Straw residue to control furrow erosion on sloping, irrigated cropland

Abstract

Small amounts of straw placed uniformly in steeply sloping portions of irrigation furrows reduced soil erosion and sedimentation on three fields with an erodible silt loam soil. Erosion was eliminated during the first irrigation on two fields in the straw-treated plots and markedly reduced during subsequent irrigations on these plots and on the third field. The reduction ranged from 30% to 100% in straw-treated furrows compared to furrows without straw. Straw treatment also increased infiltration and lateral water movement significantly, and crop yields rose 7% to 16%.