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Effects of Residue Cover on Pesticide Losses from Conventional and No-Tillage Systems
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1987
Year
EngineeringLand UseAgricultural EconomicsSoil ManagementLand DegradationConventional TillagePesticide LossesSoil PollutionSustainable AgricultureSediment V^asTillage ToolNo-tillage SystemsSurface RunoffSoil ScienceAbstract MovementResidue CoverSoil ContaminationPest ManagementWater QualityCover CropSediment TransportEnvironmental Engineering
ABSTRACT MOVEMENT of atrazine and 2,4-D in runoff and sediment v^as measured on twelve field plots under simulated rainfall. The plots were divided into conventional and no-tillage systems. Within each tillage system, three residue levels (0, 750, and 1500 kg/ha) were studied. Simulated rainfall was applied to the plots three times at a rate of 5.08 cm/hr for a total of 10.2 cm of rainfall. Runoff and sediment losses were found to increase with decreasing residue cover for both tillage systems. No-till reduced sediment loss and total runoff volume by 98 and 92%, respectively, compared to conventional tillage. Concentrations of atrazine and 2,4-D in runoff and sediment were greater from the no-till plots than from the conventional plots but total losses were less. Water was the major carrier for both herbicides, although the concentration of 2,4-D in sediment was higher than that of water. Averaged over all plots, the atrazine losses were 2.9% of applied amount for conventional tillage and 0.3% for no-till. The corresponding values for 2,4-D were 0.3% and 0.02%.