Input from farmers was used to identify which practices fit the adoption criteria. BMPs are described below for each tillage practice. Most dryland corn and sorghum is produced in a crop rotation. Crop rotation is a highly recommended BMP in this region. Crop rotation can break pest cycles and reduce pesticide costs, increase yields, lower the cost of fertilizer and irrigation and reduce the overall cost of production.
Rotation is also effective for irrigated crops.
However, interrow cultivation associated with banding may increase soil erosion and soil moisture loss. If these are important factors in your field, consider other BMPs. Spring tillage or seedbed preparation can be used to incorporate herbicides. Uniform incorporation with two tillage passes with a tillage tool minimizing the loss of surface residue and provides the best weed control. Using a reduced rate of atrazine preplant and the balance in a postemergent band application reduces the amount of atrazine on the soil surface available for runoff.