Conservation Tillage Practices

Agricultural practices expose soil to erosion. What types of erosion are common with soil?

• 'A and B
• water
• wind
• mechanical
• oxidation

Why might clods prevent seedling emergence?

• Clods block sunlight from the seedling and thus the seedling cannot use photosynthesis
• Clods are heavy and the seedling may not have enough energy to move a clod.
• Soil clods are areas of intense erosion, thus the seedling may be damaged.

What are the three basic goals of a soil tillage system?

• Controlling weeds, improving soil physical conditions, and managing the crop residue.
• Controlling seeds, improving farm fiscal conditions, and managing the crop revenue.
• Reducing erosion, removing weeds, and providing good seed-soil contact
• Removing clods, weeds, and rocks.

Why might a farmer want to control weeds through tillage?

• To eliminate as many weeds as possible before planting
• to prevent weeds from competing with crops for sunlight, water and nutrients
• to incorporate herbicides into the soil
• all of the above

What is the difference between primary and secondary tillage?

Why would a farmer want to increase the organic matter near the surface of the soil?

• Organic matter improves the nutrient value of the soil.
• Organic matter provides fertilizers for weeds.
• Organic matter helps the soil dry out quickly.
• None of the above.

Tillage improves soil conditions and deep tillage breaks up soil compaction. How might a soil become compacted?

• Heavy rains and standing water compress the soil.
• Heavy equipment compresses and packs soil particles.
• When fields are too wet, and still tilled, the equipment further compresses the soil
• A and B
• B and C

What percentage of erosion reduction is gained by conservation tillage?

• 30%
• 40-50%
• 60-70%
• up to 95%

Watch this video on Farm Basics What Is Strip Tillage? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwyONlrGVZY What is the difference between conservation till/no till and strip till according to the video?

This is an example of ________________. This operation normally leaves about 50 percent of crop residue.

• mulch tillage
• strip tillage
• ridge tillage
• no till