9.

Chapter 9. RESIDUE DECOMPOSITION AND MANAGEMENT

D. E. Stott, E. E. Alberts and M. A. Weltz

9.1 Introduction
This chapter describes the approaches used in the WEPP model to simulate plant residue
decomposition and management options for cropland and rangeland conditions. The decomposition and
management of residues for cropland and rangeland ecosystems are simulated in separate submodels.
Plant and residue management options available to the user such as tillage, shredding, burning, or
removing residue are discussed in this chapter. Separate plant residue decomposition and management
sections for cropland and rangeland have been developed because of differences in user input variables.
This chapter has been organized into seven sections. Sections 9.2 through 9.5 discuss the residue
decomposition and management options for cropland. Sections 9.6 and 9.7 discuss the rangeland options.
9.2 Cropland Residue and Root Decomposition
The model simulates the decomposition of standing and flat plant residues, as well as the roots and
buried residues in the surface 0.15 m of the soil profile.
At harvest, the remaining above-ground biomass (Mrt ), primarily stems and leaves, is partitioned
into standing (Ms ) and flat (M f ) components prior to any other management operations:
[9.2.1]
Ms(t) = Ms(t−1) + (Mrt Fpc )

[9.2.2]
M f (t) = M f(t−1) + Mrt (1 − Fpc )

where Fpc is the fraction of the initial residue biomass partitioned into standing residue. Fpc is calculated
with
Hcut [9.2.3]
Fpc = hhhh
Hcm

where Hcm is the maximum canopy height (m), obtained from the plant growth model (Chapter 8) and
Hcut is the cutting height (m) at harvest, obtained from the management file (Table 9.2.1).
9.2.1 Decomposition
To simulate the decomposition process, the "decomposition day" concept as presented by Stroo et
al. (1989) for winter wheat residue decomposition was used as a basis for the residue biomass loss
calculation. The model (Stroo et al., 1989) simulates residue decay under constant environmental
conditions using C and N dynamics based on Knapp et al. (1983) and Bristow (1983). WEPP uses the
single equation used in the RESMAN model (Stott and Barrett, 1995) that replaces the equations for the
C and N dynamics:
ENVIND j .ORATE j .PSZIND j .FERIND j [9.2.4]
Mt, j = Mt −1, j e

where Mt, j is the residue biomass per unit area remaining and Mt −1, j is the biomass per unit area

July 1995
 9.2

remaining the previous day, for the current residue type, j. WEPP keeps track of 3 residue types, each of
which may have different decomposition parameters: 1. - residue from the last crop harvested; 2. -
residue from the previous crop harvested; 3. - residue from all prior crops. The model also determines
masses in 4 different biomass categories - standing, flat, buried and dead roots. Thus the model arrays
tabulate the masses for up to 10 different pools of biomass: 1. - standing residue from the last crop
harvested; 2,3,4 - flat surface residue from the last, previous, and prior crops; 5,6,7 - submerged (buried
by tillage) residue from the last, previous and prior crops; 8,9,10 - dead root mass from the last, previous
and prior crops.

Table 9.2.1. Parameter values used in the cropland residue decomposition submodel.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

c Symbol cfcut H ct F
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
c

c c
Variable CF CUTHGT FACT
A ORATE
R
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
c c
ORATE
c c

c
Fragility c
i
i
Crop Group (m 2 .kg −1 ) (m) (fraction left) (kg .m −2 .d −1 ) (kg .m −2 .d −1 ) c
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
c iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

c c

c
Alfalfa Non-Fragile 5.0 0.152 0.99 0.0150 0.0150 c

c Bromegrass Non-Fragile 5.0 0.152 0.99 0.0090 0.0090 c

c Canola Fragile 5.0 0.152 0.99 0.0130 0.0130 c

c Corn Non-Fragile 2.1 0.304 0.99 0.0065 0.0065 c

c c
Cotton Non-Fragile 1.9 0.900 0.99 0.0100 0.0065
c c

c
Oats Non-Fragile 5.1 0.152 0.99 0.0090 0.0090 c

c
Peanut Fragile 2.1 0.100 0.99 0.0150 0.0060 c

c Ryegrass Non-Fragile 4.0 0.152 0.99 0.0090 0.0090 c

c Sorghum Non-Fragile 2.9 0.609 0.99 0.0074 0.0074 c

c c
Soybeans Fragile 5.2 0.152 0.99 0.0130 0.0130
c c
Tobacco Non-Fragile 2.5 0.000 0.99 0.0065 0.0074
c c

c
Wheat; Spring Non-Fragile 6.4 0.152 0.99 0.0085 0.0085 c

c Wheat; Winter Non-Fragile 6.4 0.152 0.99 0.0085 0.0085 c

ciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii c

Mt is calculated for each residue biomass pool, standing (Ms (t) ), flat (M f (t) ), and buried (Mb (t) )
residues as well as dead roots (Mr (t) ). ENVIND is the environmental factor determining the fraction of a
decomposition day that has occurred during day t, ORATE is a decomposition constant for a given residue
type, FERIND is a soil fertility index, and PSZIND is an index for residue size influence. FERIND is
currently set to 1.0 until a nutrient cycle or fertility index is added to the plant growth model. PSZIND
will take into account the change in decomposition rate when residues are shredded, but for now it is set
to 1.0.
ORATE represents the decomposition rate of a residue type under the temperature and moisture
conditions that maximize microbial activity. In temperate soils, maximum microbial activity generally
occurs around 23 o C and 60% water-filled pore space. ORATEA is the optimum rate for above-ground
residues, primarily leaves and stems. ORATER is the optimum rate for roots. For the above-ground
residues of a given crop, the same ORATEA is used whether the residues remain standing, are flat on the
soil surface, or are buried by management operations. Using published data, ORATEA values were set for
winter wheat (Stott et al., 1990), corn (Stott and Barrett, 1995), soybean (Stott and Barrett, 1995), cotton
(Diack, 1994), sorghum (Diack, 1994) and peanut (Diack, 1994). ORATER values were set for cotton,
sorghum and peanut (Diack, 1994). ORATE values for the other crops were estimated based on
knowledge of the residue characteristics (Table 9.2.1). The initial estimates for decay rates can be
adjusted when new data and information become available.

July 1995
 9.3

In the field, residue decomposition rates are controlled by environmental factors (Martin and
Haider, 1986). Especially important are the water content and temperature (Parr and Papendick, 1978).
The effects of water content and temperature on the rate of residue decomposition were assumed to be
independent of one another (Stroo et al., 1989; Stott et al., 1986). To model the influence of these factors
on residue decomposition in the field, the optimum rate of decomposition during a 24 hour period for a
given residue type is modified by ENVIND (Eq. 9.2.4), resulting in a fraction of the optimum
decomposition rate, referred to as a ‘decomposition day.’ ENVIND is calculated from:
[9.2.5]
ENVIND = Minimum (WFC, TFC)

where WFC and TFC are the daily water and temperature factors, respectively, with normalized values
between 0 and 1.0. Hypothetically, the moisture and temperature conditions might yield an ENVIND
value of 0.7 (Eq. 9.2.5). Thus within a 24 hr period, the amount of decomposition that would take place
would be equal to 16.8 hrs at the optimum rate. ENVIND is calculated separately for the standing, flat
and buried residues. ENVIND for the roots is the same as for the buried stems and leaves.
9.2.2 Water and Temperature Factors
To account for differences in decomposition rates due to residue placement above, on, or within the
soil profile, different values for WFC and TFC are used for each residue pool (standing, flat, buried and
roots). The water factor for standing residues (WFCs (t) ) is based on the rainfall depth in meters for a
given day (PRCP), with 0.004 m of rainfall saturating the standing residues:
PRCP [9.2.6]
WFCs (t) = hhhhhh
0.004

The underlying assumption is that the standing residues will dry quickly, minimizing the decomposition
that might occur. If the daily rainfall is greater than 0.004 m then the factor is set equal to 1.0. If the
average daily temperature is less than 0, WFCs (t) is set equal to 0.
The water factor for flat residues (WFC f (t) ) should ideally be determined on the basis of the residue
water content, however the water balance model (Chapter 5) does not include this variable. Therefore as
an estimate, WFC f (t) , for limiting conditions, is calculated from:
θtill [9.2.7]
WFC f (t) = hhhh θopt > θtill
θopt

where θtill is the water content of the surface tilled zone of the soil and θopt is the water content of the
surface soil that would be considered optimum for microbial activity. If θtill is greater than θopt , oxygen
may become limiting, inhibiting the microbial population and slowing the rate of residue decay, therefore
the water factor is calculated from:
θopt [9.2.8]
WFC f (t) = hhhh θopt ≤ θtill
θtill

The water factor for buried residues as well as roots, WFCb (t) , is calculated using the same equations as
for the surface residue (Equations 9.2.7 and 9.2.8), which take into account the moisture status of the
surface tilled soil layers (0.2 m thickness). The optimum water content for soil microbial activity is about
60% of the water-filled pore space (Linn and Doran, 1984). The pore space within a soil changes with
time and with tillage practices, thus the optimum water content is calculated from:

July 1995
 9.4

[9.2.9]
θopt = φtill * 0.60

where φtill is the volume fraction in the surface tilled soil layers that is pore space (Chapter 7). For all the
water factors, the lower limit is set to 0.01.
The temperature function (TFC) is formally identical to the one describing photosynthesis activity
as a function of temperature (Taylor and Sexton, 1972). The function is as follows:

2(Tavg + A)2 (Tm + A)2 − (Tavg + A)4 [9.2.10]

TFC = hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

(Tm + A)4

where Tavg is the average daily air temperature ( o C), Tm is the maximum temperature for the function
( o C), and A is the minimum (Fig. 9.2.1). Tavg is calculated as the mean of the daily minimum and
maximum temperatures. Tm should not be equated to the optimum temperature for microbial activity.
For temperate zone soils, microbial activity is greatest at around 23° C providing there is sufficient water
present. Activity would cease at about -2°C when the soil water freezes (Stott et al., 1986). Rather, Tm
and A are experimentally derived constants that set the slope and intercepts of the quadratic function.
Thus, TFC would rarely exceed 0.8 in temperate areas. This function has not yet been tested with data
outside the temperate region. Based on data from Stott et al. (1986), Tm was set equal to 33 o C and A
equal to 6.1 o C. Since Eq. 9.2.10 is a quadratic formula, TFC was set to 0.0 for Tavg < −6.1 o C or
Tavg > 49.2 o C.

1.0

0.9

0.8
Temperature Function

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2
A
0.1

0.0
-10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55
Average Temperature (Celsius)

Figure 9.2.1. Temperature function used to calculate the decomposition rate of residues in the field.

July 1995
 9.5

9.2.3 Standing to Flat Residue Conversion

The standing residue biomass (Ms (t) ) decreases over time not only because of microbial
decomposition but also due to the stems being flattened by wind and snow. The equation to calculate the
loss of standing residues is:
[9.2.11]
Ms (t) = Fct Ms (t −1)

where Fct is the adjustment factor to account for the effects of wind and snow on the amount of standing
residue. The default value for Fct is 0.99, but it can be adjusted by the user to account for local climatic
conditions.
The equation to increase flat residue biomass from the standing to flat residue conversion is:
[9.2.12]
M f (t) = M f (t −1) + (Ms (t −1) − Ms (t) )

where M f (t) is the flat residue biomass at time t.

9.2.4 Stubble Population
The stubble population is decreased over time due to flattening by wind and snow. The equation to
compute stubble population at harvest is:
Ms (t) [9.2.13]
P (t) = hhhhh Pm Fct
Ms (0)

where P (t) is the stubble population at time t, Ms (t) is the standing residue biomass at time t, Ms (0) is the
standing residue biomass at harvest, and Pm is the stubble population at harvest. After the initial
calculation of P (t) at harvest, Pm is set equal to P (t) .
9.3 Cropland Residue Cover
The model simulates the amount of the soil surface covered by standing and flat plant residues.
9.3.1 Residue Cover
Gregory’s (1982) equation is used to predict residue cover from flat residue biomass:
−cf *M f [9.3.1]
Crf = 1 − e

where Crf is the fraction of the soil surface covered by the flat residue, M f is the flat residue biomass in
kg m −2 and cf is a crop specific constant (Table 9.2.1) to calculate flat residue cover. Surface cover for
fields with more than one type of residue is calculated as follows:
n

Σ
(− (cfn M f (n) )) [9.3.2]
Crf = 1 − e j =1

Soil cover due to standing residue biomass is predicted from:

Ms (t) [9.3.3]
Crs = hhhhh Abm
Ms (0)

where Crs is the fraction of the surface protected by standing residue (0-1), Ms (t) is the standing residue
biomass at time t, Ms (0) is the standing residue biomass at harvest, and Abm is the plant stem basal area at
maturity per square meter of soil area for the crop of interest.

July 1995
 9.6

Total fraction of surface covered by residue (Crt ) is:

[9.3.4]
Crt = Crf + Crs

9.3.2 Interrill and Rill Residue Cover

Rills are small channels in which overland flow concentrates on hillslopes. Rills are the major
pathway for runoff and sediment movement down a slope, and soil detachment in rills is mainly a
function of excess flow shear stress (see Chapter 11). Interrill areas are the regions between rills, which
are mainly affected by raindrop impact and shallow broad sheet flow. Since the erosion processes are
quite different on the two regions, separate prediction of the residue cover on the interrill and rill areas is
required within the WEPP model. Tillage implement inputs can be parameterized to simulate burial of
different amounts of residue on the interrill areas and in the rill channels (if the user has specified that rills
are not to be destroyed by tillage operations).
For certain special situations, the WEPP model can be used to simulate the redistribution of residue
from ridges to furrows in ridge tillage management systems. The model recognizes a ridge-furrow tillage
system when any implement in a tillage sequence meets specific ridge height and ridge interval criteria.
These criteria are that ridge height be equal to or greater than 0.10 m and ridge interval is between 0.6 and
1.4 m (see Chapter 7 for more information).
9.3.3 Ridge-Furrow System Residue Partitioning
Residue can be repositioned in a ridge-furrow system, either by wind blowing residue from the
ridge into the furrow, by a planter with sweeps moving residue from the ridge into the furrow, or by a
cultivator moving residue back to the ridge. In a ridge tillage simulation, the user should input permanent
furrows (rills) of a reasonable width in the crop/management input file initial conditions inputs (i.e. rill
widths of 30 to 50 percent of the ridge spacing); otherwise the model may calculate narrow rills based on
flow discharge rates (Chapter 10) and unreasonably large amounts of residue will be predicted to move
from the wide ridge (interrill) areas to the narrow furrow (rill channels).
For wind repositioning, the WEPP model reduces the residue cover on the ridges to a minimum of
30 percent (if the initial residue cover after harvest was greater than 30 percent). Residue cover on the
ridges is calculated from:
R Crr (0) − Csp H [9.3.5]
Crr (t) = Crr (0) − J h hhhhhhhhh J Dh
Q
60 P

where Crr (t) is the residue cover on the ridges (interrill areas) at time t, Crr (0) is the interrill residue cover
immediately after harvest, Csp is the residue cover on the ridges at the end of the repositioning period (30
percent in WEPP), and Dh is the days after harvest. All adjustments for wind moving residue from the
ridge into the furrow are made within 60 days of harvest.
The daily biomass of residue moved from the ridges into furrows (rills) (∆Mw ) is computed from:
ln(1 − (Crr (t −1) − Crr (t) )) [9.3.6]
∆Mw = h
hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
−cf

where cf is a crop specific constant (Table 9.2.1). Total residue biomass in the furrows (rills) (Mrl (t) ) is:
[9.3.7]
Mrl (t) = Mrt (t −1) + ∆Mw

July 1995
 9.7

Rill cover (Crl ), which is equal to the furrow cover, is calculated from the adjusted residue biomass:
−cf *Mrl [9.3.8]
Crl = 1 − e

Residue biomass on the ridges (interrill areas) (Mrr ) is:

[9.3.9]
Mrr = Mrr (t −1) − ∆Mw

Decomposition of residue on the ridges and in the furrows is accounted for separately.
The average residue cover (Creo ) over the entire soil surface is predicted from:
[9.3.10]
Cres = frr Crr + frl Crl

where frr is the fraction of the area occupied by the ridges, and frf is the fraction of the area occupied by
the furrows. See Section 9.5.1 for information on how to simulate movement of residues from ridges to
furrows and from furrows to ridges through tillage operations.
9.3.4 Ground Cover
Total ground cover from plant residues and rocks (Cg ) is calculated from:
[9.3.11]
Cg = Ccf + Cri (1−Ccf )

where Ccf is the fraction of the surface covered by coarse fragments, and Cri is the fraction of the interrill
area covered by residues. Cri is equal to Crr .
9.4 Cropland Residue Decomposition and Surface Cover Model Summary
Procedures followed in the decomposition model include:
1. Initialize the following variables:
g decomposition parameter for above-ground vegetative biomass, ORATEa ;
g decomposition parameter for root biomass, ORATEr ;
g parameter for the flat residue cover equation, cf;
g standing to flat residue adjustment factor for wind and snow, Fct ;
g residue cover on ridges after wind repositioning, Csp .
2. User initializes interrill and rill residue cover. WEPP calculates initial standing residue biomass
(Ms ), flat residue biomass (M f ), buried residue biomass (Mb ), root biomass in the 0- to 0.15-m zone
(Mr ), and plant stubble population (P).
3. Calculates residue and root biomass from Eq. [9.2.4]:
g standing residue biomass, Ms
g flat residue biomass, M f
g buried residue biomass, Mb
g dead root biomass, Mr
4. Converts standing residue biomass to flat residue biomass and adds that amount to the pool of flat
residue biomass (Eq. [9.2.11] and [9.2.12]).
5. Computes the fraction of soil surface covered by flat and standing residue biomass (Eq. [9.3.2] and
[9.3.3]), total residue cover (Eq. [9.3.4]), and, if appropriate, partitions the total cover into rill and
ridge residue cover (Eq. [9.3.8] and [9.3.10]).

July 1995
 9.8

6. Checks date to see if it is a day on which management occurs (MDATE). If it is, uses equations
given in section 9.5 to compute standing and flat residue biomass remaining after management.
Increases the buried residue biomass by the biomass of flat residue incorporated into the soil by
tillage.
7. Partitions the surface residue biomass (Mrt ) at harvest into standing (Ms ) and flat (M f ) components
(Eq. [9.2.1] and [9.2.2]) using Fpc , (Eq. [9.2.3]) which depends upon harvesting equipment and
techniques.
9.5 Cropland Plant Residue Management Options
The cropland plant residue decomposition and management model can accommodate fallow, mono,
double, rotation, strip, and mixed cropping practices. A mixed cropping practice is one where two or
more individual cropping practices (e.g. mono and double) are used in the simulation. The model is
applicable to the annual and perennial crops specified in WEPP User Requirements.
9.5.1 Tillage
Wnen applicable, the user must specify a residue management option. Current options include
shredding or cutting, burning or removal.
Effects of tillage on residue and soil properties are calculated in the model (see Chapter 7). Tillage
intensity (Ti ) is used as the classification variable to adjust standing and flat residue biomass and cover.
Ti values are stored by implement and crop and range from 0 to 1 (Table 9.5.1). A residue mixing factor
is calculated from:
[9.5.1]
Rmf = 1 − Ti

where Rmf is the ratio of flat residue cover after tillage to that before tillage. The user may specify
different input values of tillage intensities for an implement’s effect on interrill and rill residues. Use of
separate rill tillage intensity values may be desired in certain systems, in particular ridge tillage and
furrow irrigation. For an input set of rill tillage intensity values to affect simulations, the user must enter
a representative flow width for the furrows (rill width) and set the rill width type to permanent in the
crop/management input file.
Two adjustments are made on residue biomass and cover when tillage is performed. First, standing
residue is converted to flat residue using an equation from EPIC (Williams et al., 1989). Standing residue
biomass remaining after tillage (Ms (t) ) is calculated from:
−8.535T 2i [9.5.2]
Ms (t) = Ms (t −1) e

where Ms (t −1) is the standing residue biomass before tillage.

Flat residue biomass is incremented by the change in standing residue:
[9.5.3]
M f (t) = M f (t −1) + (Ms (t −1) − Ms (t) )

where M f (t) is the adjusted flat residue biomass, and M f (t −1) is the flat residue biomass before tillage.
Based on the adjusted residue masses, standing and flat residue covers are computed using the
equations given in Section 9.3.1.

July 1995
 9.9

Table 9.5.1. Parameter values from the operations database used in the cropland residue management
submodel. Ti values presented are for interrill areas. The current database uses the same
values for rill areas.
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

c Ti - Fraction Buried c

c c
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii for Residue Type
c c
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
c
IMPLEMENT Fragile Non-Fragile c
c Anhydrous applicator 0.45 0.20 c

c c
Anhydrous applicator with closing disks 0.60 0.35
c c
Bedders, lister and hippers 0.90 0.80
c c

c
Chisel plow with coulters and straight spike points 0.65 0.40 c

c Chisel plow with coulters and sweeps 0.55 0.30 c

c Chisel plow with coulters and twisted points or shovels 0.75 0.55 c

c Chisel plow with sweeps 0.45 0.25 c

c c
Chisel plow with straight spike points 0.50 0.30
c c

c
Chisel plow with twisted points or shovels 0.65 0.40 c

c
Combination tools with disks, shanks and levelling attachments 0.60 0.40 c

c Combination tools with spring teeth and rolling basket 0.40 0.35 c

c Cultivator, row with finger wheel 0.45 0.30 c

c c
Cultivator, row, multiple sweeps per row 0.40 0.20
c c
Cultivator, row, ridge till 0.75 0.60
c c

c
Cultivator, row, rolling disk 0.55 0.50 c

c Cultivator, row, single sweep per row 0.40 0.20 c

c Disk chisel plow with straight chisel spike points 0.65 0.45 c

c Disk chisel plow with sweeps 0.60 0.35 c

c c
Disk chisel plow with twisted points or shovels 0.75 0.60
c c

c
Disk plow 0.90 0.85 c

c
Disk, offset-finishing 7-9" spacing 0.70 0.55 c

c Disk, offset-heavy plowing>10" spacing 0.85 0.60 c

c Disk, one-way with 12-16 blades 0.70 0.55 c

c c
Disk, one-way with 18-30" blades 0.80 0.70
c c
Disk, single gang 0.50 0.40
c c

c
Disk, tandem-finishing 7-9" spacing 0.70 0.50 c

c Disk, tandem-heavy plowing >10" spacing 0.85 0.65 c

c Disk, tandem-light after harvest, before other tillage 0.55 0.25 c

c Disk, tandem-primary cutting >9" spacing 0.70 0.45 c

c c
Drill with double disk opener 0.30 0.10
c c

c
Drill, deep furrow with 12" spacing 0.35 0.30 c

c
Drill, hoe opener 0.50 0.35 c

c Drill, no-till in flat residues-fluted coulters 0.50 0.40 c

c Drill, no-till in flat residues-ripple or bubble coulters 0.45 0.35 c

c c
Drill, no-till in flat residues-smooth coulters 0.40 0.25
c c
Drill, no-till in standing stubble-fluted coulters 0.30 0.20
c c

c
Drill, no-till in standing stubble-ripple or bubble coulters 0.30 0.20 c

c Drill, no-till in standing stubble-smooth coulters 0.25

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii0.10 c

July 1995
 9.10

Table 9.5.1. Parameter values from the operations database used in the cropland residue management
submodel. Values presented are for interrill areas. The current database uses the same
values for rill areas. (Continued).
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

c Ti - Fraction Buried c

c c
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii for Residue Type
c c
i
c iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii c
IMPLEMENT Fragile Non-Fragile
c Drill, semi deep furrow or press 7-12" spacing 0.35 0.20 c

c c
Drill, single disk opener (conventional) 0.20 0.10
c c
Field cultivator, primary tillage-duckfoot points 0.60 0.55
c c

c
Field cultivator, primary tillage-sweeps, 12-20" 0.35 0.30 c

c Field cultivator, primary tillage-sweeps, 6-12" or shovels 0.50 0.40 c

c Field cultivator, secondary tillage - duckfoot points 0.60 0.35 c

c Field cultivator, secondary tillage - sweeps, 12-20" 0.35 0.15 c

c c
Field cultivator, secondary tillage - sweeps, 6-12" or shovels 0.45 0.25
c c

c
Furrow diker 0.20 0.10 c

c
Harrow-flex-tine tooth 0.25 0.20 c

c Harrow-packer roller 0.10 0.05 c

c Harrow-roller harrow (cultipacker) 0.40 0.30 c

c c
Harrow-spike tooth 0.30 0.20
c c
Harrow-springtooth (coil tine) 0.25 0.15
c c

c
Manure, subsurface applicator 0.70 0.50 c

c Mulch treader 0.35 0.25 c

c Paratill/paraplow 0.20 0.15 c

c Planter, double disk openers 0.20 0.10 c

c c
Planter, no-till with fluted coulter 0.25 0.15
c c

c
Planter, no-till with ripple coulter 0.15 0.10 c

c
Planter, no-till with smooth coulters 0.10 0.05 c

c Planter, ridge-till 0.70 0.50 c

c Planter, runner openers 0.15 0.10 c

c c
Planter, staggered double disk openers 0.10 0.05
c c
Planter, strip-till with 2 or 3 fluted coulters 0.40 0.30
c c

c
Planter, strip-till with row cleaning devices (8-14" wide) 0.45 0.30 c

c Plow, moldboard with uphill furrow (Pacific NW only) 0.80 0.60 c

c Plow, moldboard, 8" deep 0.98 0.95 c

c Rodweeder, plain rotary rod 0.40 0.10 c

c c
Rodweeder, rotary rod with semi-chisels or shovels 0.35 0.25
c c

c
Rotary hoe 0.15 0.15 c

c
Rotary tiller, strip tillage-12" tilled on 40" rows 0.45 0.35 c

c Rotary tiller-primary operation 6" deep 0.90 0.75 c

c Rotary tiller-secondary operation 3" deep 0.70 0.50 c

c c
Subsoil-chisel, combination chisel 0.55 0.40
c c
Subsoiler, combination disk 0.85 0.60
c c

c
Subsoiler, V ripper 20" spacing 0.30 0.20 c

c Undercutter, stubble-mulch sweep or blade, 20-30" wide 0.30 0.15 c

Undercutter, stubble-mulch sweep or place, >30" wide 0.25

cciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 0.10 cc

July 1995
 9.11

The second adjustment is the conversion of flat residue to buried residue. Flat residue cover
remaining after tillage is predicted from the equation:
[9.5.4]
Crf (t) = Rmf Crf (t −1)

where Crf (t −1) and Crf (t) are flat residue covers before and after tillage, respectively and Rmf is from Eq.
[9.5.1].
Flat residue biomass remaining after tillage is then calculated from:
ln(1−Crf (t) ) [9.5.5]
M f (t) = hhhhhhhhhh
−cf

where cf is a crop specific constant (Table 9.2.1).

Following each tillage operation, buried residue biomass (Mb ) in the 0- to 0.15-m zone is increased
by the biomass of flat residue incorporated into the soil. Flat residue biomass before tillage includes the
biomass of residue converted from standing to flat by the tillage operation.
At present, the only way to instruct the WEPP model to alter the placement of residue cover by
tillage from ridges to furrows or from furrows to ridges is through careful adjustment of the tillage
intensity values. The values presented in Table 9.5.1 are all positive and result in reduction of residue on
both the interrill areas and rill channels. If the user wants to instead increase the residue cover on the
ridges (interrill areas) or in the furrows (rill areas), the Ti values supplied to the WEPP model in the
crop/management input file would have to be negative. For example, say that in a ridge tillage system the
current ridge (interrill) cover is 30 percent and the current furrow (rill) cover is 70 percent. A cultivator
operation is to be used which will move residue from the furrow to the ridges. To reduce the rill cover by
20 percent, the Ti value for the cultivator on the rills would be 0.20. To increase the interrill cover by 10
percent (assuming that the rills take up a third of the total area, and that residue in the cultivation
operation will be evenly distributed across the ridges), the Ti value for the cultivator on the interrill areas
would be -0.33. The final residue covers in this example would be 56% in the rill channel and 40% on
the ridges.
9.5.2 Shredding or Cutting
The user inputs the date of shredding or cutting (JDCUT). At that time, standing residue (Ms ) is
converted into flat residue (M f ) depending upon the fraction of standing residue cut (Fcut ), which is a user
input variable:
[9.5.6]
M f (t) = M f (t −1) + (Ms (t) Fcut )

Flat residue cover is calculated from the adjusted flat residue biomass using Eq. [9.3.1].
9.5.3 Burning
The impact of burning on standing and flat residue biomass depends upon environmental and plant
conditions at the time of the burn. Therefore, the user must input the fractions of standing and flat residue
that are lost by burning, as well as the date the burn occurs (JDBURN). The standing and flat residue
biomass left after burning are calculated from:
[9.5.7]
Ms (t) = Ms (t −1) (1 − Fbs )

July 1995
 9.12

[9.5.8]
M f (t) = M f (t −1) (1 − Fbf )

where Fbs and Fbf are the fractions of standing and flat residue lost by burning, respectively.
9.5.4 Straw Harvesting
Small grain residue is often harvested for livestock bedding. If standing residue is cut, the user
must input the cutting date (JDCUT) and the fraction of residue cut (Fcut ) under the residue management
options for the just harvested small grain crop. A fallow crop period next needs to be defined to allow
entry of an additional residue management for the straw harvest operation, including the removal date
(JDMOVE), and the fraction of flat residue removed (Frm ). Standing and flat residue masses after cutting
are predicted from:
[9.5.9]
Ms (t) = Ms (t −1) (1 − Fcut )

[9.5.10]
M f (t) = M f (t −1) + (Ms (t −1) − Ms (t) )

Flat residue biomass remaining after removal from the field is calculated from:
[9.5.11]
M f (t) = M f (t −1) (1 − Frm )

If standing residue is not cut, and only the residue that passed through the combine is harvested, the
user must input the removal date (JDMOVE) and the fraction of flat residue removed (Frm ). The flat
residue biomass remaining after removal of the residue is then calculated from Eq. [9.5.11].
9.6 Rangeland Decomposition
The rangeland submodel uses an older set of decomposition algorithms based on the work of Ghidey
et al. (1985). The loss of litter and organic residue on the soil surface (Rg ) is estimated from the
antecedent rainfall, average daily temperature, and the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the residue.
[9.7.1]
Rg = (Rg ωL ) − Bc

[9.7.2]
ωL = 1 − (α f τ)2

Smi Tavg [9.7.3]

τ= h hhhhhh
Cn

where ωL is the fraction of litter after decay and Bc is a daily disappearance of litter as a function of
insects and rodents. α f is the litter decay coefficient and is a function of the antecedent moisture index,
average daily temperature (Tavg ), and the carbon nitrogen ratio of dead leaves and roots (Cn ). The
antecedent moisture index, Smi , is the amount of rainfall recorded in the last 5 days. Smi values > 100 mm
are set to 100 mm to reduce the decomposition rate of litter and organic residue during high rainfall
periods.

July 1995
 9.13

For woody plant communities the trunks, stems, branches, and twigs (Wn ) of the plants are
considered to be nondecomposable but are important components in the calculation of foliar cover and
ground surface cover. Wn is estimated on day one of the simulation from:
[9.7.4]
Wn = Nd Ra

where Nd is the initial standing woody biomass, and Ra is the standing, above-ground dead biomass. Wn
is held constant until management changes.
The fraction of the soil surface covered with litter is estimated with an exponential function, where
cf is a shaping coefficient and Rg is the amount of litter and organic residue biomass on the soil surface
and are discussed in detail in the Chapter 8, Section 8.5.
The decomposition of the rangeland root biomass (Brt ) is calculated in a manner similar to that
used for litter and organic residue.
[9.7.5]
Brt = Brt χ

[9.7.6]
χ = 1 − (αr ν)2

Sr Tavg [9.7.7]
ν= h
hhhhhh
Cn

where χ is the fraction of roots left after decay, αr is the root decay coefficient, and ν is a function of the
antecedent moisture index, average daily temperature (Tavg ), and the carbon nitrogen ratio of dead leaves
and roots (Cn ). The antecedent moisture index, Sr , is the amount of rainfall recorded in the last 5 days.
9.7 Rangeland Management Options
Rangeland management options impact both the living plant communities and any dead biomass
residues which exist. Thus, the rangeland management options of livestock grazing, burning, and
herbicide application are all discussed in Chapter 8 Section 8.5, and are not repeated here. The WEPP
model currently does not support mechanical practices on rangeland.

July 1995
 9.14

9.8 References
Bristow, C.E. 1983. Measurement and simulation of microbial activity during residue decomposition:
Freezing and drying effects. M.S. thesis, Washington State University, Pullman.
Diack, M. 1994. Surface residue and root decomposition of cotton, peanut and sorghum. M.S. Thesis.
Purdue University, West Lafayette IN. 166 p.
Ghidey, F., J. M. Gregory, T. R. McCarty, and E. E. Alberts. 1985. Residue decay evaluation and
prediction. Trans. of the ASAE 28(1):102- 105.
Gregory, J., M. 1982. Soil cover prediction with various amounts and types of crop residue. Trans. ASAE
25(5): 1333- 1337.
Knapp, E.B., L.F. Elliott, and G.S. Campbell. 1983. Carbon, nitrogen, and microbial biomass
interrelationships during the decomposition of wheat straw: A mechanistic model. Soil Biol.
Biochem. 15:455-461.
Linn, D.M., and J.W. Doran. 1984. Effect of water-filled pore space on carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide
production in tilled and non-tilled soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 48:1267- 1272.
Martin, J.P., and K. Haider. 1986. Influence of mineral colloids on turnover rates of soil organic carbon.
p. 283- 304. In P.M.H.;.M. Schnitzer (ed.) Interactions of Soil Minerals with Natural Organics and
Microbes. SSSA Spec. Publ. 17. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer., Madison, WI.
Parr, J.F. and R.I. Papendick. 1978. Factors affecting the decomposition of crop residues by
microorganisms. In Crop residue management systems. ed. W.R. Oshwald. Spec. Publ. 31, 101-
129. Madison, WI: Am. Soc. Agronomy.
Stott, D.E. and J.R. Barrett. 1995. RESMAN (vers. 2): Software for simulating changes in surface crop
residue mass and cover. Submitted to Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.
Stott, D.E., H.F. Stroo, L.F. Elliott, R.I. Papendick and P.W. Unger. 1990. Wheat residue loss from fields
under no- till management. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 54:92-98.
Stott, D.E., L.F. Elliott, R.I. Papendick, and G.S. Campbell. 1986. Low temperature and low water
potential effects on the microbial decomposition of wheat straw. Soil Biol. Biochem. 18:577-582.
Stroo, H.F., K.L. Bristow, L.F. Elliott, R.I. Papendick, and G.S. Campbell. 1989. Predicting rates of
wheat residue decomposition. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 53:91-99.
Taylor, S.E., and O.J. Sexton. 1972. Some implications of leaf tearing in musaceae. Ecology 63:143-149.
Williams, J.R., C.A. Jones, J.R. Kiniry, and D.A. Spanel. 1989. The EPIC crop growth model. Trans.
ASAE 32(2):497-511.

July 1995
 9.15

9.9 List of Symbols

Symbol Definition Units Variable Land Use*

o
A Absolute value of the TFC minimum temperature for residue C ATEMP C
and root decomposition
Abm Plant basal area at maturity in one square meter m2 BASMAT C
Bc Daily removal of surface organic material by insects kg .m −2 BUGS R
Brt Total root biomass for rangeland decomposition kg .m −2 RTMASS R
cf Parameter for flat residue cover equation m 2 .kg −1 CF R,C
Ccf Fraction of the surface area covered by coarse rock fragments NOD ROKCOV C,R
Cg Total fraction of soil surface covered by residues and rocks NOD GCOVER R,C
Cn Carbon to nitrogen ratio of residues and roots NOD CN R
Creo Average fraction of the soil surface covered by NOD RESCOV C
residues in a ridge-furrow system
Crf Total fraction of soil surface covered by flat residues NOD FLRCOV C
Cri Fraction of interrill area covered by residues NOD INRCOV R,C
Crl Fraction of rill area covered by residues NOD RILCOV R,C
Crr Fraction of ridge area covered by residues NOD RIGCOV C
Crs Total fraction of soil surface covered by standing residues NOD STRCOV C
Crt Total fraction of soil surface covered by residues NOD RESCOV R,C
Csp Fraction of ridge area covered by residues after wind repositioning NOD SPRCOV C
Dh Number of days after harvest NOD DAH C
frl In a ridge-furrow system, the fraction of area occupied by furrows NOD WIDTH/RSPACE C
frr In a ridge-furrow system, the fraction of area occupied by ridges NOD 1-WIDTH/RSPACE C
Fbf Fraction of flat residue mass lost by burning NOD FBRNOG C
Fbs Fraction of standing residue mass lost by burning NOD FBRNAG C
Fcut Fraction of standing residue mass mechanically shredded or cut NOD FRCUT C
Fct Standing to flat residue adjustment factor for wind and snow NOD FACT C
Fpc Fraction of residue mass at harvest that is standing NOD PARTCF C
Frm Fraction of live biomass or flat residue mass removed from a field NOD FRMOVE C
Hcm Maximum canopy height m HMAX R,C
Hcut Cutting height at harvest m CUTHGT C
j Current residue type IRESD C
Mb Buried residue mass kg .m −2 SMRM C
Mf Plant residue mass lying on the ground kg .m −2 RMOG C
Mr Non-living root mass kg .m −2 RTM C
Mrl Amount of residue mass on the rill areas kg .m −2 RILRM C
Mrr Amount of residue mass on the ridge areas kg .m −2 RIGRM C
Mrt Total above-ground residue mass at harvest (excludes roots) kg .m −2 RESAMT C
Ms Plant residue mass standing above-ground kg .m −2 RMAG C
Mso Standing residue mass at grain or biomass harvest kg .m −2 SRMHAV C
∆Mw Residue mass moved from ridges to furrows by wind kg .m −2 DELTRM C
Nd Initial standing non-decomposable woody biomass NOD WOOD R
ORATEA Optimum decomposition rate for the above-ground part of a kg .m −2 .d −1 ORATEA C
residue type
ORATER Optimum decomposition rate for the dead roots of a given kg .m −2 .d −1 ORATER C
residue type
P Maximum potential standing live above-ground biomass kg .m −2 PLIVE R
PRCP Daily precipitation m PRCP C
Pm Plant population at maturity plants .m −2 POPMAT C

July 1995
 9.16

Ra Standing above-ground dead biomass kg .m −2 RMAG R

Rg Litter and organic residue mass kg .m −2 RMOG R
Rmf Residue mixing factor NOD RMF C
Smi Antecedent moisture index for litter decomposition m AMC R
Sr Antecedent moisture index for root decomposition m AMC2 R
o
Tavg Average daily temperature C TMPAVE R
Ti Tillage intensity NOD MFO C
ti Current Julian date Julian day SDATE R,C
o
Tm Maximum TFC temperature for residue/root decomposition C TM C
Wn Standing woody biomass - nondegradable, nonconsumable kg m −2
. DECOMP R
αf Decomposition constant to calculate flat residue mass change NOD ACA R
αr Decomposition constant to calculate root mass change NOD AR R
φtill Soil volume fraction in tilled soil layers that is pore space NOD AVPOR C
θopt Fraction of water filled pore space that is optimal for decomposition NOD OPTWAT C
θtill Fraction of soil pore space filled with water in tilled soil layers NOD SUMWAT C
ωL Litter remaining after decomposition occurs NOD SMRATI R
τ Weighted-time variable for standing and flat residue decomposition NOD TAU R
ν Weighted-time variable for buried residue and root decomposition NOD TAU2 R
χ Fraction of roots remaining after decomposition NOD RPATIO R
- Environmental index used to determine residue decomposition NOD ENVIND C
- Change in decomposition rate due to soil fertility NOD FERIND C
- Julian day of burning crop residue Julian day JDBURN C
- Julian day of crop residue shredding or cutting Julian day JDCUT C
- Julian day of residue removal from a field Julian day JDMOVE C
- Change in decomposition rate due to residue particle size NOD PSZIND C
- Temperature factor used in the environmental index determination NOD TFC C
- Water factor used in the environmental index determination NOD WFC C

* C and R refer to cropland and rangeland, respectively.

July 1995