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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #59784
Title: REDUCED TILLAGE FOR BEANS

Author
item Carter, David

Submitted to: Idaho Winter Commodity School Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/20/1993
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: For many years a common practice has been to grow beans following alfalfa. This practice results in excessive irrigation-induced erosion and a high potential for nitrate leaching. Research results have shown that a better practice is to grow no-till corn and/or cereal the first two seasons following alfalfa, and then grow beans using reduced tillage practices. Applying these research results reduces irrigation-induced erosion more than 80% over the crop rotation cycle, significantly reduces the potential for nitrate leaching, reduces nitrogen fertilizer requirements and costs, and increases farmer net income $50 to $100 per acre each year.