North Carolina Digital Collections

2013-12

              Benefits of Leaving Crop Residue
• Reduces soil compaction
• May reduce weed problems
• Reduces erosion by wind and water
• Reduces nutrient and pesticide run off
• Builds soil organic matter
• Conserves soil moisture
• Limits release of carbon to atmosphere
(a contributor to global warming)
• Provides food and shelter for wildlife
• Conserves fuel, labor and time
Suggestions for Residue Management
• Mow cotton stalks with a fl ail-type mower,
leaving stalks about six inches high.
• Cut small grains high so more residue is
left standing than is left on the ground.
• Use a straw chopper and spreader on the
combine to minimize windrowing.
• Mow or bale straw from any windrows.
• Use sharpened, notched coulters that cut
through residues more easily.
• Attach a residue manager to the planter to
clean crop residues from the row.
• Increase pressure on coulters by tightening
tension springs and adding weight to
planter.
• Plant after dew has dried on crop residues.
• Plant at an angle to the row pattern of the
previous crop.
Hazards of Burning
• Depletes soil nutrients like nitrogen
• Leaves soil surface exposed to erosion
• Presents fi re and smoke hazard/nuisance
• Poses a health hazard, especially for
children, the elderly, and people with
health problems
• Contributes to air pollution
• Adversely affects soil structure
Do Not Burn Crop Residue if
• Animal waste has been applied to the fi eld
• Crop residue is included in an erosion
control or water quality plan
• Prevailing winds will carry smoke to
roads, homes, or businesses
• It is evening (between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.)
• Occupied buildings are within 1000 feet
• You have not checked with representatives
from NCDENR Division of Forest
Resources and county authorities about
local restrictions and the need for permits.
— Soil Fertility Note 17 —
Managing Crop Residue
revised
December
2013
NCDA&CS Agronomic Division www.ncagr.gov/agronomi Phone: 919-733-2655
Serving North Carolina growers since 1940
Allowing crop stubble and residue to provide soil cover is much more environmentally and
agronomically sound than plowing or burning.
Questions or comments should be directed to the Field Services Section of the NCDA&CS Agronomic Division,
NCDENR Division of Air Quality (phone 919-707-8400) or N.C. Forest Service (phone 919-857-4801).
Steve Troxler, Commissioner of Agriculture

Title	Managing crop residue
Contributor	North Carolina. Agronomic Division.
Date	2013-12
Subjects	Crop residue management--North Carolina
Place	North Carolina, United States
Description	Revised December 2013.; "December 2013."
Publisher	North Carolina Agronomic Division
Agency-Current	North Carolina Agronomic Services Division, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Rights	State Document see http://digital.ncdcr.gov/u?/p249901coll22,63754
Physical Characteristics	1 online resource (1 page)
Collection	North Carolina State Documents Collection. State Library of North Carolina
Type	Text
Language	English
Format	Informational pamphlets
Digital Characteristics-A	71.4 KB; 1 p.
Series	Soil fertility note ; 17.
Digital Collection	North Carolina Digital State Documents Collection
Digital Format	application/pdf
Related Items	http://worldcat.org/oclc/869461198/viewonline
Audience	All
Pres File Name-M	pubs_managingcropresidue201312.pdf
Pres Local File Path-M	\Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_borndigital\images_master\
Full Text	Benefits of Leaving Crop Residue • Reduces soil compaction • May reduce weed problems • Reduces erosion by wind and water • Reduces nutrient and pesticide run off • Builds soil organic matter • Conserves soil moisture • Limits release of carbon to atmosphere (a contributor to global warming) • Provides food and shelter for wildlife • Conserves fuel, labor and time Suggestions for Residue Management • Mow cotton stalks with a fl ail-type mower, leaving stalks about six inches high. • Cut small grains high so more residue is left standing than is left on the ground. • Use a straw chopper and spreader on the combine to minimize windrowing. • Mow or bale straw from any windrows. • Use sharpened, notched coulters that cut through residues more easily. • Attach a residue manager to the planter to clean crop residues from the row. • Increase pressure on coulters by tightening tension springs and adding weight to planter. • Plant after dew has dried on crop residues. • Plant at an angle to the row pattern of the previous crop. Hazards of Burning • Depletes soil nutrients like nitrogen • Leaves soil surface exposed to erosion • Presents fi re and smoke hazard/nuisance • Poses a health hazard, especially for children, the elderly, and people with health problems • Contributes to air pollution • Adversely affects soil structure Do Not Burn Crop Residue if • Animal waste has been applied to the fi eld • Crop residue is included in an erosion control or water quality plan • Prevailing winds will carry smoke to roads, homes, or businesses • It is evening (between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m.) • Occupied buildings are within 1000 feet • You have not checked with representatives from NCDENR Division of Forest Resources and county authorities about local restrictions and the need for permits. — Soil Fertility Note 17 — Managing Crop Residue revised December 2013 NCDA&CS Agronomic Division www.ncagr.gov/agronomi Phone: 919-733-2655 Serving North Carolina growers since 1940 Allowing crop stubble and residue to provide soil cover is much more environmentally and agronomically sound than plowing or burning. Questions or comments should be directed to the Field Services Section of the NCDA&CS Agronomic Division, NCDENR Division of Air Quality (phone 919-707-8400) or N.C. Forest Service (phone 919-857-4801). Steve Troxler, Commissioner of Agriculture
OCLC number	869461198

North Carolina Digital Collections

Managing crop residue

Description