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Loan deficiency payments

A commodity payment program authorized by the Food Security Act of 1985 that makes direct payments, equivalent to marketing loan gains, to wheat, feed grain, upland cotton, rice, or oilseed producers who agree not to obtain nonrecourse loans, even though they are eligible. Loan deficiency payments are available under the FAIR Act of 1996.

Long-period variations

Secular when a cycle or a change in trend is completed within a century; climatic when the period of change runs through centuries or a few millenia; geologic when the period runs into geological time.

Longwave radiation

The radiation emitted in the spectral wavelength greater than 4 micrometers corresponding to the radiation emitted from the Earth and atmosphere. It is sometimes referred to as terrestrial radiation or infrared radiation, although somewhat imprecisely. See infrared radiation.

Low

The center of an area of low pressure, usually accompanied by cyclonic and inward wind flow. Also known as a cyclone.

Low Emission Vehicle (LEV)

A vehicle meeting the low-emission vehicle standards.

Low-flow frequency curve

A graph showing the magnitude and frequency of minimum flows for a period of given length. Frequency is usually expressed as the average interval, in years, between recurrences of an annual minimum flow equal to or less than that shown by the magnitude scale.

Low-flow irrigation systems

These systems (drip, trickle, and micro sprinklers) provide water in small volumes and generally provide water to plants with less waste than furrow irrigation. Drip and trickle systems apply water through small holes in small diameter tubes placed on or below the surface of the field. Another type of system, micro sprinklers, supplies water from low-volume sprinkler heads located above the surface. Low flow systems are expensive and their use is generally limited to high-value crops such as vegetables, fruits, and vineyards.

Lower heating value

Quantity of heat liberated by the complete combustion of a unit volume or weight of a fuel assuming that the produced water remains as a vapor and the heat of the vapor is not recovered; also known as net calorific value. See higher heating value.

Lubricant

A substance used to reduce friction between bearing surfaces or as a process material, either incorporated into other materials used as aids in manufacturing processes or as carriers of other materials. Petroleum lubricants may be produced either from distillates or residues. Other substances may be added to impart or improve useful properties. Does not include by-products of lubricating oil from solvent extraction or tars derived from de-asphalting. Lubricants include all grades of lubricating oils from spindle oil to cylinder oil and those used in greases. Lubricant categories are paraffinic and naphthenic.

Lysimeter

Structure containing a mass of soil, and designed to permit the measurement of water draining through the soil.

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