Any tillage and planting system that covers 30 percent or more of the soil surface with crop residue, after planting, to reduce soil erosion by water. Where soil erosion by wind is the primary concern, any system that maintains at least 1,000 pounds per acre of flat, small grain residue equivalent on the surface throughout the critical wind erosion period. Weed control is accomplished primarily with crop protection products. Cultivation may be used for emergency weed control. Planting is completed on the ridge and usually involves the removal of the top of the ridge.
Planting is completed with sweeps, disk openers, coulters, or row cleaners.
Residue is left on the surface between ridges. Ridges are rebuilt during row cultivation. Tillage tools such as chisels, field cultivators, disks, sweeps or blades are used. There is 15-30 percent residue cover after planting or 500 to 1,000 pounds per acre of small grain residue equivalent throughout the critical wind erosion period. There is less than 15 percent residue cover after planting, or less than 500 pounds per acre of small grain residue equivalent throughout the critical wind erosion period.