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Abstract
Tegegne, F., B.C. English,
S.P. Singh and S. Comer. 2008. Environmental impact of small limited
resource farmers’ production practices in Tennessee. JEMREST
5:124-137.
The purpose
of this paper is to determine the environmental impact of Small Limited
Resource Farmers’ production practices in Tennessee. The data is collected using a
detailed survey instrument administered to one hundred sixty-one small
limited resource farmers in two watersheds in Middle and West
Tennessee using face-to-face interview. The selection of the
study locations was based on information that the areas are prone to
environmental degradation. Watersheds provide a useful framework to
effectively address the problem. Issues covered by the survey include
characteristics of the farms and the operators, tillage and planting
practices, use of pesticides and fertilizers, types of crops grown,
topographical data including stream location, slope length and percent, and
soil physical properties. The Environmental Productivity Impact Calculator
(EPIC), which is a plant growth simulator, is used to determine the levels of
water degradation and soil erosion on representative farms. Among other
things, results show that small limited resource farmers do not apply
fertilizer optimally thereby contribute to fertilizer contamination of
surface and ground water and cause erosion. The approach used in this study
can be adopted by others with appropriate modification.
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