Reducing Soil Erosion and Agricultural Chemical Losses with Conservation Tillage

Seta, A. K.; Blevins, R. L.; Frye, W. W.; Barfield, B. J.

doi:10.2134/jeq1993.00472425002200040004x

Cited by 104 publications

(65 citation statements)

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“…Comparison of soil loss from cotton fields in northern Alabama found that no-till plots averaged two to nine times less soil loss than tilled plots (46). One study in Kentucky reported that no-till methods decreased soil erosion by an astounding 98% (47). Although the effect on erosion rates depends on a number of local factors, such as the type of soil and the crop, the 39 examples involving direct comparisons of soil erosion under conventional and no-till methods compiled here represent a wide variety of settings with very different erosion rates and show that no-till practices reduce soil erosion 2.5 to Ͼ1,000 times, with median and mean values of 20 and 488 times, respectively (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil erosion and agricultural sustainability

Montgomery

2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

1,588

971

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Data drawn from a global compilation of studies quantitatively confirm the long-articulated contention that erosion rates from conventionally plowed agricultural fields average 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than rates of soil production, erosion under native vegetation, and long-term geological erosion. The general equivalence of the latter indicates that, considered globally, hillslope soil production and erosion evolve to balance geologic and climate forcing, whereas conventional plow-based agriculture increases erosion rates enough to prove unsustainable. In contrast to how net soil erosion rates in conventionally plowed fields (Ϸ1 mm/yr) can erode through a typical hillslope soil profile over time scales comparable to the longevity of major civilizations, no-till agriculture produces erosion rates much closer to soil production rates and therefore could provide a foundation for sustainable agriculture.agriculture ͉ civilization

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil erosion and agricultural sustainability

Montgomery

2007

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

1,588

971

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“…Significant differences in runoff accompanied these enhanced soil losses. More modern reduced tillage methods, currently used on about 35% of the corn produced in the U.S., can substantially reduce erosion rates (Seta et al, 1993).…”

Section: Role Of Switchgrass In Soil Carbon Erosion and Sedimentatimentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating environmental consequences of producing herbaceous crops for bioenergy

McLaughlin

Walsh

1998

Biomass and Bioenergy

357

213

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The environmental costs and benefits of producing bioenergy crops can be measured both in terms of the relative effects on soil, water, and wildlife habitat quality of replacing alternate cropping systems with the designated bioenergy system, and in terms of the quality and amount of energy that is produced per unit of energy expended. While many forms of herbaceous and woody energy crops will likely contribute to future biofuels systems, The Department of Energy's Biofuels Feedstock Development Program ( B F D P ) , has chosen to focus its primary herbaceous crops research emphasis on a perennial grass species, switchgrass (Panicum virsatum) , as a bioenergy candidate. This choice was based on its high yields, high nutrient use efficiency, and wide geographic distribution, and also on its positive environmental attributes. The latter include its positive effects on soil quality and stability, its cover value for wildlife, and the lower inputs of energy, water, and agrochemicals required per unit of energy produced. A comparison of the energy budgets for corn, which is the primary current source of bioethanol, and switchgrass reveals that the efficiency of energy production for a perennial grass system can exceed that for an energy intensive annual row crop by as much as 15 times. In additions reductions in CO, emissions, tied to the energetic efficiency of producing transportation fuels and replacing non-renewable petrochemical fuels, are very efficient with grasses. Calculated carbon sequestration rates may exceed those of annual crops by as much as [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] times, due in part to carbon storage in the soil. These differences have major implications for both the rate and efficiency with which fossil energy sources can be replaced with cleaner burning biofuels. Current research is emphasizing quantification of changes in soil nutrients and soil organic matter to provide understanding of the long term changes in soil quality associated with annual removal of high yields of herbaceous energy crops.

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“…Da mesma forma, áreas pedologicamente diferentes, quando submetidas ao mesmo manejo, podem apresentar-se semelhantes em seus atributos. O manejo pode alterar atributos químicos, físicos, mineralógicos e biológicos, com impacto principalmente nas camadas superficiais do solo (Blevins et al, 1983;Seta et al, 1993;Corá, 1997).…”

Section: Introductionunclassified