PRACTICE AND (Ac.) 329 DEFINITION All residues shall be uniformly distributed over the entire field. Managing the amount, orientation and distribution of crop and other plant residue on No full-width tillage shall be performed the soil surface year round, limiting regardless of the depth of the tillage operation. disturbing activities to those necessary to The Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR) place nutrients, condition residue and plant shall include all field operations that are crops. performed during the crop interval between harvest of the previous crop and harvest or PURPOSE termination of the current crop (includes fallow periods). The STIR value shall be no greater Reduce sheet/rill erosion. than 30. Reduce wind erosion and Particulate Additional Criteria to Reduce Sheet/Rill matter less than 10 micrometers in Erosion; Reduce Wind Erosion and diameter - PM 10. Particulate matter less than 10 micrometers Improve soil organic matter content. in diameter - PM 10 Reduce CO2 losses from the soil. The amount and orientation of surface residue needed and the amount of surface soil Reduce energy use. disturbance allowed to reduce erosion to the Increase plant-available moisture. planned soil loss objective shall be determined using the current approved water and/or Provide food and escape cover for wildlife. erosion prediction technology. Calculations shall account for the effects of other practices CONDITIONS WHERE APPLIES in the management system. This practice applies to all cropland and other Additional Criteria to Improve Soil Organic land where crops are planted. Matter Content This practice includes planting methods An evaluation of the cropping system using the commonly referred to as no-till, strip till, direct current approved soil conditioning index seed, zero till, slot till or zone till. Approved procedure shall result in a positive trend. implements are: no-till and strip-till planters; Additional Criteria to Reduce CO2 Loss certain drills and air seeders; strip-type from the Soil fertilizer and manure injectors and applicators; in-row chisels; and similar implements that The Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR) value only disturb strips and slots. All others are shall include all field operations that are considered to be full-width or capable of full performed during the crop interval between disturbance and therefore not compatible. harvest of the previous crop and harvest or termination of the current crop and shall be no CRITERIA more than 20. General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes Residue shall not be burned.
(Ac.) 329 DEFINITION Managing the amount, orientation and distribution of crop and other plant residue on the soil surface year round, limiting activities to those necessary to place nutrients, condition residue and plant crops. PURPOSE Reduce sheet/rill erosion. Reduce wind erosion and Particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter - PM 10. Improve soil organic matter content. Reduce CO2 losses from the soil. Reduce energy use. Increase plant-available moisture. Provide food and escape cover for wildlife. CONDITIONS WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES This practice applies to all cropland and other land where crops are planted. This practice includes planting methods commonly referred to as no-till, strip till, direct seed, zero till, slot till or zone till. Approved implements are: no-till and strip-till planters; certain drills and air seeders; strip-type fertilizer and manure injectors and applicators; in-row chisels; and similar implements that only disturb strips and slots. All others are considered to be full-width or capable of full disturbance and therefore not compatible. CRITERIA General Criteria Applicable to All Purposes Residue shall not be burned. All residues shall be uniformly distributed over the entire field. No full-width tillage shall be performed regardless of the depth of the tillage operation. The Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR) shall include all field operations that are performed during the crop interval between harvest of the previous crop and harvest or termination of the current crop (includes fallow periods). The STIR value shall be no greater than 30. Additional Criteria to Reduce Sheet/Rill Erosion; Reduce Wind Erosion and Particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter - PM 10 The amount and orientation of surface residue needed and the amount of surface soil disturbance allowed to reduce erosion to the planned soil loss objective shall be determined using the current approved water and/or erosion prediction technology. Calculations shall account for the effects of other practices in the management system. Additional Criteria to Improve Soil Organic Matter Content An evaluation of the cropping system using the current approved soil conditioning index procedure shall result in a positive trend. Additional Criteria to Reduce CO2 Loss from the Soil The Soil Tillage Intensity Rating (STIR) value shall include all field operations that are performed during the crop interval between harvest of the previous crop and harvest or termination of the current crop and shall be no more than 20. disturbing AND
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