SBIR-STTR Award

Pollution and water quality are two of the major concerns of our nation. While most industries are making concerted efforts to reduce pollution and to clean-up and improve water quality, much remains to be done. Many of the solutions currently available have negative economic impacts and, as a result, are slow to be implemented by the nation's businesses. This project will tic a considerable amount of existing research together to determine and demonstrate that straw mulching by mechanical means can reduce input costs, increase yields, reduce phosphate and potentially other chemical pollution and improve water quality by reducing soil erosion due to runoff irrigation water.Applications:1. Demonstrate how mechanical mulching machine can improve water quality and agricultural productivity while increasing net farm income. 2. It is anticipated that the Research Project will result in documentation of the connection between the use of straw mulching as an improved agricultural practice for commercial agriculture and a reduction of non-point source pollution associated with phosphate fertilizer compounds in irrigation run-off water. 3. The project should establish that straw mulching would improve water quality while increasing agricultural productivity and crop quality. 4. The results of this Research Project will make it possible to use up excess grain and grass seed straw.

Pollution and water quality are major concerns of our nation. While most industries are making concerted efforts to reduce pollution, cleanup and improve water quality, much remains to be done. Many solutions currently available have negative impacts and are slow to be implemented by the nation's businesses. This project will determine if grass straw provides the same results as cereal straw in reducing soil loss and erosion. The project will utilize existing research to determine and demonstrate that Mechanical Straw Mulching can increase yields, reduce inputs, such as phosphate, pesticides (to include herbicides, insecticides and fungicides) and potentially other chemical pollution and improve water quality by reducing soil erosion due to runoff from irrigation water and natural rainfall. Mechanical Straw Mulching machines need to improve straw application pattern, increase efficiency and ease of operation to be accepted by commercial agriculture.Applications:I) Demonstrate how mechanical mulching machine improves water quality and agricultural productivity while increasing farm income. 2) Project will document connection between use of straw mulching as an improved cultural practice for agriculture and reduction of nonpoint source pollution from pesticides and phosphate fertilizer in irrigation runoff water. 3) Project should establish straw mulching will improve water quality while increasing agricultural productivity and crop quality. 4) Determine if grass straw provides same results as cereal straw in reducing soil loss and erosion. 5) Results of project will make better use of grain and grass straw. 6) Project will improve straw pattern, efficiency and ease of operation.