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The Effects of Different Methods of Cornstalk Residue Management on Runoff and Erosion as Evaluated by Simulated Rainfall
Author(s) -
Mannering J. V.,
Meyer L. D.
Publication year - 1961
Publication title -
soil science society of america journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 168
eISSN - 1435-0661
pISSN - 0361-5995
DOI - 10.2136/sssaj1961.03615995002500060027x
Subject(s) - surface runoff , loam , environmental science , soil loss , infiltration (hvac) , erosion , residue (chemistry) , soil conservation , agronomy , soil water , silt , soil science , agriculture , chemistry , geology , biology , materials science , ecology , paleontology , biochemistry , composite material
The effects of three methods of cornstalk residue management on runoff and erosion were studied in the field on a Warsaw loam of 4 to 4½% slope and a Russell silt loam of 3 to 3½% slope. These methods were: (1) cornstalks as left by a cornpicker (check), (2) cornstalks shredded after corn was picked, and (3) cornstalks shredded and disked once. Simulated rainstorms at a constant intensity of 2.4 inches per hour were applied on each of two successive days by the rainulator, a field‐plot rainfall simulator. Infiltration, runoff, soil content of the runoff, and total soil loss were determined for both locations. Soil losses from the shredded treatment were < ½ the losses from the check treatment for both soil types. Since runoff from the two treatments were nearly identical, the reduction in soil loss was due to the lower soil content of the runoff. Soil losses from the shredded‐plus‐disked treatment were between those of the check and shredded treatments. Conclusions were (1) that shredding cornstalks in the fall can reduce soil losses significantly during the winter months and (2) that disking shredded cornstalks is undesirable from a soil conservation standpoint.