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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Pullman, Washington » Northwest Sustainable Agroecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #324356
Title: Windblown soil surface characteristics of a wheat-oilseed-fallow cropping system

Author
item Sharratt, Brenton
item SCHILLINGER, WILLIAM - Washington State University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/19/2015
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The production of biofuels is dependent upon oilseed feedstocks in the Pacific Northwest United States (PNW), but evidence suggests that wind erosion may be enhanced as a result of growing oilseeds in conventional wheat rotations. Little is known concerning the impact of growing oilseeds on soil characteristics that affect wind erosion. Soil characteristics were examined immediately after sowing winter wheat in winter wheat - summer fallow (WW-SF), winter wheat - camelina - summer fallow (WW-C-SF), and winter wheat - safflower - summer fallow (WW-S-SF) rotations in eastern Washington. Camelina and safflower did not affect soil water content, surface roughness, or aggregation. However, prostrate residue biomass and cover tended to be greater in the WW-SF rotation. Sediment transport, estimated by the Revised Wind Erosion Equation, could be from 55 to 210% greater for the WW-C-SF or WW-S-SF than the WW-SF rotation based upon differences in crop residue characteristics after sowing wheat. Our results indicate that crop residue must be carefully managed to minimize the occurrence and intensity of wind erosion from dryland oilseed cropping systems in the PNW.