TY - JOUR T1 - Conservation tillage in Ontario JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 253 LP - 254 VL - 38 IS - 3 AU - J. W. Ketcheson AU - D. P. Stonehouse Y1 - 1983/05/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/38/3/253.abstract N2 - ONLY a small portion of Canada's land area is suitable for agricultural production. Half of the agricultural capability class 1 land (no significant limitations for cropping) is in Ontario (2). Ontario farmers, therefore, have a responsibility to maintain these soils in a highly productive state in the interests of Canada's food sufficiency. Soil erosion ever-presently challenges this goal because weather, soil types, and cropping practices in the province are conducive to soil movement (3). And current economic constraints narrow the farmer's choice of soil management programs. Some farmers must resort to less desirable practices, from a conservation point of view, to meet short-term financial obligations. In this setting, two questions seem important: Can conservation tillage become an integral part of profitable soil management in Ontario? Will conservation tillage maximize profits while protecting the soil resource against accelerated erosion? A land of variability Ontario encompasses many soil types and enormous variability in climatic conditions and cropping practices. Northern Ontario has relatively little agricultural land. What there is is devoted to cereals, hay, and pasture. Soil erosion is a minor problem except in newly cleared areas where drainage outlets are not protected. Mixed farming predominates in eastern Ontario … ER -