GUIDELINES / 3.0 Productive Soils

• 3.0 Introduction
• 3.1 Buffers & Cropland Management
• 3.2 Windbreaks for Wind Erosion
• 3.3 Herbacious Wind Barriers
• 3.4 Grassed Waterways
• 3.5 Phytoremediation Buffers

3.1 Buffers & Cropland Management

Buffers can not replace good cropland management. Trapping soil in buffers is ineffective in maintaining soil productivity and can become a long-term maintenance problem. The most effective strategy is combining buffers with appropriate cropland management.

Key Cropland Management Considerations

• Establish crop rows on the contour.
• Use conservation tillage or no-till to reduce water and wind erosion. Residue should be left standing and orientated perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction.
• Maintain crop residue to reduce evaporation and increase infiltration. Standing crop residue captures drifting snow and increases soil moisture.
• Use cover crops to provide cover during fallow season.
• Use strip cropping to reduce sediment transport.
• In highly erodible situations, select a perennial crop to maintain cover year around.
• Deliver irrigation water in a manner that minimizes erosion.

DOWNLOAD: 3.1 Guidelines and References (PDF)