How do tillage practices affect water conservation in dryland production systems?
Tillage practices are a key factor to water conservation in dryland production systems. Every tillage event will increase soil surface evaporation as the generally wetter soil is exposed to the sun and wind. Capture and storage of precipitation is maximized when conservation tillage is practiced. Other tillage practices that aid in capture and storage of precipitation include contour farming – leaving furrows perpendicular to the slope; tillage practices that roughen the soil surface to capture snow; and tillage implements that leave small storage basins or pockets to temporarily store water for infiltration during precipitation events reducing runoff. These practices have some limitations under high intensity precipitation events and in sloped fields.
