Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
11/26/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Mahdi Al-Kaisi, Extension Agronomy, (515) 294-1923, malkaisi@iastate.edu
Jean McGuire, Continuing Education and Communication Services, (515) 294-7033,
jmcguire@iastate.edu
Work Crop Residue Into Your 2003 Soil Management Plan
Ames, Iowa -- Crop residue is a simple, powerful tool farmers can use to save soil and improve surface water quality. Mahdi Al-Kaisi, extension agronomist, Iowa State University (ISU), says a soil conservation plan should include a provision for residue cover and conservation tillage management.
Al-Kaisi defines conservation tillage as, "any tillage management system that leaves at least 30 percent of the field surface covered with crop residue after planting. Crop residues are important because they retard the process of soil erosion by protecting the soil's surface from the direct erosive impact of raindrops. Crop residues are good indicator of how well your soil is protected from water erosion."
Even if you've already done some tillage, you can still plan for next year according to Al-Kaisi. "Going into 2003, you should be able to answer several questions about your crop residue management strategy. First, did you do any fall tillage or knife in manure yet? Do you know where you are in the crop residue spectrum? Are you really going to achieve the 30% crop residue target after planting next spring?"
Conservation tillage systems preserve significant crop residue cover. The most effective among them is 'no-till -- a tillage system where no disturbance of the soil occurs prior to planting with the exception of injection of liquid manure or anhydrous ammonia. No-till leaves nearly the entire available crop residue on the soil surface as possible at planting time. 'Strip-tillage' is another option -- particularly in areas where cold wet soil may cause seed germination problems in cold wet springs. This system uses narrow strips of tillage (6 to 8 inches wide), where next year's crop rows will be planted.
Al-Kaisi also recommends that farmers consult conservation tillage resources, such as, "Conservation Tillage Systems and Management (2nd edition), MWPS-45." Your ISU Extension county office can help you order a copy of this handbook.
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Funding support provided by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service through Cooperative Agreement No. 74-6114-10-03.
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