ABSTRACT
Crop residues are an important renewable resource that can be managed to conserve nonrenewable soil and water resources and sustain crop production. Soil erosion hazards are usually associated with udic climates of the USA. Therefore, management of crop residues on the soil surface is essential to protect soil and water resources. Some of the largest data gaps in US agricultural research literature are attributed to the dominance of short-term crop residue management systems. Infiltration on eroded, conventional tilled, Typic Kandhapludults of the Southern Piedmont is usually inadequate to support warm season crop growth. Because of improved soil structure and biological activity associated with long-term conservation tillage, infiltration is significantly improved on these soils. Runoff associated with conservation tillage technology is inconsistent, primarily because of effects of fragi- and clay-pans occurring in soil profiles. However, improved infiltration and soil erosion control were very consistent. Runoff is consistently reduced on Ultisols with long-term conservation tillage.
