Management › Residue and mulch management → Properties › Biology

Residue retention (no removal) → Yield

A clear tendency, not consistent

72 %

of 36 studies with a clear result report a significant increase

+8 %

typical change (27 studies with numbers)

studies · 47 findings

Count each study by

38 studies · 47 findings

What the studies show

26 of 36 studies report a significant increase (72 %, 95 % confidence interval 56–84 %).

By the direction of each study’s results, significant or not: 30 of 35 studies with a direction point up (86 %, 95 % confidence interval 71–94 %; sign test p < 0.001).

↑ 26 increase
↓ 3 decrease
= 7 no effect
? 2 unclear

How large: typically +8 % (middle half +5 % to +14 %), from 27 studies with numbers
Basis: 38 studies, 47 findings; 3 entered by hand, 35 read by the library

Every study counts once, however many findings it reports: one with 40 sampling dates does not outvote ten others. A study with a significant increase and decrease (say at different depths) counts as "both". A first synthesis for orientation, not a substitute for a systematic review.

Where the studies are

goes up
stays the same
goes down
both ways

Through the soil profile

Each layer on its own: a study that reports the topsoil and the subsoil counts in both. Choose a layer to see what goes with it.

goes up
stays the same
goes down
both ways

In layers of unstated depth, yield goes up in 72 % of the studies under residue retention (no removal), stays the same in 19 % and goes down in 8 %.

What makes a difference

The conditions whose levels differ most clearly, each with the outcome that differs most between its levels of at least 10 study layers. Choose a layer in the profile to see them for that layer alone, or a level here to filter by it.

Testing every condition on every study layer…

Along the conditions

Testing every condition on every study layer…