Managing crop residues on the Prairies Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration Paper Managing Crop Residues on the Prairies Keeping fields covered with crop residue is the most effective and practical means of controlling soil erosion by wind and water.
Residue cover helps conserve soil moisture and organic matter for increased crop production.
Planning for residue management should be an important component of any crop production system. The amount of crop residue required to control erosion depends on the type and condition of soil being farmed and the steepness of field slopes. Coarse textured sandy soils require more residue for control of wind erosion than do medium-textured loam soils. The type of crop residue is also very important as residue from some crops, such as oilseeds, rapidly breaks down. Cereal crop residues offer more protection as they break down slower.