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seed, fertilizer and other production items. <br />Proposed Scope of Work. In Year 1 (2009), 25% (2.5 ac) of the land would be planted to corn <br />and the remainder would be fallowed or simply not irrigated. Production costs and yields for the <br />corn acreage would be recorded and the economic costs (weed prevention) and benefits (water <br />rights leasing) of fallowing the remaining acreage would also be determined. In the Year 2 <br />(2010), 50% of the land (5.0 ac) would be planted to corn and the remaining one-half would be <br />fallowed. Subsequently, 75% of the land would be planted to corn in Year 3 (2011) and 25% <br />fallowed. Finally, in Year 4 (2012), all of the land would be fully returned to corn production. <br />L Objectives <br />Task 1 Farm corn areas according to recommended practices necessary to <br />produce optimum yields and returns in the Lower Arkansas Valley. <br />- Record practices and costs for field operations. <br />- Obtain/analyze soil samples in the fall of 2008 or spring of 2009 to determine <br />the baseline nutrient levels in each of the planted and fallowed areas at depths <br />of 0-8, 8-16 and 16-24 inches. <br />- Use soil sample analyses to determine the movement of nitrates, salts and <br />selenium under production corn land and fallowed land to a depth of 24 <br />inches. <br />Task 2 Determine the practices and costs necessary to maintain the fallowed <br />lands. This would include preventing weed infestation and protecting these lands <br />from excessive erosion. <br />- Perform operations as necessary to prevent weed infestation and erosion and <br />to record practices and costs. <br />Task 3 Determine nutrient needs and costs necessary in 2010, 2011 and 2012 to <br />return these fallowed lands to levels of production comparable to two, three and <br />four years of continuous corn. <br />Task 4 Determine the effect of fallowing on the movement of nitrates and salts in <br />the soil profile. <br />- Use soil sample analyses to determine the movement of nitrates, salts and <br />selenium under production corn land and fallowed land to a depth of 24 <br />inches. <br />Task 5 Provide information on the results of these demonstrations through field <br />days, workshops and reports. Also, make information from the study available to <br />the public through news releases and on University and related websites. <br />- Hold information events at the Arkansas Valley Research Center and <br />throughout the Valley and state to present the information to the public. <br />Task 6 Compile and analyze the results of the study and publish a bulletin <br />containing the information, conclusions and recommendations for proper <br />practices when fallowing land from corn production for one, two or three years. <br />