OLD SERA20: Southern Conservation Tillage Systems Conference
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
OLD SERA20: Southern Conservation Tillage Systems Conference
Duration: 10/01/2004 to 09/30/2009
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Project's Primary Website is at http://www.ag.auburn.edu/aux/nsdl/sctcsa/ (direct link can be found under LINKS)
The development of sustainable farming systems is needed to ensure an adequate food and fiber supply for the United States and the rest of the world. Conservation tillage systems have been used for a variety of crops in the southern United States. These new practices have brought about considerable changes in production systems in the region. The scientific community, farmers, consultants, and other practitioners continue to debate the role and impact of conservation tillage production systems on crop production, the environment, and the farm economy. Thus, there is a need to continue to collect and disseminate data on how conservation tillage management can be used to enhance sustainability.
Many positive impacts of conservation tillage production have been documented. These include reduced sediment load in surface waters, reduced wind erosion, improved soil physical properties and tilth, and water conservation. Economic benefits of conservation tillage have been documented in circumstances where crop yields are maintained or increased when compared with conventional tillage. The ability to efficiently transition to reduce tillage has also been aided by development and a release of herbicide-resistant crops and improvement in conservation tillage equipment and implements. These technologies along with others will continue to be compared between conventional and conservation tillage systems and among conservation tillage systems in the southern United States.
This conference has been an extremely useful forum for discussing problems related to conservation tillage technology. New and continuing questions that need to be addressed include defining shifts in pest populations, including weeds, insects, disease, and nematodes, in reduced tillage systems continues to be an important component of research efforts in the southern region. The role of transgenic crops and the flexibility they offer in conservation tillage systems continues to be documented in the southern region. Potential resistance of weeds to herbicides such as glyphosate will be an important issue for practitioners to deal with in the future. Increased use of fossil fuels and pesticides requires research to lessen the impact on the economy and the environment.
Concerns continue to exist relative to environmental effects of tillage systems on surface and groundwater contamination and nutrient loss. The impact of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen on sensitive watersheds continues to be at the forefront of crop production systems. Enhancing the understanding of relationships between tillage systems, fertilizer amendments, and environmental impact will help predict potential problems and will assist growers and their advisors develop solutions.
Web site:
http://www2.cropsci.ncsu.edu/ctcsa2004
Up to date annual reports are present. 2004 Proceedings will be in place by July 1
Objectives
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The primary mission of the SCTSC is to provide a medium for exchanging information about conservation tillage and related technology between and among researchers, extension personnel, NRCS personnel, crop consultants, agrochemical companies, and farmers.
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The overall objective of the SCTSC is to expand the conservation tillage systems in the southern United States for the purposes of controlling erosion and reducing environmental degradation, improve existing conservation tillage systems, and to determine when conservation tillage systems are sustainable.
Procedures and Activities
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- A formal technical meeting and field tour will be held annually to allow exchange of information among key parties. The technical program and the field tour will be rotated among participating states. A Proceedings of technical papers and posters will be published and placed on the Web Site.
- The Conference will be held annually at various locations across the southern region of the United States. Host Southern Land Grant agricultural institutions/colleges will, through a steering committee, make meeting arrangements, provide meeting publicity, and assume the leadership in publishing the Proceedings. The steering committee consists of 20 to 30 persons representing Land Grant Institutions, USDA-ARS, NRCS, industry, and the agricultural press. The conferences will usually include poster sessions, technical paper presentations, a field tour, and distribution of Proceedings during registration. Expansion of conservation tillage systems in the southern region will be promoted to minimize soil and wind erosion, reduce environmental degradation, and increase sustainability of crop production systems by:
- The SCTSC will provide a forum for and fostering of exchange of conservation tillage and sustainable agriculture related information and ideas among farmers, researchers, action agencies, extension specialists and agents, and industry.
- The SCTSC will provide a multi-disciplinary, multi-state, and industry cooperation in addressing conservation tillage issues.
- The SCTSC will promote the investigation of researchable problems including: developing conservation tillage systems for crops for which acceptable systems have not been developed; improve soil quality by increasing residue production; reducing soil compaction; enhancing biotechnology and pest management options for many crops; utilizing animal and municipal wastes in crop production systems; improving efficiency of pesticide and nutrient use while minimizing environmental degradation; and understanding interactions among soil and related organisms in conservation tillage systems.
- Discussions and exchange of information among participating parties will promote adoption of conservation tillage practices that reduce soil erosion and environmental degradation and refinement of conservation tillage systems. Multi-state collaborative efforts have historical grown out of exchanges among scientist at the annual meeting of the SCTSC. These efforts have greatly increased the efficiency of research efforts and the ability to disseminate needed information more quickly to clientele.