Effect of residue harvesting on soil productivity and erosion. Period covered: March 23, 1979-December 31, 1981

Technical Report ·

OSTI ID:5240308

Lindstrom, M J

The research objective was to determine the effect of residue removal for energy production on water runoff, soil erosion, nutrient transport, and soil physical and chemical changes. Runoff plots equipped to measure runoff, sediment, and nutrient transport were established at Morris, Minnesota and Madison, South Dakota. Residue removal was based on the calculated amount of residue needed to maintain soil loss levels at the soil loss tolerance level for a conservation tilled system at Morris and a no-till system at Madison. Base soil physical and chemical properties were measured at the initiation of the experiment and monitored for changes with time for the various residue and tillage systems. The precipitation and erosion index (EI) received on the plot areas during the 1980 and 1981 growing season with measured amounts of water runoff and soil erosion that occurred with these storms are reported. Nutrient losses for the plots are reported as a total for the cropping season in water runoff and eroded soil. Nutrient removal from the soil system in grain harvest, and nutrient removal associated with stover harvest are reported. Summary tables are given showing total nutrient removal from the soil system during a cropping system and help to establish a perspective of the various removal mechanisms with each other. Results indicate that the amount of nutrients removed with the soil at the soil loss tolerance level (5 T/ac/yr) amounted to a significant level when compared to standard fertilizer practices, and when computed at current fertilizer prices amounts to a significant cash outlay. However, the same nutrients contained in the harvested residue was in effect similar to the amount lost in soil erosion.

• Research Organization: Department of Agriculture, St. Paul, MN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AI05-79OR20304
• OSTI ID: 5240308
• Report Number(s): DOE/OR/20304-T2; ON: DE82018076
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
553000* -- Agriculture & Food Technology
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
AGRICULTURAL WASTES
ATMOSPHERIC PRECIPITATIONS
CROPS
DATA
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
EROSION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HARVESTING
INFORMATION
LOSSES
MASS TRANSFER
NUMERICAL DATA
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC WASTES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PRODUCTIVITY
RESIDUES
RUNOFF
SOILS
WASTES