Soil and water conservation in the Pacific Northwest through no-tillage and intensified crop rotations

The winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/summer fallow rotation typically practiced in the intermediate precipitation zone (300 to 450 mm [12 to 18 in]) of the inland Pacific Northwest has proven to be economically stable for producers in this region. However, multiple tillage operations are used to control weeds and retain seed-zone soil moisture, which disturbs the soil and makes it prone to substantial erosion. Alternatives to this conventional disturbance tillage (DT) system include either no-tillage (NT) or minimum tillage (MT) in combination with increasing cropping intensity. The objective of this study was to compare runoff, soil erosion, crop residue, and yield productivity resulting from NT, and DT, or MT. Small collectors and flumes were used to quantify runoff and soil erosion from small drainages and slopes in three different experiments near Pendleton, Oregon. The first experiment included two neighboring drainages:one farmed using DT with a two-year crop rotation over eight years (2001 to 2008) and the other NT with a four-year crop rotation (2001 to 2008). The second experiment comprised a hillslope planted to different crops using NT over eight years (1998 to 2005) and MT over three years (2006 to 2008). The third experiment was situated in a shallow draw in which NT and MT with a four-year (2004 to 2008) crop rotation was compared. Runoff measured in flumes was substantially influenced by tillage method in the order of DT > NT in a ratio of 10:1 at the first site. At the second site, NT produced no runoff compared to 1.6 mm y(-1) (0.06 in yr(-1)) from MT. Soil erosion was found to be DT > NT in a ratio of 5:1 at the first site and 2:1 for the second site. For small collectors the differences were significant:runoff was DT > NT in a ratio of 47:1 for the first site, and MT > NT in a ratio of 2:1 for the third site. Winter wheat yields did not differ significantly among NT, DT, and MT. Broader acceptance of NT cropping systems in the intermediate precipitation zone of this region would substantially decrease soil losses from farm fields and improve downstream water quality.