engleski

The importance and methods for measuring/assessment crop residues

Crop residues have a significant role in all crop production systems, and in terms of their management, every individual tillage systems are defined. Soil tillage management (conventional, reduced or conservation) has direct effect on crop residue management. Conservation soil tillage is most often defined as a crop production system where at least 30% of the soil is covered with crop residues. Retention of crop residues on the surface or near the soil surface has multiple significance, especially in conservation soil tillage systems. The amount, type, fragmentation and soil coverage with crop residues can have positive but also negative implications for the next crop. Negative effect is mainly expressed throughintensified development of disease and pests, slower soil surface heating and potential difficulties in soil preparation and sowing. As the most important positive effects, the following can be highlighted: reduction of water and wind erosion, reduction of evaporation, better water infiltration, reduction of weed infection, intensification of soil biota etc. Measuring/assessment of the amount of crop residue can be performed in several different ways, with prescribed appropriate methodology for each method. The basis of each measurement method is that it is carried out after the sowing of the next crop, and the measured values are expressed as a percentage of the soil surface coverage with crop residues. There are three basic methods for measuring of crop residues: a) Line transect, b) Photo comparison and c) Calculation method. There are number of modifications and adaptations of these based methods. and it is important to emphasize that each method has its advantages and disadvantages, and that accuracy of the results depends on a large number of parameters (e.g. precision/calibration of the method, data collecting method, agroecological and agrotechnical conditions). But whichever method of measuring/assessment is used, it is essential for conservation soil tillage to ensure the best possible coverage of the soil surface with the crop residue.

crop residue estimating ; methods for measuring crop residue ; conservation soil tillage

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