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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #71103
Title: SEDIMENT MOVEMENT WITHIN A STRIP INTERCROPPING SYSTEM

Author
item Gilley, John
item Kramer, Larry
item CRUSE, R - IOWA STATE UNIV
item HULL, A - IOWA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/18/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: A strip intercropping system has been shown to provide important agronomic advantages including higher profitability than most monocropping operations. This study was conducted to identify sediment movement within a strip intercropping system in Southwestern Iowa during the third year of a three year crop rotation. As a result of crop rotation and residue management practices used at the study site, a substantial amount of surface cover and above ground biomass was present on each of the individual strips. Thus, the strip intercropping system provided effective erosion control.

Technical Abstract: This study was conducted to identify sediment movement within a strip intercropping system in Southwestern Iowa during the third year of a three year rotation. Soil loss resulting from the application of simulated rainfall to a Monona silt loam soil was measured below individual corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) strips, and below multiple strips which included all three crops. Because of the crop rotation and no- till management procedures used at the study site, a substantial amount of surface cover and above ground biomass was present on each of the strips. As a result, soil loss resulting from a rainfall application of one hour duration at an intensity of approximately 64 mm/hour was less than 1.6 t/ha below each of the individual and multiple strips. Thus, rotational strip intercropping system provided effective erosion control.