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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #289151

Title: No-till spring barley to control wind erosion

Author
item Sharratt, Brenton

Submitted to: Trade Journal Publication
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/3/2012
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Wind erosion is a major concern for growers and communities in the Pacific Northwest. Wind erosion not only degrades the soil resource which can affect the long-term productivity of agricultural lands, but it also degrades air quality in the region. Continuous no-till spring cereal cropping systems have been examined as an alternative to the conventional winter wheat – summer fallow system to control wind erosion. A portable wind tunnel was used to measure erosion from these cropping systems. Wind erosion was dramatically lower (40 to 85%) from the spring barley-wheat rotation than from the wheat-fallow rotation. Although a continuous no-till spring cereal rotation will reduce wind erosion and improve air quality in the Pacific Northwest, this rotation is not yet as profitable as the conventional wheat-fallow rotation. Cropping systems are sought that require less tillage and retain more residue on the soil surface to control wind erosion in the region.