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May 6, 2003 "A Precision Agricultural-Landscape Modeling System (PALMS)"
May 6, 2003 Roundtable Minutes
Conclusions & Resolutions
- The overall goal of the PALMS model is to provide a quantitative tool
that will transfer knowledge from the research community into the practitioner
(ag consultant, farmers, ag industry, etc.) community.
- The PALMS model (and others) must be linked to data generated from
real farms.
o In this case, the link is through the Discovery Farms Program
- The PALMS model requires farm- and field-specific data.
o Precipitation, soils, topography, etc.
- PALMS must have commercial and profitable applications in order to
be utilized by private sector businesses.
o The goal is to have PALMS used by agricultural industry/consultants.
o Without this, PALMS will never leave the lab
- Topography factors are the driving component of the runoff component
of the PALMS model.
- PALMS and other models should be used to validate existing natural
resource inventory, modeling, and regulatory tools.
- Soil surface sealing is the most important runoff parameter and is
a function of surface residue.
- Modular applications of PALMS can be used.
o This would reduce the input requirements of the model.
- No model will ever definitively quantify nonpoint source pollution.
o Interpretation of any model results is also an issue of contention.
- Standards for evidence for applications in the courts are higher now
than ever before.
Issues to Resolve
- The regulatory aspects of models in general.
- Social, regulatory, and political problems of implementing soil and
water conservation and water quality protection practices.
- Model complexity vs. application usefulness
o i.e. At what point do the data input requirements limit applications
of the model
Research & Information Needs
Note: The following list is not prioritized!
- The need exists to bring more of the scientific knowledge base into
agricultural and environmental protection decisions.
- Develop a runoff map/graph within PALMS.
- Add sediment and phosphorus chemistry equations for dissolved-P and
particulate-P predictions.
o Will be done by fall '03.
- Investigate and model phosphorus transport to groundwater.
o Data shows that manure-P percolates deeper than fertilizer-P.
- More detailed soils data is needed for models of increasing complexity.
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