Residue and Tillage Management

Question 1

Describe How Surface Residue Impacts Soil

Temp

Answer 1

• soil moisture will tend to be greater in soils with high surface residues
  
  • warm more slowly in spring due to high moisture content

Question 2

Describe How Surface Residue Impacts Soil

Erosion Potential

Answer 2

• erosion reduced under high surface residue

Question 3

Describe How Surface Residue Impacts Soil

Moisture

Answer 3

• soil moisture generally higher in high surface residue systems due to
  
  • increased infiltration
  • and reduced evaporation

Question 4

Describe How Surface Residue Impacts Soil

Organic Matter

Answer 4

• soil organic matter will decrease to a stable value under clean till system
• SOM may increase slowly under high surface residue low till management

Question 5

How to measure percent crop residue cover

Answer 5

• place 100 foot tape at a 45 degree angle across the rows
• count how many times crop residue intersects per 100 feet
  
  • that is your percent of crop cover

Question 6

Effects of Biomass Removal

Answer 6

• organic matter in surface decreases
• soil structure in plow layer may change from granular to structureless
• decline in fertility
  
  • especially N
  • soil buffering
  • nutrient retention
• erosion
• moisture retention declines
• less carbon sequestering