Placing some of the applied chemical below the soil surface protects it from surface runoff. Conservation Tillage . Surface crop residue reduces erosion and often increases water infiltration, reducing pesticide runoff. No-till, especially after practiced for several years, has sometimes dramatically reduced pesticide runoff. Contour Planting .
Contour rows reduce erosion, slow runoff, and increase infiltration.
Orientation of rows adjacent to buffers may need to be adjusted to direct runoff as sheet flow across buffers. Strip Cropping . When strips of densely planted crops such as forages or small grains are alternated with strips of row crops, the densely planted crop acts as a buffer. When the strips are planted on the contour, runoff and erosion are reduced and more runoff water enters the soil. Crop Rotation .