conducted a survey among Iowa farmers to identify
constraints to adoption of residue harvest within their cropping systems.
Producers fear that residue harvest could compromise crop yield
in the short term through loss of fertility, and in the long term via increased
erosion and soil organic matter losses . Recent
literature reviews have highlighted the vital role of residues in a
wide range of agricultural functions and the potentially detrimental
consequences of removal from their agricultural systems . Researchers have cautioned
that for residue removal to be sustainable it should be managed
to avoid compromising the provision of ecosystem services, crop yields
and soil productivity, closely related to the maintenance of soil organic
carbon (SOC) and nutrient pools . Residue left in
the field in warmer, drier regions benefits crop yields and soil productivity
by preserving water, lowering soil temperature, increasing soil organic
matter and nutrient pools, and improving aggregation and
stability in order to decrease wind and water erosion. In temperate regions
with more fertile soils and more rainfall, however, leaving high
amounts of residue in the field may not represent such an advantage,
particularly under continuous corn production