Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #64658
Title: IMPACTS OF CROP RESIDUE AT THE EARTH-ATMOSPHERE INTERFACE: INTRODUCTION

Author
item STEINER, JEAN - 6613-01-00
item SCHOMBERG, H - 6209-05-15

Submitted to: Journal of Theoretical and Applied Climatology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Crop residue mulches result in changed radiative, water, and temperature environments, but quantitative understanding of processes involved has been lacking. We need to understand residues, because changing tillage systems are leaving more crop residues on the surface than traditional tillage practices. About 35% of U.S. cropland was managed with some type of conservation tillage in 1994. Over 75% of the conservation compliance plans developed to meet the 1985 and 1990 Food Security Acts included improved crop residue management. A special journal issue was developed to bring together recent research findings about residue effects on processes at the land:atmosphere interface. The papers present information on measuring or estimating crop residues; changes in aerodynamic process; changes in radiative and energy balances; simulation of residue impacts; and impacts of microenvironments on plant physiological and soil chemical and biological processes. Development and implementation of improved crop residue management offers opportunities to manipulate hydrologic, radiative, and energy balance processes. Ideas stimulated by this special issue can advance our understanding of crop residue management and help us achieve sustainability in agricultural systems.

Technical Abstract: Technical Abstract is not required.