Crop Residue Management to Reduce Erosion and Improve Soil Quality: Appalachiaand Northeast

摘要

Leaving crop residue on the soil surface has a number of clear advantages overtillage that leaves the soil surface bare. Most notable is the greatly reduced erosion; this advantage alone makes the change worthwhile. Mandated conservation compliance by 1995 is a further incentive to adopt surface-crop-residue management. Other advantages are increased yield due to water conserved by surface residue; lower soil temperatures; higher quality soil over time due to increased soil organic-matter levels; and in many cases, reduced input of time, labor, and fuel. The feasibility of surface-residue management has been proven by the increasing rate of acceptance and use by farm operators. Success is due in large part to the greater effectiveness and reduced cost of herbicides and the improvement of planting equipment available on the market.