Crop residue can save your soil Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration Crop residue can save your soil Every producer knows that soil erosion can severely reduce their soil's productivity and resulting crop yields. Although shelterbelts and stripcropping will help conserve the soil, most producers today also rely on crop residues to control erosion. Standing and anchored crop residue provides the best protection, as it presents a barrier against the wind, and helps prevent soil from being carried away by water.
Crop residue is also vital to maintaining organic matter levels in soils.
Residues maintained at the soil surface decompose more slowly than when they are incorporated into the soil, and over time soil organic matter levels can increase. This makes the soil more workable and stimulates increased cycling of plant nutrients by soil organisms. Crop residues also improve snow capture, and provide a better microclimate for seedlings by reducing evapotranspiration and shading the growing crop. The amount of residue required to control erosion depends on weather conditions, field slopes, and the surface soil aggregation. However, few crop rotations and tillage systems can meet this goal, particularly after seeding when the soil is most vulnerable.