Integrated practices for reducing sediment loss from Piedmont tobacco fields

Abstract

We evaluated the effectiveness of three best management practices for flue-cured tobacco production—reduced tillage, grassed field-side filter zones, and forested filter zones—to determine the total reduction in suspended solids from storm water runoff. Use of reduced tillage in comparison with conventional tillage decreased total suspended solids leaving tobacco fields by 82%. Grassed field-side filter zones functioned very well in retaining solids in early summer but were overloaded by late summer. Forested filter zones were able to back up the grassed filter zones when they overloaded and exported total suspended solids to the forested filter zones. In combination, grassed filter zones and forested filter zones retained 68% to 69% of total suspended solids, respectively. Dense vegetation in the cutover forested filter zone more than doubled its capacity to detain solids, compared to the same forested filter zone when it was covered by mature mixed pine-hardwood. Use of these best management practices in series can significantly reduce sediment loss from tobacco; however, use of reduced-till may reduce tobacco yield and quality.