Effects of Tillage on Soil Erosion in a Wheat-Fallow Rotation

Erosion from alternative tillage systems in winter wheat-fallow rotations was measured using a rainfall simulator. The Nebraska study, conducted at the High Plains Agricultural Laboratory, showed that during the fallow period between harvest and tillage, soil erosion was not affected by the tillage systems studied. However, erosion following tillage was different for the systems evaluated and moldboard plowing with the slope had the largest amount. The no-till system reduced erosion by about 95% during this period. Although contour plowing was effective in reducing erosion when compared to plowing with the slope, no differences were measured between with the slope and contour tillage for the no-till or stubble-mulch treatments