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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #122868
Title: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF CONSERVATION TILLAGE IN THE SOUTHERN GREAT PLAINS

Author
item UNGER, PAUL - USDA-ARS (RETIRED)
item Baumhardt, Roland - Louis

Submitted to: Annual Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/9/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tillage, that qualifies as conservation tillage according to the general and operational definitions of the term, has been used in the southern Great Plains (SGP) for many years, well before the term as currently used became popular. In this report, we discuss early efforts to control soil losses, especially those that occurred during the drought of the 1930s and those associated with cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production on sandy soils where soil erosion by wind commonly occurs. We also discuss the development of equipment and practices that are used to control erosion and conserve water throughout the region and their effects on crop production, soil conditions, and related factors. Although adoption of conservation tillage is limited in the SGP, we believe its use is important for conserving soil and water for successful dryland crop production, especially because water for irrigation is limited and being depleted in much of the SGP.