By Erick Larson
Mississippi State University
Despite all the talk about improving soil health, soil carbon, cover crops and other hot topics, it may be easy to overlook the considerable impact that crop residue management has on soils and future productivity. Following harvest, we face a unique situation because corn produces far more biomass than other row crops, as well as cover crops. Historically, many perceive this corn residue as “trash” or a problem which should be removed by fire or heavily manipulated by tillage. However, crop residue generated in production systems can produce substantial long-term benefits if managed appropriately, particularly since our southern soils are naturally low in organic matter.