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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Forage Seed and Cereal Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #75647
Title: THE INFLUENCE OF NO-TILL CROPPING SYSTEMS ON MICROBIAL RELATIONSHIPS

Author
item Elliott, Lloyd
item Stott, Diane

Submitted to: Academic Press
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/31/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: No-till planting leaves crop residues on the soil surface where they are critical for erosion control. However, surface-managed crop residues have caused problems such as nonpathogen crop growth inhibition and weed control. Heavy proceeding crop residues can cause severe seedling and crop emergence problems also. RESMAN was developed to predict crop residues needed to protect soils against erosion during critical periods. Proper crop rotations and keeping residues out of the seed row will eliminate most growth problems. New weed biocontrol practices are being developed using rhizobacteria harmful to weed growth and not the crop. Low-input, on-farm composting has been developed to utilize heavy crop residues.

Technical Abstract: Models have been developed that accurately predict surface-managed crop residue decomposition to aid crop residue management for maximum soil protection during critical soil erosion periods. RESMAN has been very useful for this purpose. Deleterious rhizobacteria have reduced crop yields of winter wheat no-till seeded into heavy surface-managed crop residues. The use of crop rotations and keeping crop residues out of the seed row alleviate the problem. Success has been obtained using deleterious rhizobacteria to control the grassy weed downy brome in winter wheat and Kentucky bluegrass. This approach appears to have promise for weed control. Low-input, on-farm composting has been developed as a means for utilizing heavy crop residues.