precipitation use in sustainable dryland agroecosystems. Ann Appl Biol 44:127–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pike DR et al (1991) A case study of herbicide use. Weed Technol 5(3):639–646

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raczkowski CW, Reyes MR, Reddy GB, Busscher WJ, Bauer PJ (2009) Comparison of conventional and no-tillage corn and soybean production on runoff and erosion in the southeastern US Piedmont. J Soil Water Conserv 64(1):53–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reeves DW, Norfleet ML, Abrahamson DA, Schomberg HH, Causarano H, Hawkins GL (2005) Conservation tillage in Georgia economics and water resources. In: Proceedings of the 2005 Georgia Water Resources Conference, Athens, GA, 25–27 Apr 2005

    Google Scholar 

  • Regehr DL, Norwood CA (2008) Benefits of triazine herbicides in ecofallow. In: Homer M. LeBaron, Janis E. McFarland, Orvin C. Burnside (eds) The triazine herbicides: 50 years revolutionizing agriculture. Elsevier, San Diego

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson GP, Paul EA, Harwood RR (2000) Greenhouse gases in intensive agriculture: contributions of individual gases to the radiative forcing of the atmosphere. Science 289:1922–1925, supplemental material available at: http://www.sciencemag.org/feature/data/1051816.shl. Cited 2 Feb 2012

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan MR (2010) Energy usage, greenhouse gases, and multi-tactical weed management in organic rotational no-till cropping systems. Pennsylvania State University Dissertation, Aug 2010, State College, PA

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaible G, Aillery M (2006) Irrigation water management. In: Agricultural resources and environmental indicators, 2006 edn. USDA-ERS

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnepf R (2004) Energy use in agriculture: background and issues. Congressional Research Service. Available at: http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/assets/crs/RL32677.pdf. Cited 15 Dec 2011

  • Shapouri H et al (2010) 2008 Energy balance for the corn-ethanol industry. USDA agricultural economic report no. 846

    Google Scholar 

  • Slife FW et al (1950) Controlling weeds in corn with 2,4-D. University of Illinois College of Agriculture circular 652

    Google Scholar 

  • Smika DE (1983) Cropping practices: introduction. In: Dryland agriculture. Agronomy monograph no. 23. American Society of Agronomy, Madison, WI, pp 293–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Southeast Farm Press (2012) Cameron enjoys organic cotton challenge. Jan:26

    Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan DG, Truman CC, Schomberg HH, Endale DM, Franklin DH (2007) Potential impact of conservation tillage on conserving water resources in Georgia. J Soil Water Conserv 62(3):145–152

    Google Scholar 

  • Triplett GB (1976) History, principles and economics of crop production with reduced tillage systems. Bulletin of the ESA, 22(3):289–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Triplett GB Jr, Dick WA (2008) No-tillage crop production: a revolution in agriculture! Agron J 100:S153–S165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Unger PW, Baumhardt RL (1999) Crop residue management increases dryland grain sorghum yields in a semiarid region. In: 10th Annual international soil conservation organization meeting, West Lafayette, IN, 24–29 May 1999

    Google Scholar 

  • Unger PW, Allen RR, Wiese AF (1971) Tillage and herbicides for surface residue maintenance, weed control, and water conservation. J Soil Water Conserv 26:147–150

    Google Scholar 

  • University of California (2009) UC pest management guide: weed management for organic lettuce production. UC statewide integrated pest management program. Available at: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r441700511.html. Cited 1 Feb 2012

  • USDA (1959–2009) Agricultural prices summary. NASS. Available at: http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/MannUsda/viewDocumentInfo.do;jsessionid=5251B619E537DA2B19A22FEF60E78057?documentID=1003. Cited 15 Dec 2011

  • USDA (1979) Erosion in the Palouse: a summary of the Palouse River Basin Study. Soil Conservation Service, February

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA (1995) 1994 Pest management on major field crops. USDA-ERS Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators updates no. 19

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA (2006) Energy management. NRCS conservation resource brief no. 0608

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA (2009a) 2007 Census of agriculture: 2008 farm and ranch irrigation survey. NASS. Available at: http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/Irrigation_Survey/. Cited 4 Jan 2012

  • USDA (2009b) Summary report: 2007 national resources inventory. NRCS Washington, DC and the Center for Survey Statistics and Methodology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA (2011) U.S. cropland used for crops – cropland harvested, failure, and summer fallow for the 48 states, annual, 1910-2006. ERS. Available at: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/MajorLandUses. Cited 15 Dec 2011

  • USDA (2012) Indices of farm output, input, and total factor productivity for the US 1948–2008. ERS. Available at: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/AgProductivity. Cited 10 Jan 2012

  • West TO, Marland G (2002) A synthesis of carbon sequestration, carbon emissions, and net carbon flux in agriculture: comparing tillage practices in the United States. Agr Ecosyst Environ 91:217–232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams JR, Pendell DL, Llewelyn RV, Peterson DE, Nelson RG (2009) Returns to tillage systems under changing input and output market conditions. J ASFMRA 72(1):78–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Wimer DC (1946) Why cultivate corn? University of Illinois College of Agriculture circular 597

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang Y, Wilson LT (2011) An analysis of rice water savings from on-farm conservation measures. Tex Rice, March 11(1):3

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CropLife Foundation, 1156 15th Street Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20005, USA

    Leonard Gianessi & Ashley Williams

Authors
  1. Leonard Gianessi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ashley Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leonard Gianessi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Director of Research/Cell Biology, Cibus LLC, San Diego, California, USA

    David D. Songstad

  2. National Laboratory for Agriculture and, USDA-ARS, Ames, Iowa, USA

    Jerry L. Hatfield

  3. Grimes, Iowa, USA

    Dwight T. Tomes

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gianessi, L., Williams, A. (2014). The Importance of Herbicides for Natural Resource Conservation in the USA. In: Songstad, D., Hatfield, J., Tomes, D. (eds) Convergence of Food Security, Energy Security and Sustainable Agriculture. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, vol 67. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-55262-5_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation