ABSTRACT
The impact of agricultural practices on water quality has been of concern in developed countries for at least 25 years. Sustainability of agricultural practices in the United States (US) hinge on whether they are environmentally acceptable—or perceived by the public to be so. A remarkable examination of the basic foundations of modern agriculture in the US has taken place during the last decade. Sustainable agricultural systems in the US will be those that can meet future environmental criteria. Water quality problems suggest that one of the major constraints to sustainability of modern US agriculture will be its ability to meet society’s growing expectations for a clean environment. The major crop production systems in the US are described in terms of those components of the system most related to water quality: tillage, fertilizer management, pest management, livestock waste management, and irrigation management.
