Pollution Prevention for Crop Production 111

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Pollution Prevention (P2) for Crop Production 111

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Opportunities may exist to save a significant amount of money for your business and simultaneously protect the environment through P2.

What is P2? P2 is the use of materials, processes, or practices that eliminate or reduce the creation of pollutants or waste at the source. P2 consists of a variety of strategies and techniques that strive to avoid the production of waste and the subsequent costly and sometimes dangerous waste management activities. Waste avoidance or reduction may result in increased facility efficiencies as well as significant savings from lowered waste management costs, raw materials costs, reduced insurance and worker safety costs. There is, therefore, the opportunity to simultaneously improve your bottom line - and protect the environment.

Where can I obtain information? The Business & Environmental Service Centers have compiled a library of P2 reference materials that may help you identify and adopt P2 measures appropriate to your business. For local P2 information, call 1-800-GOV-1-STOP. The following publications may be requested online:

What are the benefits of P2?

		Business Cost Savings: You may realize - reduced energy costs, operational costs, production costs, raw materials costs, transportation costs, treatment and disposal costs, compliance permits, monitoring and enforcement costs.
		Environmental Protection: Your employees and patrons will appreciate your leadership in the implementation of business practices that are economically viable, sustain natural resources and diversity, and enhance the quality of life for present and future generations.
		Regulatory Relief: It is easier to achieve and maintain compliance once P2 measures have been implemented.
		Reduced Liability, Exposure, and Health Risk: Less waste means less liability for environmental problems at both on-site and off-site treatment, storage and disposal facilities. Reducing waste also means less potential risk to human health and safety and reduced worker exposure to toxic chemicals.

What new technologies reduce costs and promote P2?

Irrigation water management: Operate the irrigation system so that the timing and amount of irrigation water applied match crop water needs. Advantages include: minimizing the losses of water, sediment and dissolved substances such as nutrients and pesticides from the system, and may reduce saline percolation from geologic origins. ^{1, 2}
Conservation tillage: Requires maintaining at least 30% of the soil surface covered by residue after planting. Advantages include: reduction in soil erosion, detachment and sediment transport by providing soil cover, and additional organic material on the surface may increase the bacterial action that can lead to increased break down of pesticides and ready available nutrients.^2,3,4
Nutrient management measures: Develop a nutrient budget for the crop through accurate information obtained on the nutrient resources available through periodic testing of the soil for each field, and tissue testing during the early growth stages of the crop. Nutrients should be applied at the proper timing, using only the types and rates of nutrients necessary to achieve realistic crop yields. Advantages include: reduction in the amount of nutrients being applied thereby reducing the cost of production, and protecting both ground water and surface water quality by reducing the possibility of nutrient runoff.³
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) measures: Effective IPM involves the evaluation of past and current pest problems, crop history, and the physical characteristics of the site; the use of pesticides only when an economic benefit to the producer will be achieved, the efficient application of pesticides and at times when runoff losses are unlikely; the selection of pesticides that are the most environmentally benign, and the provision for suitable mixing, loading and storage areas. Advantages include: reducing the amount of pesticides entering ground water and surface water, minimizing the potential for pest resistance to materials, reducing the potential for pesticide drift onto nearby habitat or waterways, decreasing the potential for public pressure and regulatory scrutiny, and minimizing the potential of worker safety problems.⁴

Why is P2 a good idea for businesses? Compare areas of cost savings that may be achieved through the implementation of one or more P2 technologies:

Practice Benefits		Irrigation Management	Conservation Tilliage	Nutrient Management	Integrated Pest Management
P2	Reduces Soil Erosion	√	√
	Reduces Water Waste	√	√
	Reduces Toxic Waste	√	√	√	√
	Reduces Air/Water Pollution	√	√	√	√
Ec on om ic Be ne fi ts	Reduces Water Use Costs	√	√
	Reduces Pesticide Application Costs			√	√
	Reduces Nutrient Application Costs	√	√	√
	Reduces Material Storage Requirements		√	√	√
	Reduces Worker Safety Costs			√	√
	Lowers Operating Costs	√	√	√	√

Source: California Integrated Waste Management Board 8/24/2000

Last updated: July 15, 2005