In order to demonstrate the erosion rate differentials of conservation tillage compared to conventional tillage, a series of four soil traps were constructed on sloping fields in the upper Avon River basin. On two separate five- acre plots, a moldboard plow was used, which buried the crop residues and exposed the soil surface to sheet and rill erosion. Adjacent plots were plowed with a mulch tiller, which left a greater percentage of residue on or near the surface. This residue gave greater protection against erosion while increasing infiltration of runoff. Soil collected from the moldboard-tilled plots versus the mulch-tilled plots revealed an average 5:1 soil loss ratio, with greater differences following intense periods of rainfall.