RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 No-till spring cereal cropping systems reduce wind erosion susceptibility in the wheat/fallow region of the pacific northwest
JF Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
FD Soil and Water Conservation Society
SP 250
OP 257
VO 58
IS 5
A1 Thorne, M. E.
A1 Young, F. L
A1 Pan, W. L.
A1 Bafus, R.
A1 Alldredge, J. R.
YR 2003
UL http://www.jswconline.org/content/58/5/250.abstract
AB The dust-mulch fallow phase of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in low-rainfall areas of the Columbia Plateau leaves the soil surface loose-structured and exposed to erosion during high winds common to the region, and is a major source of airborne particulate matter. The objective of this research is to evaluate no-till spring cropping as an alternative to traditional winter wheat/dust-mulch fallow in reducing wind erosion susceptibility. Surface residue cover, random roughness, and crop canopy coverage were measured during a 3-year transition period from winter wheat/fallow to no-till spring cereals. These measurements were applied to soil loss ratio models as indices of wind erosion susceptibility. No-till spring cereal rotations reduced erosion susceptibility compared with winter wheat/fallow by maintaining soil cover during spring and fall when erosion is high. Crop canopy cover reduced erosion susceptibility after fall seeding in winter wheat/fallow and after no-till spring seeding. This research indicates that no-till spring cropping would significantly reduce wind erosion in winter wheat/fallow areas.