RES-N-TILL™

Excerpt

Crop residue is a renewable natural resource, easily managed to protect the non-renewable soil resource. Crop residue in a conservation tillage system provides several advantages. Residue on the soil surface increases water capture and retention. A residue cover also protects the soil surface from sealing or blowing and moderates soil temperature. Erosion by both wind and water is reduced when adequate residue is maintained on the soil surface.

The conservation provisions of the 1985 and 1990 farm bills will significantly influence the way American farmers produce crops. Eligibility for USDA farm program benefits is now linked to soil and water conservation in ways not previously considered. Many conservation compliance plans rely on using crop residue to reduce soil erosion below tolerable levels.

The amount of residue required for soil conservation varies with each situation, so management guidelines can be complex. In Kansas, a majority of farmers need to keep at least 20 percent of the soil surface covered by crop residue to control wind and water erosion. In some regions, as much as 1500 pounds of residue per acre is required to stop severe wind erosion. Many soil, crop, and climate variables affect the amount of crop residue produced