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State & Federal Practices

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Cropland Erosion

Sheet & rill erosion occurs when water begins to flow off the land. Sheet erosion is difficult to see because the soil is lost in a way similar to a few sheets of paper being peeled from a tablet. Rill erosion leaves definite marks where the soil has been washed away. Ephemeral erosion is runoff water flowing from uneven landscapes tends to concentrate in natural, depressional channels. These channels can be reshaped and farmed across, but continued, concentrated flow takes away the soil. Eventually, a gully will form. Gully erosion over time, heavy rains with gushing, concentrated runoff can seriously erode soil and create very large ditches or gullies on the land.

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To slow the erosion a combination of ground cover and terraces offer excellent erosion control. Covering the ground prevents raindrops from bombarding the soil. Covering the ground is also a very effective way to control erosion by wind. It is the most commonly used method. Another way to reduce erosion by wind is the wind barriers. 

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The following are erosion control practices:

  • Terraces

  • Grass waterways

  • Contour Farming

  • No-Till

  • Cover Crops

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Windbreaks

Windbreaks reduce wind speeds, control snow drifting and accumulation in farmsteads, provide wildlife habitat, enhance farmstead value, and provide a more pleasant environment. Reduced wind speeds in the winter months provide monetary benefits. Homes or confinement buildings require 7 to 25 percent less fuel for heating. Livestock protected by the windbreak are 3-7 percent more efficient in conversion of feed to weight gain. Other benefits of windbreaks are measured in quality of life improvement. 

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Windbreaks should be properly designed and located for maximum benefits. The standard L-shaped, square corner windbreak can be modified. Trees can be planted in groups instead of rows. Corners can be rounded or merged together. The key for the optimum protection is providing wind protection on the Northwest quadrant.

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No-Till & Strip-Till

In a no-tillage system, crops are sown into undisturbed soil with plant residue on the surface. No-Till is recommended for planting soybean following corn, for planting corn following soybean on well-drained soils, and for any rotation on moderately-sloped fields.

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Strip-tillage system, more than two-thirds of the row width is left undisturbed, and the remaining strip is tilled to create a seedbed for spring planting. Strip-tillage is recommended for corn production on poorly drained soils and low-sloped fields.

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Plant rye or wheat as winter cover crops. This is good option when you are growing low-residue crops such as soybeans. Stop using the moldboard plow. Drive slower on tillage operations. Driving faster throws more soil and covers more residue. No-till drill soybeans instead of planting them conventionally. No-till drilling keeps more residue on the soil surface, and generally produces a quicker canopy.

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Cover Crop

Cover crops planted in the fall between harvest and planting of spring crops, this will reduce soil erosion, limit nitrogen leaching, suppress weeds, increase soil organic matter and improve overall soil quality. Small grain cover crops increase surface cover, anchor corn and soybean residues, increase water infiltration and reduce erosion. Common cover crops used in Iowa include winter hardy plants like rye and wheat. Other less common, but also effective cover crops include oats, turnips, radish, and camelina.

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In addition to the environmental and soil quality benefits, several cover crops are suitable for grazing by livestock. Using cover crops may reduce the total energy demands of the farm, by capturing nutrients that would be lost to leaching thus reducing the farm's requirement for high energy inputs. Producers must plant early enough in the fall to allow for good establishment before winter, but also must kill winter hard cover crops soon enough to prevent yield losses in the following crop.

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State Cost Share Application & Maintenance Agreement

NRCS-Federal Application

NRCS Direct Deposit Form

Reach Out to Us!

Boone Field Office

1602 Sneddon Drive 

 Boone, IA 50036

515-432-2316, ext. #3

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© 2023 by Boone Soil and Water Conservation District

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