South Florida Restoration Science Forum

Last updated: October 11, 2002

Best Management Practices - What Are They?

Part 2

Agricultural Best Management Practices From Concepts to Reality Through Science

BMPs at Work in the EAA


Band apply fertilizer to reduce the amount necessary.	Block the farm and grow different crops in separate areas to reduce the need for drainage.	Grow sugarcane since it needs little to no fertilizer and can tolerate wet and dry conditions.


Flood fallow fields to store water and reduce soil subsidence.	Let water from flooded fallow and rice fields subside naturally to keep nutrients in the soil.


Pump only as much water off the farm as is necessary.	Use weed booms to keep particulate P sources away from the main pump station.	Grow rice after sugarcane and vegetables to "cleanse" the soil and export P from the area.


Keep an eye on the long-term effects of BMPs on soils and crops.	Clean ditches to maintain capacity and reduce sediment transport.


Use booster pumps to move water around the farm, promoting reduced and uniform drainage.	Use culvert structures to direct water from vegetable and sod fields to sugarcane, rice, and fallow fields.	Use culverts, risers, and boards to achieve uniform drainage.

Next: What's Next?

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Center for Coastal Geology
This page is: http://sofia.usgs.gov/sfrsf/rooms/sustain/management/bmp.html
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Last updated: 11 October, 2002 @ 09:42 PM (HSH)