United States Department of Agriculture Crop Residue Agricultural Research Service Management To Conservation Research Report Number 40 Reduce Erosion and May 1995 Improve Soil Quality Northwest i 1 1 1 1 1 3 i 5 1 1 I 11-; j 2,cc I 110 1 11 I 2 12. 1 1 1 1; 8 i l ik 111;0411/110 li ii 1 1 111 Ech 1;1 m < MO OWILO z 0 a WM I- 11 United States Department of Agriculture Crop Residue Agricultural Research Service Management To Conservation Research Report Number 40 Reduce Erosion and May 1995 Improve Soil Quality Northwest R.I. Papendick and W.C. Moldenhauer, Editors Abstract Papendick, R.I., and W.C. Moldenhauer, eds. 1995. Crop imply that uses discussed here have been registered. All Residue Management To Reduce Erosion and Improve Soil uses of pesticides must be registered by appropriate state or Quality: Northwest. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Federal agencies or both before they can be recommended. Agricultural Research Service, CRR-40, 68 pp. While supplies last, single copies of this publication may be Leaving crop residue on the soil surface during cropping has obtained at no cost from a Natural Resources Conservation a number of clear advantages over tillage that leaves the soil Service District office. Copies of this publication may be surface bare. Most obvious is the greatly reduced erosion purchased from the National Technical Information Service, from wind and water. This advantage alone makes the 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; telephone change worthwhile. Mandated conservation compliance by (703) 487-4650. 1995 is a further incentive to adopt surface crop residue management. Other advantages include increased yield due This is one of six regional publications designed to bring to water conserved by surface residue, lower soil tempera- research results and experience of experts in the field of tures, higher quality soil over time due to increased soil crop residue management to the attention of farmers and organic matter levels, and, in many cases, reduced input of their advisers. A copy of the five other regional reports on time, labor, and fuel. Crop Residue Management To Reduce Erosion and Improve Soil Quality can be obtained from the Conservation Tech- The feasibility of farming while leaving residues on the nology Information Center, 1220 Potter Drive, Room 170, surface is indicated by the rapid rate at which farmers are West Lafayette, IN 47906 (fax 317-494-5969, telephone adopting these management practices. Success is due in 317-494-9555). The other five regions are Appalachia and large part to greater effectiveness and reduced cost of Northeast, North Central, Northern Great Plains, Southeast, herbicides and the improvement of planting equipment and Southern Great Plains. available on the market. Keywords: Agricultural economics, conservation tillage, crop rotation, farming methods, erosion, mulch tillage, no- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) pro- till, nutrient cycling, pest management, raindrop erosion, hibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, ridge tillage, soil compaction, soil conservation, soil color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political erosion, surface residue tillage, sweep tillage, tillage, water beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited conservation, wind erosion. bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program Mention of trade names or commercial products in this information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific contact the USDA Office of Communications at (202) 720- information and does not imply recommendation or en- 5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD). dorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over others not mentioned. To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is This publication reports research involving pesticides. It an equal employment opportunity employer. does not contain recommendations for their use nor does it Issued May 1995 Contents Contributors iv 6 Achieving Conservation Compliance with Residue Farming in the Intermediate-Precipitation Zone 26 1 Introduction: Why the Emphasis on Crop Residue D.J. Wysocki, F.L. Young, R.J. Cook, P.E. Rasmussen, Management? 1 D.L. Young, R.J. Veseth, and R.I. Papendick W.C. Moldenhauer and R.I. Papendick Rotations in Use 26 2 Terminology 3 Residue Production 26 David L. Schertz and John Becherer Fertility Management 26 Tillage and Planting Options for Managing Description of the Region 4 ,Residue Levels 26 R.I. Papendick, F.L. Young, K.S. Pike, and R.J. Cook Risk and Management of Weeds in Conservation Till 29 Climate 4 Risk and Magagement of Crop Disease in Topography and Soils 4 Conservation Till 29 Traditional Cropping and Tillage Practices 4 Other Soil Conservation Practices 30 Erosion and Water Conservation Problems 5 Economic Advantages and Risks of Conservation Pest Problems 6 Production Systems 30 4 Surface Residue Management 10 7 Achieving Conservation Compliance with Residue D.K. McCool, J.E. Hammel, and R.I. Papendick Farming in the Low-Precipitation Zone 32 D.J. Wysocki, P.E. Rasmussen, F.L.Young, R.J. Cook, D.L. Effectiveness of Residues for Controlling Erosion from Young, and R.I. Papendick Wind and Water 10 Residue Effects on Soil Water and Temperature 10 Rotations in Use 32 Measuring and Reporting Residue Amount 11 Residue Production 32 Residue Reductions by Implements and Tools 11 Fertility Management 32 Critical Erosion Period 12 Tillage and Planting Options for Managing Residue Levels 32 5 Achieving Conservation Compliance with Residue Risk and Management of Weeds in Farming in the High-Precipitation Zone 17 Conservation Till 33 R.J. Veseth, P.E. Rasmussen, F.L. Young, R.I. Cook, Risk and Management of Diseases in D.L. Young, and R.I. Papendick Conservation Till 34 Other Soil Conservation Practices 34 Rotations in Use 17 Economic Advantages and Risks of Conservation Residue Production 17 Production Systems 34 Fertility Management 17 Tillage and Planting Options for Managing 8 Alternatives to Residue Management 35 Residue Levels 18 W.D. Kemper, W.C. Moldenhauer, and R.I. Papendick Risk and Management of Weeds in Conservation Till 22 9 Crop Residue Management for Soil Conservation on Risk and Management of Crop Disease in Irrigated Lands of the Northwest 37 Conservation Till 23 D.L. Carter, W.D. Kemper, R.D. Berg, and M.J. Brown Other Soil Conservation Practices 24 Economic Advantages and Risks of Conservation Erosion Problems Induced by Furrow Irrigation 37 Production Systems 25 Residue Management for Erosion Control on Furrow-irrigated Land 37 Effects of Tillage on Furrow Irrigation Uniformity and Efficiency 40 Residue Managment Under Sprinkler Irrigation 42 National Perspectives on Management Options for IL National Perspectives on Long-Term Effects Lands Concluding Their Tenure in the Conservation of Tillage and Crop Residue Management 52 Reserve Program (CRP) 44 W.C. Moldenhauer, W.D. Kemper, and R.I. Papendick T.E. Schumacher, M.J. Lindstrom, M.L. Blecha, and RI Papendick The Beginnings of Soil Degradation 52 Effects of Reducing Tillage on Residual Conservation Reserve Program 44 Organic Matter 53 Effects of Grass on Soil Properties 45 Effects of Increasing Surface Residues on Residual Soil Improvement from CRP (Long-Term Grass) 45 Organic Matter 53 Post-CRP Options 46 Effects of Leaving Crop Residue on the Surface 54 No-Till After CRP 47 Reasons for Limited Tillage 56 Design of No-Till Systems 49 Environmental Effects of Herbicides Used in Conservation Measures for Residue-Deficient Crops 50 Reduced-Tillage Systems 56 Contributors John Becherer, chief executive officer, United Soybean R.I. Papendick, soil scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Board, St. Louis, MO Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA R.D. Berg, research technician, U.S. Department of Agricul- K.S. Pike, entomologist, Irrigated Agriculture Research and ture, Agricultural Research Service, Kimberly, ID Extension Center, Washington State University, Prosser, WA M.L. Blecha, county extension agent, Jerauld County, P.E. Rasmussen, soil scientist, U.S. Department of Agricul- Wessington Springs, SD ture, Agricultural Research Service, Pendleton, OR M.J. Brown, soil scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, David L Schertz, national agronomist, U.S. Department of Agricultural Research Service, Kimberly, ID Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC D.L. Carter, soil scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Kimberly, ID T.E. Schumacher, soil physicist, Plant Science Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD R.J. Cook, plant pathologist, U.S. Department of Agricul- ture, Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA R.J. Veseth, extension conservation tillage specialist, Depart- ment of Plant and Entomological Sciences, University of I.E. Hammel, soil physicist, Department of Plant and Idaho, Moscow, /D Entomological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID D.J. Wysocki, extension soil scientist, Columbia Basin W,D. Kemper, soil scientist, National Program Staff, U.S. Agricultural Research Center, Oregon State University, Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Pendleton, OR Beltsville, MD D.L. Young, agricultural economist, Department of Agricul- M.J. Lindstrom, soil scientist, U.S. Department of Agricul- tural Economics, Washington State University, Pullman, WA ture, Agricultural Research Service, Morris, MN F.L. Young, weed scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA D.K. McCool, agricultural engineer, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Pullman, WA W.C. Moldenhauer (retired), soil scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Volga, SD iv Introduction: Why the Emphasis on Farmers' willingness to leave residue on the surface was Crop Residue Management? greatly enhanced by the development of herbicides, which provided an alternative to tillage for controlling weeds. W.C. Moldenhauer and R.I.