ABSTRACT
Several alternative methods can be employed to reduce erosion on land used for the production of soybeans. Three principal alternatives are terracing the land, performing all field operations on the contour, and practicing conservation tillage. Terracing has not been well accepted because it is expensive and not well adapted to mechanization. Performing all operations on the contour is inexpensive, but in many situations it is impractical and not sufficiently effective in controlling erosion. Conservation tillage is an approach aimed at combining efficient row-crop production with adequate control of soil erosion by wind and water. It is the objective of this chapter to discuss that approach.
