PLNT 1213 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Dust Bowl, Conservation Reserve Program, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Document Summary
Tillage: the agricultural preparation of soil by mechanical agitation, such as digging, stirring and overturning. Tillage is the cause and cure of crusting: you till to prepare the seedbed, intense rain pounds the (now loose) soil, a hard crust forms. Shape soil: smooth soil surface, raised beds. Some weeds become more problematic: reduce disease inoculum. Bury plant residues: disrupt insect life cycles. Primary (can"t use when plants are growing: inverts, cuts and shatters soil to 6-36 inches, leaves the soil surface rough. Secondary (can use when there are plants growing: follows primary tillage, prepares seedbed, weed control. Conventional tillage: involves plowing and/or multiple tillage passes each year, leaves less than 15% residue cover after planting, primary and secondary tillage types. Helps control pests: herbicide incorporation, mechanical weed control. Many trips across the field: time, fuel. Increases potential for soil erosion: no obstruction to wind and rain, poor water infiltration. Soil erosion: the detachment and removal of soil.
