TILLAGE EFFECTS ON SOIL-EROSION POTENTIAL AND SOIL QUALITY OF A FORMER CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM SITE

This study was conducted to determine the effects of tillage on soil e rosion potential and soil quality characteristics of a former Conserva tion Research Program (CRP) site. Following tillage, the study area in Northern Mississippi was maintained in a fallow condition for nine mo nths. Soil loss from simulated rainfall events was minimal on recently tilled plots and an adjoining, undisturbed CRP area. In contrast, soi l loss from the former CRP site which had been tilled nine months prev iously was similar to values obtained before the CRP program when the area had been cropped for several years. Tillage and over-winter fallo wing caused a degradation in soil quality resulting from the decomposi tion of biological nutrient reserves. The conservation and sail qualit y benefits derived from the CRP may rapidly decline once an area is ti lled and then left fallow during the non-cropped period.