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BAE 3313 Natural Resources Engineering

Sourceshttp://www2.ctic.purdue.edu/Core4/CT/Definitions.html

http://www.ars.usda.gov (photos)

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1. A year-round agricultural management system Begins with the selection of crops that

produce sufficient quantities of residue. May include the use of cover crops after low

residue producing crops. 2. Includes all field operations that affect residue

amounts left on soil surface.3. Residue cover amounts: % or lbs 4. Umbrella” term encompassing many tillage

systems.

Crop Residue Management (CRM)

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Residue Cover

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/icm/2002/5-13-2002/cropresidue.html

Corn Soybean

25% 25%

50% 50%

75% 75%

90% 90%

68%

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/ag/plantdoc/photos

30%

http://fieldcropnews.com/

25%

45%

90%

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Soil Covered by Crop Residue After Field Operations

Tillage Operation CornSmall Grain Soybeans

After harvest 90-95 60-80Over-winter decomposition 80-95 70-80Moldboard plow 0-10 0 – 5Paraplow 80-90 75-85Combination secondary tillage tool 50-75 30-60Chisel (twisted points) 50-70 30-40Chisel (straight points) 60-80 40-60Disk (off-set, primary >9” spacing) 40-70 25-40

Disk (tandem, finishing 7”-9” spacing) 30-60 20-40Anhydrous applicator 75-85 45-70Field cultivator (secondary operation) 60-90 35-75Row Planter 85-95 75-95No-till drill 55-75 40-60

http://www.ny.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/agronomy/residue/index.html

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ring 1. Full width tillage which disturbs all of the soil

surface and is performed prior to and/or during planting.

2. Less than 15 percent residue cover after planting, or less than 500 pounds per acre of residue.

3. Generally involves plowing, disking, and may include numerous tillage trips.

4. Weed control is accomplished by disking, herbicides, and/or row cultivation.

Conventional Tillage< 15 % Crop Residue After Planting

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Conventional Tillage< 15 % Crop Residue After Planting

http://passel.unl.edu/Image/siteImages/Tillage-LG.jpg

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One or more tillage trips which disturbs all of the soil surface

Performed prior to and/or during planting. 2. 15-30 percent residue cover after planting or

500 to 1,000 pounds per acre residue 3. Weed control is accomplished with herbicides

and/or row cultivation.

Reduced Tillage15-30% Crop Residue After Planting

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tillage2. Any tillage and planting

system that covers 30 percent or more of the soil surface with crop residue after planting or maintains at least 1,000 pounds per acre residue on the surface

3. Weed control is typically accomplished with herbicides

Conservation Tillage≥ 30 % Crop Residue After Planting

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Except for strips up to 1/3 of the row width Strips may involve only residue disturbance

or may include minor soil disturbance 2. Planting or drilling is accomplished using disc

openers, coulter(s), row cleaners, in-row chisels or roto-tillers.

3. Weed control is accomplished primarily with herbicides.

4. Cultivation may be used for emergency weed control.

5. Other Terms: direct seeding, slot planting, zero-till, row-till, and slot-till.

Conservation Tillage: No-till/Strip-till≥ 30 % Crop Residue After Planting

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Conservation Tillage: No-till/Strip-till≥ 30 % Crop Residue After Planting http://www.uwex.edu/ces/

ag/plantdoc/viewCase.cfm?cid=317

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ring 1. Soil left undisturbed from harvest to planting

except for strips up to 1/3 of the row width. 2. Planting

Completed on the ridge and usually involves the removal of the top of the ridge.

Use sweeps, disk openers, coulters, or row cleaners.

3. Residue is left on the surface between ridges. 4. Weed control is accomplished with herbicides

(frequently banded) and/or cultivation. 5. Ridges are rebuilt during row cultivation.

Conservation Tillage: Ridge-till≥ 30 % Crop Residue After Planting

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Conservation Tillage: Ridge-till≥ 30 % Crop Residue After Planting

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One or more tillage trips which disturbs all of the soil surface

Done prior to and/or during planting. 2. Tillage tools such as chisels, field cultivators,

disks, sweeps or blades are used. 3. Weed control is accomplished with herbicides

and/or cultivation.

Conservation Tillage: Mulch-till≥ 30 % Crop Residue After Planting

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Conservation Tillage: Mulch-till≥ 30 % Crop Residue After Planting

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Tillage and Crop Residue Management

TillageIntensity

None

Frequent 0%

100%

SurfaceResidue

Conservation Tillage

30%

Conventional Tillage15%

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Conservation TillageAdvantages Disadvantages

Reduced erosion May increase herbicide useSaves fuel

Reduces costs Residue may harbor pests and fungal diseases, which may increase pesticide use

Retains soil moistureMay allow double crops

May increase crop yields Additional capital expenditures for specialized equipmentSequesters carbon