Research Need on Integrated System for Water and Pest Management to Protect Groundwater Quality

Research is urgently needed to develop the technology for integrating the methodologies for managing soil, water, ground cover, pesticide applications, and fertilizer applications in such a way that pesticides and fertilizers are contained in their functional 'action zones' of the soil profile. An outline is proposed for conducting research to develop the needed technology by modeling and simulation, laboratory investigations, and field experimentation. Specifically a research plan for the lower Mississippi Valley region is discussed to develop and test an integrated system of watertable control and pest management to protect groundwater quality.