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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #205148
Title: Evaluating a Crop Residue Cover Index for Determining Tillage Regime in a Cotton-Corn-Peanut Rotation

Author
item Sullivan, Dana
item LEE, D - UNIVERSITY OF GA
item BEASLEY, J - UNIVERSITY OF GA
item BROWN, S - UNIVERSITY OF GA
item WILLIAMS, J - UNIVERSITY OF GA

Submitted to: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/2007
Publication Date: 1/16/2008
Citation: Sullivan, D.G., Lee, D., Beasley, J., Brown, S., Williams, J. 2008. Evaluating a Crop Residue Cover Index for Determining Tillage Regime in a Cotton-Corn-Peanut Rotation. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 63:28-36.

Interpretive Summary: Reduce tillage and residue management can have significant impacts to soil and water quality, primarily through the accumulation of soil organic carbon. Yet, current methods of tillage and crop residue cover assessment are inappropriate for watershed scale determinations. This study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity of a remotely derived crop residue cover index and thermal infrared emittance to tillage regime. Treatments consisted of conventional tillage, no-tillage, no-tillage with sub-soiling and strip tillage. Remotely sensed data were acquired in the visible, near-infrared and thermal infrared regions of the light spectrum. Ground truth data include digital, color images and soil water content. Results showed that the crop residue cover index was most sensitive to variability in crop residue cover within each tillage treatment. Threshold index values were developed based on the crop residue cover and used as a new method to rapidly differentiate between tillage regimes without a priori ground truth in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.

Technical Abstract: Conservation tillage is a well-known best management practice that improves soil quality, reduces runoff and erosion and increases infiltration. Currently, federal cost-share programs are in place that provide either incentives or rewards to promote the adoption and maintenance of conservation tillage practices nationwide. However, a rapid assessment strategy for quantifying the rate and spatial distribution of conservation tillage practices is lacking. This study was designed to evaluate the sensitivity of a remotely derived crop residue cover index for depicting conventional, strip and no-tillage systems in a cotton-corn-peanut rotation in the southeastern Coastal Plain. Treatments consisted of conventional tillage, no-tillage, no-tillage with sub-soiling and strip tillage. Remotely sensed data were acquired three times prior to canopy closure, using a handheld multispectral radiometer (485 –1,650 nm) and thermal imager (7,000 – 14,000 nm) at each site. Coincident with remotely sensed data collection, digital images were acquired for classification of residue and vegetative cover. Results showed that crop residue cover is greatest in years planted to peanut or cotton, and likely due to the later winter cover crop termination date compared to years when corn is planted. The crop residue cover index (CRC1) and thermal infrared emittance both showed promise for identifying tillage regime and cover amount; however, quantitative measures of cover using this approach necessitate the collection of ground truth data proximate to remotely sensed data acquisition. Instead a threshold approach using the CRC1 was demonstrated as a new method to rapidly differentiate between tillage regimes without a priori ground truth in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.