U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center: Pendleton, OR
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Related TopicsSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Pacific West Area Pendleton, Oregon Columbia Plateau Conservation Research Center Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Williams, Johnitem
                                            Wuest, Stewart
  Submitted to: American Water Resources Association Conference Proceedings
                                    Publication Type: Proceedings
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 4/25/2000
                                    Publication  Date: N/A
                                    Citation: N/AInterpretive Summary: Dryland farming practices are changing from intensive (conventional) cultivation to no-till. These changes are occurring largely as a result of increased fuel and labor costs, and increasingly as one solution for controlling soil erosion to improve soil and water quality. Although much highly erodible land has been entered into CRP, this program was never  intended to include more than a small percentage of cropland. The difference between no-till and conventional farming is stark; conventional systems require from two to six passes through the soil with tillage implements that severely disturb the soil, whereas direct seeding can be accomplished in one pass with minimal soil disturbance. In the interior Pacific Northwest on the Columbia Plateau and Palouse croplands, this change will result in diminished soil losses, and potentially influence storm and annual hydrographs of many of the smaller tributaries of the  Columbia River. The decreased soil loss will have positive impacts on water quality problems. Changes in the stream flow, in turn, will influence stream rehabilitation efforts, flood plain management and land use. With this paper, we begin to explore the potential consequences resulting from a change to no-till farming practices.
                                Technical Abstract: Dryland farming practices are changing from intensive (conventional) cultivation to direct seeding. These changes are occurring largely as a result of increased fuel and labor costs, and increasingly as one solution for controlling soil erosion to improve soil and water quality. In the U.S., the only practice that has equal potential to decrease soil erosion  and runoff is the conservation reserve program (CRP). Although much highly erodible land has been entered into CRP, it was never intended to include more than a small percentage of land currently being cropped. Direct seeding has the potential for becoming a major, if not primary, farming practice throughout the U.S. The difference between direct seeding and conventional cultivation is stark; conventional systems require from two to six passes through the soil with tillage implements that severely disturb the soil, whereas direct seeding can be accomplished in one pass  with minimal soil disturbance. In the interior Pacific Northwest on the Columbia Plateau and Palouse croplands, this change will result in diminished soil losses, and potentially influence storm and annual hydrographs of many of the smaller tributaries of the Columbia River. The decreased soil loss will have positive impacts on water quality problems. Changes in the hydrograph, in turn, will influence stream rehabilitation efforts, flood plain management and land use. With this paper, we begin to explore the potential hydrologic and stream morphologic responses resulting from a change to direct seeding farming practices.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov