In addition to affecting sediment loss, tillage influences many interacting physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils that can have major impacts on crop production. These properties include temperature, moisture, aeration, bulk density, structure, nutrient distribution, organic matter levels, and microbial populations. Various crops respond to these changes differently. The range of these changes can be amplified by extremes in tillage reduction associated with some residue management alternatives. Small grain is insensitive to temperature changes but may respond to changes in the seed furrow environment and to differing weed species present.
Small grain is a prominent part of the agriculture in the upper Minnesota River basin.
Following is a discussion of residue management tillage system effects on small grain production. On non-HEL soils the steepness and length of the slopes will indicate the potential for significant erosion. A second soil factor that must be considered is internal drainage. Poorly drained soils warm up more slowly than well-drained soils, so may require more tillage. Tile drainage may improve this situation, but in some cases this may not be enough to insure consistent success with little or no tillage.