Author
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Lentz, Rodrick |
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Sojka, Robert |
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Submitted to: National Conservation Tillage Digest
Publication Type: Review Article Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Because this is a review article with no new research reported, an interpretive summary is not required. Technical Abstract: Erosion has been the bane of agriculture for centuries. Soil erosion is highly detrimental, both on and off site. A convenient and economical practice has emerged that provides a way to immediately, and nearly completely eliminate furrow irrigation-induced erosion. The technology employs an off-the-shelf chemical flocculant: polyacrylamide (PAM). PAM belongs to a class of chemicals called polymers. These are large molecules composed of thousands of identical building-block units linked together into either chain-like strands, or massive bundles comprising many cross-linked' strands. The erosion control polymer is a single strand PAM (linear form) that is water soluble. Cross-linked PAMs are not soluble in water and aren't used in this new erosion control technology, however, they are highly absorbent materials that are used in soil to increase plant-available water. Applying about one pound PAM per acre in irrigation water cut field soil losses by 94% and increased net infiltration into furrows by 15%. Preliminary tests indicate that PAM also performs well when a solution is applied to construction site soils, or when the emulsified concentrate is injected into center-pivot irrigation systems. Such successes imply that PAM may also be useful in rainfed agriculture. |
