Effects of residue harvesting on water runoff, soil erosion and nutrient loss

Abstract The effect of corn ( rZea mays L.) stover harvest on water funoff, soil erosion and nutrient transport under a reudced tillaage and no-till plant system was investigated in the northwestern Corn Belt (U.S.A.). Increased levels of corn stover harvest resulted in increased water runoff and soil erosion. Nutrient removal from the cropping system generally exceeded standard fertilization practices when either high levels of corn stover were harvested or soil erosion levels approached the soil loss tolerance levekl of 11.2 tons ha −1 year −1 .