m |
m (→Typical cost) |
||
(One intermediate revision by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 70: | Line 70: | ||
==Typical cost== | ==Typical cost== | ||
A soil sample and nutrient test costs less than 💲25 per sample and is easily the best value for fertilizer minimization. Soybean and organic fertilizers can be up to three times the cost of standard chemical fertilizer. Reduced labor costs associated with fewer applications in larger amounts can help to offset this cost. However, alternative practices employed in place of fertilizers (see Fertilizer Alternatives above) can easily be less expensive than chemical application. Similarly, practicing IPM can reduce herbicide and pesticide application costs. | A soil sample and nutrient test costs less than 💲25 per sample and is easily the best value for fertilizer minimization. Soybean and organic fertilizers can be up to three times the cost of standard chemical fertilizer. Reduced labor costs associated with fewer applications in larger amounts can help to offset this cost. However, alternative practices employed in place of fertilizers (see Fertilizer Alternatives above) can easily be less expensive than chemical application. Similarly, practicing IPM can reduce herbicide and pesticide application costs. | ||
+ | |||
+ | <noinclude> | ||
+ | [[Category:Level 3 - Regulatory/Municipal (MS4)/Fact sheet]] | ||
+ | </noinclude> |
Fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides have various ecological effects, toxicity, and chemical fate and transport based on the product’s chemical components. Depending on the chemicals’ characteristics, they can have unintended harmful effects on terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals, and can end up in our soil, water, and air. Nitrates from fertilizers can migrate through the soil profile and contaminate ground water supplies beyond safe drinking water levels.
Phosphorus from fertilizers contributes to eutrophication of surface water bodies that depletes oxygen levels and can lead to fish kills.
This fact sheet provides guidance on program development for minimizing fertilizer and pesticide application.
Practicing proper fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide application reduces the risk of these materials being transported by stormwater to downstream water bodies. Minimizing chemical use by employing best management practices (BMPs) for both application and material handling helps to eliminate a significant cause of stormwater pollution. Some BMPs have the potential to reduce costs associated with grounds keeping and maintenance, while improving the aesthetics and vegetative health of grounds where they’re implemented.
Programs designed to manage and minimize chemical application typically include a combination of the elements identified below. The BMPs and chemical alternatives discussed can provide the content for training programs and public education materials.
Integrated pest management (IPM) is a pest control system that employs mechanical, biological, cultural, and/or chemical mechanisms as determined by a thorough evaluation of the conditions rather than addressing every condition with chemicals.
The following are IPM strategies:
IPM strategies are employed only when pest populations reach an unacceptable economic or aesthetic threshold.
The following guidelines should be followed when preparing and handling chemicals:
The following guidelines should be followed when preparing and handling chemicals:
Develop public education brochures to encourage residents to limit chemical use by educating them about the human health risks and natural resource impacts associated with improper application. Typically tri-folded, double-sided informational sheets can be mass-mailed to educate residents. If ordinances or fines are associated with improper chemical application, these would also be included in this education piece.
Introduce a law enforced by the MS4 whereby individuals or entities responsible for chemical application receive a fine for chemical application that varies from product labeling. Other city-developed regulations might include required soil testing before fertilizer application.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) requires all persons who apply fertilizer or pesticide for hire (regardless of whether the product is custom blended, bagged, bulk, etc.) to obtain a fertilizer or pesticide applicator license, respectively from the MDA. A license is required for any application, including applications to lawns, plants (including trees and shrubs), and interior landscapes. Annual attendance at applicator recertification workshops is required.
If monitoring application rates at project sites in order to provide guidance for future application rates and methods (an effective chemical application BMP), it is important to maintain good records and use staff time to visit application sites.
A soil sample and nutrient test costs less than 💲25 per sample and is easily the best value for fertilizer minimization. Soybean and organic fertilizers can be up to three times the cost of standard chemical fertilizer. Reduced labor costs associated with fewer applications in larger amounts can help to offset this cost. However, alternative practices employed in place of fertilizers (see Fertilizer Alternatives above) can easily be less expensive than chemical application. Similarly, practicing IPM can reduce herbicide and pesticide application costs.
This page was last edited on 22 November 2022, at 18:33.