RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Runoff and soil losses as affected by corn and soybean tillage systems JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation FD Soil and Water Conservation Society SP 64 OP 70 VO 53 IS 1 A1 F. Ghidey A1 E. E. Alberts YR 1998 UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/53/1/64.abstract AB Runoff and soil loss data were collected from seven cropping and tillage treatments over a 12-year period (1983–1994) from 28 (3.2 m wide by 27.4 m long) natural rainfall erosion plots located on a silt loam soil (Udollic Ochraqualf) near Kingdom City, MO. The treatments were continuous corn and soybean cropping under conventional, chisel, and no-till tillage methods, and continuous cultivated fallow. Although cropping slightly influenced runoff and soil loss, the differences were not statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). When averaged over tillage, mean annual runoff and soil loss from soybean were 3 and 12% higher than those from corn, respectively. Cropping effect on runoff was only significant (p ≤ 0.05) during the residue (P4) cropstage period. Most of the soil loss (approx. 80% of the annual loss) occurred during the rough fallow (F) and seedbed (SB) periods. For these periods, cropping had no significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on soil loss. Mean annual runoff and soil loss from continuous fallow were substantially greater compared to those from corn or soybean. Tillage, particularly no-till, had significant effects (p ≤ 0.05) on runoff and soil loss. When averaged over crop, no-till increased mean annual runoff by 14 and 20% compared to conventional and chisel, respectively. On the other hand, chisel decreased runoff by 5% compared to conventional. Soil loss from no-till method was 7 times lower than conventional and 5 times lower than chisel. Chisel lowered soil loss by 31% compared to conventional. The effects of tillage on runoff and soil loss were substantially greater during the F and SB cropstage periods. Overall, the study showed that (1) cropping had little effect on runoff and soil loss, and (2) no-till significantly increased runoff and substantially reduced soil loss when compared to the conventional method.