Frequency Distribution and Percent Cover for Corn, Sugarbeet, and Dry Bean Residue
ABSTRACT Percent residue cover and the distribution of residue between crop rows were evaluated over a three-year period. Three tillage systems - moldboard plow, rotary strip till, and minimum till - were compared among a three crop rotation of dry beans, sugarbeets, and corn. After planting, the sugarbeet and dry bean residues present in the field were distributed uniformly between the crop rows. After planting dry beans, there was twice as much corn residue in the furrow as compared to the crop row. Reduced tillage practices did not achieve 30% residue cover after planting into dry bean or sugarbeet residue. Only when planting into corn residue, one year out of three in the rotation, was that level achieved. When residue cover exceeded 40%, problems occurred during furrow irrigation.