No-till practices significantly reduce soil erosion
Farmers implementing no-till practices can significantly reduce soil erosion rates, a new University of Illinois study shows.
Completely shifting to no-till would reduce soil loss and sediment yield by more than 70%, says Sanghyun Lee, doctoral student in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at University of Illinois.
But even a partial change in tilling practices could have significant results, he adds. “If we focus on the most vulnerable area in terms of soil erosion, then only 40% no-till shows almost the same reduction as 100% no-till implementation,” Lee says.
Physical data and computer modeling
The study used physical data and computer modeling to estimate soil erosion in the Drummer Creek watershed, which is part of the Upper Sangamon River watershed in Central Illinois. The area’s main crops are corn and soybeans, and tillage is a predominant agricultural practice.
“The rate of soil erosion is increased and accelerated by unsustainable agricultural production. One of the main reasons is conventional tillage in the field,” Lee says. “Our model provides a tool to estimate the impacts of tilling on soil erosion across the watershed.”
Modern conservation tillage practices do not affect crop yield in a negative way, according to a study by North Dakota State University.
The researchers included historical data on climate, soil properties, sediment sample data, and other relevant measures, then used the coupled model to predict how different management practices affect soil erosion rates.
Farmers need to weigh the benefits of tilling with the consequences of soil erosion and choose the best management strategies
“Farmers may prefer tilling because wet climate conditions cause compacted soil,” Lee says. “However, soil erosion removes topsoil, which contains lots of nutrients, and this may reduce yield in the long term. Soil erosion also affects water quality, both locally over time and at a distance.Therefore, farmers need to weigh the benefits of tilling with the consequences of soil erosion and choose the best management strategies.”
