Soil Residue Cover Examples

The following are examples of different levels of residue soil cover. The percentage of soil cover in each photo is estimated.

No-till corn residue 100% soil cover

No-till corn residue, 90% soil cover

No-till corn residue, 75% soil cover

No till corn residue, 50% soil cover

No till corn residue, 10% soil cover

No till wheat residue, 95% soil cover

Tilled wheat residue, 50% soil cover

Tilled soybean residue with emerging cereal rye, 25% soil cover

Soybean residue with emerging cover crop, 80% soil cover

Tilled corn residue, 15% soil cover

Tilled soybean residue, 15% soil cover

Tilled soybean residue, 5% soil cover

Tilled corn residue, 15% soil cover

Tilled corn residue, 20% soil cover

Tilled corn residue, 10% soil cover

Tilled corn residue, 5% soil cover

Tilled wheat residue, 20% soil cover

2024 Soil Health Conference Registration Open!

The 2024 Soil Health School will be held Jan. 23-24 at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel in Rapid City, SD! Keynote speakers include Jay Fuhrer, Jerry Hatfield, Glenn Elzinga, and Zach Smith. There will be many other speakers, breakout sessions, and opportunties to network and socialize! Join us and be a part of our 2024 Soil Health Conference!

News & Events

Wintertime is decision time

Wintertime is decision time

By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – It’s often said that the best time to start improving your land was 20 years ago, but the second-best time is right now. That statement might be harder for ranchers to swallow with winter on their doorstep, nothing growing in their pastures,...

Research ties healthy soil biology to a host of benefits

Research ties healthy soil biology to a host of benefits

By Stan Wise PIERRE, SD – Agricultural producers often base their land management decisions on the living things they can see above the ground – crops, livestock, forage, weeds, insects, wildlife, etc. However, new research is showing they should also consider life...

Student video and essay contests now open

Student video and essay contests now open

As part of the 2024 Soil Health Conference, the South Dakota Soil Health Coalition has announced two exciting contests for students in South Dakota. The student video and essay contests have been designed to give students the opportunity to learn more about soil...