Glossary Terms

Reduced-tillage

Description

Full-width tillage which involving one or more tillage trips which disturbs all of the soil surface and is performed prior to and/or during planting. There is 15-30 percent residue cover after planting. Weed control is accomplished with crop protection products and/or inter-row cultivation.

Authoritative On-line References and Resources

http://www.reducedtillage.ca/ The Reduced Tillage Linkages program is a partnership with farmer, industry, educational, wildlife and government support. The aim is to develop an extension program focused on improving the environmental and economic sustainability of farming in Alberta, Canada.

Resistance

Description

The inherited ability of a plant/weed to survive a dose of a herbicide normally lethal to that species.

Authoritative On-line References and Resources

http://www.weedscience.org/in.asp The International Survey of Herbicide Resistant Weeds monitors the evolution of resistant species and assesses their impact. All confirmed instances of new cases are listed.

Synonyms: resistant weed, resistance, resistant weeds
Ridge till

Description

A tillage system involving scalping and planting on ridges built during cultivation of the previous year's crop, residue is left on the surface between ridges.

Authoritative On-line References and Resources

http://www.attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/consertill.html ATTRA Is the US National Centre for Appropriate Technology's Sustainable AgricultureDescription Management and conservation of the natural resource base and the use of technological and organizational change in a manner that ensures continued agricultural production from the land for present and future generations. Such practices conserve land, water, and plant and animal genetic resources. They are environmentally non-degrading, technically appropriate, economically viable, and socially acceptable. Sustainability rests on the principle that we must meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore, stewardship of both natural and human resources is of prime importance. Authoritative On-line References and Resources www.nal.usda.gov Information from the USDA's Alternative Agricultural Systems Information Center. Information Center.

Row crop

Description

Annual crops traditionally grown in wide rows such as corn, soybeans and cotton.

Authoritative On-line References and Resources

http://www.ncga.com/index.asp http://www.soygrowers.com/ http://www.cotton.org/index.cfm The US national associations for those involved in the production of, and trade in, corn, soybeans and cotton.

Synonyms: row crops
Run-off

Description

The occurrence of surplus liquid (like rain) which originates up-slope and is collected beyond the ability of the soil to absorb it. The surplus liquid then flows away over the surface to reach the nearest surface water (pond, lake, river).

Authoritative On-line References and Resources

http://www.sowap.org/index.htm SOWAP (Soil and Water Protection) is a collaboration between industry, NGOs, universities and farmers to test a range of site-specific soil management methods, based on the concept of conservation tillageDescription Any tillage and planting system that covers 30 percent or more of the soil surface with crop residue after planting to reduce soil erosion by water. Authoritative On-line References and Resources http://www2.ctic.purdue.edu/Core4/CT/Definitions.html Core4Conservation is part of the Purdue University-based Conservation Tillage Information Centre.. It has looked at economic and environment aspects including effects on soil erosionDescription Displacement of solids (soil, mud, rock and other particles) usually by the agents of currents such as, wind, water, or ice by downward or down-slope movement. Authoritative On-line References and Resources http://soilerosion.net/ This site brings together reliable information on soil erosion from a wide range of disciplines and sources. It aims to be the definitive internet source for those wishing to find out more about soil loss and soil conservation. and run-offDescription The occurrence of surplus liquid (like rain) which originates up-slope and is collected beyond the ability of the soil to absorb it. The surplus liquid then flows away over the surface to reach the nearest surface water (pond, lake, river). Authoritative On-line References and Resources http://www.sowap.org/index.htm SOWAP (Soil and Water Protection) is a collaboration between industry, NGOs, universities and farmers to test a range of site-specific soil management methods, based on the concept of conservation tillage. It has looked at economic and environment aspects including effects on soil erosion and run-off..

Synonyms: run off, runoff