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

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:220517
Leaving crop residue on the soil surface has a number of clear advantages over tillage that leaves the soil surface bare. Most notable is the greatly reduced erosion; 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 surface-residue management has been proven by the increasing rate of acceptance and use by farm operators. Success is due in large part to the greater effectiveness 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:
220517
Report Number(s):
PB--96-144464/XAB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English