SEDIMENT MOVEMENT WITHIN A STRIP INTERCROPPING SYSTEM

This study tolls conducted to identify sediment movement within a stri p intercropping system in southwestern Iowa during the third year of a three-year crop rotation. Soil loss resulting from the application of simulated rainfall to a Monona silt loam soil, was measured from indi vidual corn (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr), and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) strips, and from multiple strips which i ncluded all three crops. Because of the crop rotation and residue mana gement procedures used at the study site, a substantial amount of surf ace cover and vegetative mass was present on each of the strips. As a result soil loss resulting from simulated rainfall applied for a one-h our duration at an intensity of approximately 64 mm/hr (2.5 in/hr) was less than or equal to 1.5 Mg/ha (0.67 tons/acre) from each of the ind ividual and multiple strips. Thus, the strip intercropping system esta blished an this highly erodible site provided effective erosion contro l.