Crop residue management to reduce erosion and improve soil quality: Northwest. Conservation research report

Technical Report · Sat May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

OSTI ID:220516

Papendick, R I; Moldenhauer, W C

Leaving crop residue on the soil surface during cropping has a number of clear advantages over tillage that leaves the soil surface bare. Most obvious is the greatly reduced erosion from wind and water. This advantage alone makes the change worthwhile. Mandated conservation compliance by 1995 is a further incentive to adopt surface-crop-residue management. Other advantages are increased yield due to water conserved by surface residue, lower soil temperatures, higher quality soil over time due to increased soil organic-matter levels, and in many cases, reduced input of time, labor, and fuel. The feasibility of farming while leaving residues on the surface is indicated by the rapid rate at which farmers are adopting these management practices. Success is due in large part to greater efferctiveness and reduced cost of herbicides and the improvement of planting equipment available on the market.

• Research Organization: Agricultural Research Service, Greenbelt, MD (United States)
• OSTI ID: 220516
• Report Number(s): PB--96-144456/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
AGRICULTURE
EROSION CONTROL
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
SOIL CONSERVATION
WASTE PRODUCT UTILIZATION