If possible, choose fields with shelterbelts. Don t do any fall tillage after an oilseed or pulse crop. Low-disturbance direct seeding greatly reduces the erosion risk by increasing residue conservation. Low-disturbance direct seeding is strongly recommended if the amount of crop residue produced was low. Plan rotation and tillage to maximize carryover of crop residue from one year to the next.
Cereals provide more persistent residue and so are essential in rotation with pulses and oilseeds.
Avoid fall tillage before an oilseed or pulse crop and, if possible, seed the pulse or oilseed crop using low-disturbance direct seeding. If seeding oilseeds or pulses on fallow, seed directly into chem fallow from a cereal crop rather than into tilled fallow. Avoid harvesting pulse straw for feed on land prone to erosion. If harvesting pulse straw, do so only when there will be good residue cover remaining after baling and seed the crop next year using low-disturbance direct seeding. Reviewed by the Saskatchewan Advisory Sub-council on Soil and Crop Management.