In Agriculture

CRIS/USDA Current Research Information System USDA/ eSREES/ I STM research projects in agriculture, food, nutrition, and forestry biblio. variable autiior submis- sions CRIS online annual http //cris.es- rees.usda.gov/... 

Brown, M.A., Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Applications in Agricultural, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Chemistry, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998. 

Boron. Virtually all United States boron production and about three-fifths of the world production comes from bedded deposits and lake brines in California. U.S. reserves are adequate to support high production levels. Turkey is the only other boron-producing country of significance. Only about 5% of boron production is used in agriculture. 

D. P. Gowing, "Some Comments on Growth Regulators with a Potential in Agriculture," in Ref. 27. 

H. G. Cutier, Natural Products and Their Potential in Agriculture, ACS Symposium Series 380, Washington, D.C., 1988. 

In agriculture, the average benefit/cost ratio from insecticide use ranges from 3 to 5 return for every 1 invested by the farmer(s). There are many examples where the return is much greater. In California, treatment of sugarbeets with granular phorate systemic insecticide to control the aphid and... 

Wettable powders are prepared by blending the toxicant in high concentration, usually from 15 ndash 95%, with a dust carrier such as attapulgite which wets and suspends properly in water. One to two percent of a surface-active agent usually is added to improve the wetting and suspensibiUty of the powder. Sprays of wettable powders are used widely in agriculture because of their relative safety to plants. 

Regulations. In order to decrease the amount of anthropogenic release of mercury in the United States, the EPA has limited both use and disposal of mercury. In 1992, the EPA banned land disposal of high mercury content wastes generated from the electrolytic production of chlorine—caustic soda (14), accompanied by a one-year variance owing to a lack of available waste treatment faciUties in the United States. A thermal treatment process meeting EPA standards for these wastes was developed by 1993. The use of mercury and mercury compounds as biocides in agricultural products and paints has also been banned by the EPA. 

Alkyl mercury compounds were used widely in the United States as seed disinfectants until prohibited in 1970. Subsequentiy, in 1972, the EPA prohibited the use of ah mercury compounds in agriculture (15). 

Additioaal uses for higher olefias iaclude the productioa of epoxides for subsequeat coaversioa iato surface-active ageats, alkylatioa of benzene to produce drag-flow reducers, alkylation of phenol to produce antioxidants, oligomeriza tion to produce synthetic waxes (qv), and the production of linear mercaptans for use in agricultural chemicals and polymer stabilizers. Aluminum alkyls can be produced from a-olefias either by direct hydroalumination or by transalkylation. In addition, a number of heavy olefin streams and olefin or paraffin streams have been sulfated or sulfonated and used in the leather (qv) iadustry. 

The major use of alkan olamines in agricultural products is as a neutralizer for acidic herbicides. They also contribute increased water solubiUty, reduced volatility, and more uniform solutions. Various ethan olamines are reported in formulations to improve potato tuber size (219) and enhance the resistance to salt of some crops (220). 

The New York Commodity Exchange (Comex) prices for cathode copper in January 1993, 1994, and 1994 were 2.218/kg, 1.844/kg, and 3.084/kg, respectively. The primary uses for copper metal and alloy are constmction, 42% electrical/electronic, 24% industrial machinery, 13% transportation equipment, 11% and consumer/general products, 10%. Copper compounds for use in agriculture and industry account for about 1% of total copper consumption. 

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