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Save ENERGY, Save MONEY
Conservation Practices that Save: Crop Residue Management
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Conservation tillage systems
have at least 30 percent of last year’s crop residue on the soil at
planting. Residue adequately controls erosion by both wind and water,
among other conservation benefits. |
A producer can save at least 3.5 gallons of fuel per acre by going from
conventional tillage methods to no-till. At November 2005 diesel prices, this
amounts to $7.70 per acre in production cost savings. On a farm with 1,000 acres
of cropland, these savings add up to 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel per year
valued at $7,700.
Currently, no-till is practiced on over 62 million acres. If the amount of
no-till acreage doubled, farmers could save an additional 217 million gallons of
fuel, valued at over $480 million.
No-till is a conservation practice that leaves the crop residue undisturbed from
harvest through planting except for narrow strips that cause minimal soil
disturbance. Crop residues are materials left in an agricultural field after the
crop has been harvested. These residues include stalks and stubble (stems),
leaves and seed pods. Good management of field residues can increase efficiency
of irrigation and control of erosion. No-till can be used for almost any crop in
almost any soil and can save producers labor costs and fuel. It’s a sound
investment for the environment and the farm.
In addition to energy efficiencies and cost savings, no-till has several
environmental benefits. No-till increases the organic matter in the soil, making
it more stable and helping prevent soil erosion. No-till reduces greenhouse
gases because it requires less fuel and sequesters (stores) carbon in the soil.
Other benefits of using no-till as part of a resource management system include:
• Increased earthworm populations that improve soil quality—an average of
540,000 earthworms per acre versus 285,000 in conventional tillage;
• Increased water infiltration—cutting evaporation and runoff by at least 70
percent;
• Reduced tilling time per acre—by as much as two-thirds; and
• Improved wildlife habitat.
NRCS supports conservation practices that save producers money and improve the
environmental health of the Nation. For more information on energy-saving
conservation practices, visit the NRCS “Save ENERGY, Save MONEY” Web site at
www.nrcs.usda.gov.
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Conservation
Practices that Save: Crop Residue Management
Helping People Help the Land
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