Numbered Publications: Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
AEN-122: Restoring Streams
Carmen Agouridis, Evan Wesley | Mar. 4, 2014 (New)
Stream restoration is the re-establishment of the structure (dimension, pattern, and profile) and function (transport of water, sediment, and nutrients; habitat provision) of a degraded stream as closely as possible to pre-disturbance conditions.
AEN-120: Groundwater Quality
Carmen Agouridis | Jan. 6, 2014 (New)
Groundwater is an important water source for activities such as drinking, bathing, cooking, and crop irrigation. Keeping our groundwater sources clean is becoming more challenging with an ever growing population. In watersheds underlain with karst, such as many of those in Kentucky, the groundwater is more susceptible to contamination. This is because surface waters, such as runoff and in some cases streamflow, travel into the subsurface of karst by way of fractures, sinkholes, swallow holes, conduits and caves Such direct paths into the groundwater mean that pollutants reach the aquifer much more quickly with little to no filtration. Thus, while waters from springs and wells may look clean, they may actually contain unsafe levels of pollutants such as bacteria and nitrogen.
AEN-119: Keeping Trash Out of Streams
Carmen Agouridis, Rachel Williams | Nov. 14, 2013 (New)
Fresh water is an essential natural resource that is used every day for drinking, bathing, cooking, cleaning, and recreation. In Kentucky, the water used for these tasks mainly comes from streams and rivers, but it can also come from groundwater. Because our streams, rivers, and aquifers are so vital to our daily lives, it is important that we protect them from trash, debris, and other pollutants found in stormwater. What happens to the land around these water sources affects their condition and health.
AEN-118: Managing Stormwater Using Low Impact Development (LID) Techniques
Carmen Agouridis, John McMaine | Aug. 21, 2013 (New)
As more land is covered by impervious surfaces, less rainfall infiltrates into the ground and instead becomes runoff. Too much runoff is problematic. Flooding increases, streambanks erode, and water quality is reduced. An increase of impervious area of as little 10 percent has been shown to negatively impact streams. The purpose of this publication is to explain low impact development strategies and how they can be used to improve stormwater management by reducing impacts on streams.
ID-215: Stormwater Wetlands
Carmen Agouridis, Kristi Meier | Jul. 1, 2013 (New)
As our population has grown, so have our towns and cities, and this growth has led to an increase in stormwater runoff. Stormwater best management practices help mitigate the impact of stormwater runoff on water quality by reducing pollutant loads through physical, chemical and/or biological processes. One of the most effective BMPs at improving stormwater quality is the stormwater wetland.
ID-166: On-Farm Composting of Animal Mortalities
Amanda Gumbert, Steve Higgins, Sarah Wightman | May. 6, 2013 (Minor Revision)
On-farm composting can provide animal producers with a convenient method for disposing of animal mortalities and also provide a valuable soil amendment. In addition, the finished compost can be stockpiled and reused to help compost other mortalities.
ID-167: On-Farm Disposal of Animal Mortalities
Spencer Guinn, Amanda Gumbert, Steve Higgins | May. 6, 2013 (Minor Revision)
Animal mortalities are an expected part of animal production. Depending on the scale of the animal enterprise, animal mortalities can overwhelm the producer with a large number and mass of dead animals. This publication provides guidance to the producer for handling animal mortalities in accordance with Kentucky law.
ID-213: 2011 Kentucky Compost Bedded Pack Barn Project
Jeffrey Bewley, Randi Black, George Day, Joe Taraba | Apr. 26, 2013 (New)
Kentucky dairy producers are adopting compost-bedded pack barns (CBP) as dairy cattle housing at a rapid rate. When properly managed, as an alternative dairy housing system, CBPs may decrease somatic cell count (SCC), increase production, and reduce lameness. Because the system is relatively new, however, many questions remain regarding best management practices and key factors for success. University of Kentucky dairy scientists and agricultural engineers conducted a comprehensive observational study of Kentucky CBPs from October 2010 to March 2011. The goal of this research was to determine key management concepts that determine success or failure in the compost-bedded pack system.
ID-214: Mulching with Large Round Bales between Plastic-covered Beds
Tim Coolong, Tim Stombaugh, John Wilhoit | Apr. 26, 2013 (New)
Large round bales lend themselves very well to the application of mulching rows of vegetables because the bales can be unrolled to peel off layers that are about the right thickness for mulch. An innovative implement that offsets the bale so that it can be unrolled between the rows while the tractor straddles the row can make the practice of mulching with round bales considerably more efficient.
AEN-117: Modifying a Bale Unroller for Mulching between Plastic-covered Beds
John Wilhoit | Apr. 25, 2013 (New)
Round bales of hay or straw can be used to mulch between rows of plastic film mulch used in vegetable production. This practice may be particularly useful for organic production where herbicide use is prohibited. To make the job of unrolling round bales between rows of plastic easier, a commercially available three-point hitch mounted bale unroller was modified by extending the toolbar and adding a second mast so that the bale is offset, allowing the tractor to straddle a row of plastic while unrolling the bale between the rows.
