Macomb, IL – The expected increase in corn acreage this summer might not bring a proportionate increase in soil erosion. Chemistry professor J. Scott McConnell says most corn now is harvested leaving the crop residue on the surface. He says this breaks up rainfall, and slows water running over the surface. That lets sediment drop out while it's still in the field. McConnell spoke at a sustainability seminar sponsored by the Institute for Environmental Studies at WIU. He pointed out that some of the most fertile soils are also the most erodible, especially when they're hilly. He says that points out the need for vegetative buffer zones along streams and rivers to keep washed-away silt from lowering water quality.
Extra Corn Might Not Increase Erosion
