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OREGON GRASS FOR SEED

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The field used to represent grass for seed production in Oregon is located in Linn County, in the Willamette Valley. According to the 1997 Census of Agriculture, Oregon is ranked 1st in cool season forage and turf grass seed production in the U.S. Most of the acreage is located in the Willamette Valley. Oregon's Willamette Valley produces nearly all the ryegrass, perennial ryegrass, bentgrass, and fine fescue grown in the U.S. The crop is seeded in rows using carbon band seeding to protect the crop during emergence. Seed is planted in the early Fall using specialized equipment to overcome the soil conditions call swampbuggies. The soils tend to be poorly draining which are extensive in the Willamette Valley. Harvest begins in late June or early July. After harvest, field burning is used to control disease prior to the next crop. Field burning remains a controversial practice in the region. The soil selected to simulate the field is a benchmark soil, Dayton silt loam. Dayton silt loam, is a fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Albaqualfs. The series is used to produce spring grains, grass seed, hay and pasture. A small amount is use for vegetable production. Dayton silt loam is a very deep, poorly drained, very slowly permeable soil with slow runoff or ponded conditions. These soils formed in stratified glacio lacustrine deposits of the Pleistocene age. They are found on nearly level or somewhat concave, slightly depressed parts of broad valley terraces at elevations of 150 to 400 feet above mean sea level on slopes of 0 to 2 percent. The series is extensive in the Willamette Valley. Dayton silt loam is a Hydrologic Group D soil.

Table 1.
PRZM 3.12 Climate and Time Parameters for Marion County Oregon - Grass for Seed
ParameterValueSource
Starting Date January 1, 1948Meteorological File - Salem, OR (W24232)
Ending Date December 31, 1983Meteorological File - Salem, OR (W24232)
Pan Evaporation Factor (PFAC) 0.74PRZM Manual Figure 5.1 (EPA, 1998)
Snowmelt Factor (SFAC) 0.15 cm C- 1PRZM Manual Table 5.1 (EPA, 1998)
Minimum Depth of Evaporation (ANETD) 17.0 cmPRZM Manual Figure 5.2 (EPA, 1998)

Table 2.
PRZM 3.12 Erosion and Landscape Parameters for Marion County Oregon - Grass for Seed
ParameterValueSource
Method to Calculate Erosion (ERFLAG) 4 (MUSS)PRZM Manual (EPA, 1998)
USLE K Factor (USLEK) 0.43 tons EI-1* GLEAMS Manual, Table of Representative Soils (USDA, 1990)
USLE LS Factor (USLELS) 0.173GLEAMS Manual, Table of Representative Soils (USDA, 1990)
USLE P Factor (USLEP) 1.0Set according to guidance (EPA, 2001)
Field Area (AFIELD) 172 haArea of Shipman Reservoir watershed (EPA, 1999)
NRCS Hyetograph (IREG) 2PRZM Manual Figure 5.12 (EPA, 1998)
Slope (SLP) 1%Value set to maximum for crop (EPA, 2001)
Hydraulic Length (HL) 600 mShipman Reservoir (EPA, 1999)

* EI = 100 ft-tons * in/ acre*hr


Table 3.
PRZM 3.12 Crop Parameters for Marion County Oregon - Grass for Seed
ParameterValueSource
Initial Crop (INICRP) 1Set to one for all crops (EPA, 2001)
Initial Surface Condition (ISCOND) 1Set to residue prior to new crop planting
Number of Different Crops (NDC) 1Set to crops in simulation - generally one
Number of Cropping Periods (NCPDS) 36Set to weather data. Salem, OR (W24232)
Maximum rainfall interception storage of crop (CINTCP) 0.1PRZM Manual, Table 5.4 (EPA, 1998)
Maximum Active Root Depth (AMXDR) 60 cm http://www.sjrcd.org/ag/effective_root_zone.htm Exit EPA Disclaimer
Maximum Canopy Coverage (COVMAX) 100Set to full canopy for grasses
Soil Surface Condition After Harvest (ICNAH) 1 Due to field burning, set to conservative input assuming field fallow until next crop.
Date of Crop Emergence
(EMD, EMM, IYREM)
15/09 http://www.orst.edu/dept/coarc/obsersty.htm Exit EPA Disclaimer
Date of Crop Maturity
(MAD, MAM, IYRMAT)
15/05 Set one weeks before harvest, no specific data available.
http://www.css.orst.edu/seed-ext/pub/industry.htm Exit EPA Disclaimer
Date of Crop Harvest
(HAD, HAM, IYRHAR)
30/06 http://www.css.orst.edu/seed-ext/pub/industry.htm Exit EPA Disclaimer
Maximum Dry Weight (WFMAX) 0.0Set to "0" Not used in simulation
SCS Curve Number (CN) 84, 79, 82 GLEAMS Table A-3; Meadow; good hydrologic condition (USDA, 1990)
Manning's N Value (MNGN) 0.014 RUSLE Project; A12WSHLC; Wheat, Spring pnw 40; Conventional tillage, Portland, OR (USDA, 2000)
USLE C Factor (USLEC) 0.026 - 0.459 RUSLE Project; A12WSHLC; Wheat, Spring pnw 40; Conventional tillage, Portland, OR (USDA, 2000)

Table 4.
PRZM 3.12 Dayton Soil Parameters for Marion County Oregon - Grass for Seed
ParameterValue Verification Source
Total Soil Depth (CORED) 100 cm NRCS, National Soils Characterization Database (NRCS, 2001)
Number of Horizons (NHORIZ) 3 (Top horizon split in two)
First, Second, and Third Soil Horizons (HORIZN = 1,2,3)
Horizon Thickness (THKNS)
  • 10 cm (HORIZN = 1)
  • 8 cm (HORIZN = 2)
  • 82 cm (HORIZN = 3)
NRCS, National Soils Characterization Database (NRCS, 2001) http://soils.usda.gov/survey/nscd/ Exit EPA Disclaimer
Bulk Density (BD)
  • 1.4 g cm-3 (HORIZN = 1,2,3)
Initial Water Content (THETO)
  • 0.312 cm3-H2O cm3-soil (HORIZN =1,2)
  • 0.266 cm3-H2O cm3-soil (HORIZN =3)
Compartment Thickness (DPN)
  • 0.1 cm (HORIZN = 1)
  • 2.0 cm (HORIZN = 2,3)
Field Capacity (THEFC)
  • 0.312 cm3-H2O cm3-soil (HORIZN =1,2)
  • 0.266 cm3-H2O cm3-soil (HORIZN =3)
Wilting Point (THEWP)
  • 0.132 cm3-H2O cm3-soil (HORIZN = 1,2)
  • 0.236 cm3-H2O cm3-soil (HORIZN = 3)
Organic Carbon Content (OC)
  • 2.32% (HORIZN = 1,2)
  • 0.29% (HORIZN = 3)

EPA. 1985. Field Agricultural Runoff Monitoring (FARM) Manual, (EPA/600/3-85/043) Environmental Research Laboratory, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA.

EPA. 1998. Carsel, R.F., J.C. Imhoff, P.R. Hummel, J.M. Cheplick, and A.S. Donigian, Jr. PRZM-3, A Model for Predicting Pesticide and Nitrogen Fate in the Crop Root and Unsaturated Soil Zones: Users Manual for Release 3.0. National Exposure Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA.

EPA. 1999. Jones, R.D., J. Breithaupt, J. Carleton, L. Libelo, J. Lin, R. Matzner, and R. Parker. Guidance for Use of the Index Reservoir in Drinking Water Exposure Assessments. Environmental Fate and Effects Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington. D.C.

EPA. 2001. Abel, S.A. Procedure for Conducting Quality Assurance and Quality Control of Existing and New PRZM Field and Orchard Crop Standard Scenarios. Environmental Fate and Effects Division, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C.

Haan, C.T. and B.J. Barfield. 1978. Hydrology and Sedimentology of Surface Mined Lands. Office of Continuing Education and Extension, College of Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506. pp. 286.

USDA. 1990. Davis, F.M., R.A. Leonard, W.G. Knisel. GLEAMS User Manual, Version 1.8.55. USDA-ARS Southeast Watershed Research Laboratory, Tifton GA. SEWRL-030190FMD.

USDA. 2000. Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) EPA Pesticide Project. U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

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