60 Ways - 4. Estimate Residue Cover in the Field

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60 Ways Farmers Can Protect Surface Water

50 ways

57 ways

60 ways

Managing Surface Cover

1. Distribute residue evenly at harvest
2. Avoid fall tillage
3. Determine how your operations will affect residue cover
4. Estimate residue cover in the field
5. Adjust equipment to preserve residue
6. Plant a cover crop
7. Rotate crops
8. Select vigorous perennial pasture species
9. Protect the soil with special-use annual forage crops
10. Protect the soil with rotational grazing
11. Use no-till when renovating pasture
12. Manage timberland to protect soil

Controlling the Flow of Water

13. Reduce soil compaction and increase infiltration
14. Install grassed waterways
15. Plant vegetative filter strips or make critical area plantings
16. Farm on the contour
17. Use contour stripcropping and contour buffer strips
18. Install terraces
19. Install grade control structures
20. Install water and sediment control basin
21. Use diversions
22. Install a farm pond
23. Maintain your dtrainage system to protect surface water
24. Control streambank erosion with the willow-post method
25. Avoid channelization of streams and creeks

Managing Nutrients Effectively

26. Set realistic yield goals
27. Monitor the level of nutrients
28. Credit other nitrogen sources
29. Select nitrogen fertilizers wisely
30. Apply nitrogen in the spring
31. Apply fertilizer with a global positioning system

Managing Livestock Waste Effectively

32. Keep livestock out of water
33. Divert runoff water
34. Collect and store contaminated runoff
35. Install a vegetative filter - in appropriate
36. Determine accurate manure application equipment
37. Calibrate manure application equipment
38. Apply manure wisely

Reducing Insecticide Use

39. Scout fields for insects
40. Base decisions on the economic thresholds for insects
41. Use insect-resistant crop varieties
42. Use crop rotation and plant diversity to control insects
43. Spot-treat insect infestations when possible
44. Conserve beneficial insects

Reducing Herbicide Use

45. Scout for weeds and know their economic thresholds
46. Fine-tune your weed-control program to cut back on herbicides
47. Manage crops to compete aggressively with weeds
48. Don't assume that no-till requires more herbicide
49. Band herbicides and cultivate
50. Control weeds with cover crops

Selecting Pesticides

51. Select the leat-toxic pesticide
52. Determine your soil's potential for runoff
53. Determine your pesticide's potential for runoff
54. Determine the soil-pesticide interaction rating

Handling Pesticides Safely & Efficiently

55. Calibrate your sprayer
56. Consider direct injection and closed handling systems
57. Observe setback zones
58. Rinse and dispose of chemical containers safely
59. Dispose of excess chemical safely
60. Dispose of other farm waste safely

4. Estimate Residue Cover in the Field
	Making residue-cover estimates on paper is a good way to plan your residue-management system, but it doesn’t replace actually going into the field and measuring residue. The most accurate way to determine the percent of surface cover in a field is to use the line-point method. The only special equipment you need is a knotted rope with 100 evenly spaced knots.
	To begin measuring, walk a predetermined distance into the field—such as 100 or 150 paces. Keep the starting point away from end rows.
	Secure one end of the knotted rope halfway between two rows. Then stretch it diagonally, at a 45-degree angle, across the crop rows. Stake the other end halfway between another two rows.
	Looking straight down on the rope, count the number of times you see residue directly underneath a knot. The percent of surface covered with residue equals the number of knots that touch crop residue. For instance, if you find crop residue under 40 of 100 knots, then 40 percent of the soil surface is covered with residue.
	Estimate residue in at least three other areas of the field, and then take an average. Check your residue cover throughout the season. That way, you can make whatever adjustments are necessary. The following slides present various levels of corn, soybean, and wheat residue.
	20 percent corn residue
	40 percent corn residue
	60 percent corn residue
	20 percent soybean residue
	30 percent soybean residue
	40 percent soybean residue
	20 percent wheat residue
	30 percent wheat residue
	50 percent wheat residue