D4—Lancaster Famine, Saturday, May 23,1981
Reduced tillage
HARRISBURG During the related to the amount of crop
past five years, the use of residue left on the land. With corn
minimum and no-till planting has yields of over 100 bushels per acre,
increased significantly. the amount of residue produced
Reduced tillage has proven can exceed 3 tons per acre. When
effective in reducing erosion; And 60 percent of the residue remains
last year, in those areas with on the surface after minimum
inadequate rainfall, the effect on tillage and planting, farmers wiU
moisture conservation became realize increased infiltration and
evident. reduced water losses as a result of
The effectiveness of reduced
tillage in conserving water as well'
as controlling erosion is directly The use of no-till in crop residues
HARRISBURG - The use of
crop residues can be applied in
conjunction with other con
servation practices, such as strips
and contours, diversions and
terraces.
Crop residues serve as a mulch
to reduce soil moisture losses.
They also help to improve water
infiltration during a ram storm.
Crop residues include corn
stalks, small gram straw and
soybean stalks. The effectiveness
of these residues depends on how
well the material is distributed or
spread and whether the residue is
left standing or is incorporated into
the soil.
Due to increased costs for straw
and bedding materials, many
farmers are faced with the
decision whether or not to remove
crop residue for their own use or
for sale. If residues are removed,
especially where continuous row
crops are grown, similar benefits
can be achieved by applying
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mulching effects.
Crop
conserve moisture
manure or by using a winter cover
crop. Mulch may be more essential
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Each
year, more than 6.4 billion tons of
soil erode from the nation’s far
mland and other nonfederal lands.
“In many areas, the rate of
erosion seriously threatens long
term agricultural productivity,”
said Norman A. Berg, chief of
USDA’s Soil Conservation Service.
“We have unacceptable erosion
rates on more than 140 million
acres of cropland.’ ’
Berg said erosion rates exceed
acceptable levels on more than 295
million acres of cropland,
pastureland. forest land, and
Conservation practices to keep in mind
residues
Erosion threatens
productivity
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aids in water conservation
is an ideal practice trom the
standpoint of water conservation.
Since the full amount of residue
remains, there will be more than
adequate cover for a mulching
effect.
If crop residues are removed,
especially where row crops are
being grown continuously, a
mulching effect can be produced
by planting a winter cover crop or
applying manure.
on soils that are occasionally
subject to drought.
rangeland. Scientists consider
erosion tolerable when eroded
topsoil can be replenished through
natural processes.
Of the more than 6.4 billion tons
of soil losses from wind and water
erosion each year, more than 5
billion ' tons erode from
agricultural land, Berg said. Some
1.1 billion more tons erode from
streambanks, gullies, construction
sites, roads and roadsides. .
Sediment, the greatest single
water pollutant by volume, is an
end product of soil erosion, Berg
added.
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Reduced tillage, such as that used on the Aaron Hoffer
farm in Middletown, in conjunction with the use of crop
residues can increase soil moisture by 19 percent, according
to a Soil Conservation Service spokesman.
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The
U.S. Department of Agriculture is
currently cooperating with the
U.S. Department of Commerce
and the U.S. Department of the
Interior in a joint subcommittee
responsible for establishment of a
National Aquaculture Plan, as
specified in Public Law 96-362,
signed last September by former
President Carter.
Several other federal agencies
14 in all are also represented on
the joint subcommittee for
aquaculture, including the Farm
Credit Administration
... P-0.80x366, Lititz, PA 17543
JEVi Mmi n n Phone
717-626-1164 or 394-3047
Aquaculture Act calls (or plan
At LANCASTER FARMING, we-think we
do a good job of keeping you in
formed...and we have over 39,000 paid
subscribers who think so too!
The* subcommittee has a man
date to have its National
Aquaculture Plan ready within 18
months from last September.
Opportunity is provided for public
comment during the plan
development. A preliminary
report is due on September 1,1981.
Under the new program, it is
expected that the U.S. Department
of Agriculture will have sole or
partial responsibilities for catfish,
crawfish,- baitfish and trout
production m aquaculture ac
tivities.