Knife Roller (Crimper): An Alternative Kill Method for Cover Crops. Soil Quality-Agronomy Technical Note No. 13

摘要

Farmers in Paraguay and Brazil have become very successful in utilizing a systems approach to conserving and improving the soil resource. By effectively using cover crops, crop rotations, and such tools as the knife roller, they have achieved no-till rates on 45-60% of all agricultural lands. In contrast, no-till systems are used on only about 17.5% of the cropland in the United States (Derpsch, 2002). The South Americans have learned the value and importance of no-till systems. Annual primary tillage results in bare soils unprotected from rains and heat. Over time, tillage can increase erosion rates, induce the excess oxidation of organic matter, and thus reduce the performance and productivity of the soil.