Organic matter recycling varies with crops grown

Central San Joaquin Valley farmers have been working with researchers and consultants to evaluate soil and crop management practices, enhance biologically integrated pest management and facilitate information exchange through the West Side Biologically Integrated Farming Systems (BIFS) Project. As part of this project, the amounts and composition of aboveground bio-mass in postharvest residues of typical rotational crops of the region were surveyed from 1996 to 1998. Crop residue biomass ranged from 9,560 pounds per acre for corn following grain harvest to 570 pounds per acre for onions. A very large range of organic matter recycling thus results from the various intensive cropping strategies that are currently used in this region.