No-till and Water Quality
Typically, runoff water
contains sediment, dissolved nutrients, and possibly some chemicals.
Conservation tillage reduces
water runoff, thereby increasing
infiltration of water into the soil. Improved surface water quality is
one immediate and obvious result.
Establishment of cover crops (now required on the federal lease lands for soil erosion and green browse for waterfowl) is important, and the timing of planting can be critical. The earlier that a new seeding can emerge from the soil, the quicker buffers will be established. Klamath Basin farmers are concerned about the erosion of our topsoil during spring runoff into the waterways. Unprotected soil has nothing in place to buffer the effects of erosive runoff. All that eroding topsoil winds up impacting water quality throughout the watershed... literally, all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
But what about all the farms and ranches that aren't located directly adjacent to a river? In fact, most of the farms and ranches using no-till or minimum tillage practices are not situated directed on a major waterway. However, drainage ditches of varying sizes and configurations eventually channel that runoff into a free flowing stream or other body of water that can and will be impacted by the runoff. Every square inch of land lies within a watershed, and therefore everything that happens anywhere has the potential to effect that watershed, whether negatively or positively!
Water quality in Oregon will always be a top priority. Every conservation practice that landowners can implement will aid in maintaining a continuing supply of clean water for all.
No-till and Water
Conservation
No-till and Water Quality
What crops can be planted?
No-till and Weed Control
No-till and Crop Yields
No-till and Sustainable Agriculture