Which of the following practices helps control runoff when applying manure in the fall?

Maintaining adequate plant cover is crucial for controlling runoff when applying manure in fall. Plant cover acts as a protective barrier, reducing the speed and volume of water that can easily flow over the soil surface. This vegetative cover helps to absorb water, minimizing soil erosion and preventing nutrients from being washed away into nearby water bodies, which can lead to water quality issues such as nutrient pollution.

In contrast, practices like conventional tillage rely on disturbed soil, which can be more prone to erosion and runoff. Likewise, a no-till approach, while beneficial in many respects, does not inherently provide the same level of cover unless adequate plant growth is present. Increasing application rates can exacerbate runoff if the soil cannot absorb the added nutrients quickly enough, leading to increased pollution risks. Therefore, maintaining adequate plant cover is a direct and effective method to mitigate these risks during manure applications in the fall.