Site-specific residue cover amounts needed are usually expressed in percentage but may also be in pounds. 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 herbicides. Cultivation may be used for emergency weed control. Planting is completed in a seedbed prepared on ridges with sweeps, disk openers, coulters, or row cleaners.
Residue is left on the surface between ridges.
Ridges are rebuilt during cultivation. Tillage tools such as chisels, field cultivators, disks, sweeps or blades are used. Tillage types that leave 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. Generally involves plowing or intensive tillage.