HERBICIDE-SOIL INTERACTIONS IN REDUCED TILLAGE AND PLANT RESIDUE MANAGEMENT-SYSTEMS

Recent changes in technology, governmental regulation and scrutiny, an d public opinion have motivated the agricultural community to examine current management practices from the perspective of how they fit into a sustainable agricultural framework. One aspect which can be incorpo rated into many existing farming systems is plane residue management ( e.g., reduced tillage, cover crops). Many residue management systems a re designed to enhance accumulation of plant residue at the soil surfa ce. The plant residue covering the soil surface provides many benefits , including protection from soil erosion, soil moisture conservation b y acting as a barrier against evaporation, improved soil tilth, and in hibition of weed emergence. This review summarizes recent literature ( ca. last 25 yr) concerning the effects of plant residue management on the soil environment and how those changes impact herbicide interactio ns.