The use of agroforestry practices in soil conservation. Soil conservation and water conservation are achieved simultaneously and go hand in hand. There are several methods of soil conservation that can be achieved through agricultural practices and measures you take at home. Soil erosion is a leading issue to consider when maintaining healthy soil, either for farming practices or. The fact sheet focuses on how conservation practice selection, timing, location, and relationships to other conservation practices influence water quality outcomes. The authors conclude that conservation tillage practices can, therefore, improve both the microbiological and physicochemical properties of soil. Here we share the best and most uptodate information we use to inform our work at the nature conservancy. Soil erosion can be avoided by using land within its capability. Preliminary cmps description benefits examples alternate till rotate tillage leaving residue on soil tilling alternate rows for weed management allows for approximately 50% reduction in field activity. The benefits of many soil conservation methods, depending on the material used, may also include better control of weeds, provision of additional nutrients to the soil, soil temperature control and protection of soil surface from the impacts of heavy rain and wind. This section of the study guide describes the three site considerations used in state land judging contests. Soil erosion by wind is caused by lack of vegetation cover, dry pulverized soils, strong wind speeds, and poor land management practices such as continuous tillage and overgrazing.
The techniques to conserve soil are very simple and require implementation so as to reduce the dire environmental impacts. Describe two soil conservation practices that are designed to decrease soil erosion. While it may be easy to dismiss the importance of dirt, its a fact soil is vital to humankind. Improved farm practices have to suit local ecological and socioeconomic conditions. Assessing the national resources inventory, volume 1. Slashandburn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas.
Preventing and managing erosion environment, land and. The lands position, soil type and slope determine how vulnerable it will be to erosion. Soil conservation is an important part of sustainable agriculture and food production, since it entails keeping soil from becoming a pollutant in the surface waters, and its ability to sieve and filter pollutants that would otherwise end up in drinking water. Likewise, similar practices can maintain or even improve the quality of agricultural soils. Logging conservation practices must take into account broad ecosystem impacts from timber harvesting, such as such as soil compaction, erosion, sedimentation of water bodies, damage to residual trees, and numerous impacts surrounding roads and skid trails erosion, increased access for illegal activity, increased exposure to invasives, etc. Soil and water conservation 265 life on this planet, as the so il is an essential resource to suppor t plants for producing food, and to provide shelter to insects and animals. Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon by which soil is removed from rocks. Erosion processes and soil conservation technology soil erosion takes place when particles of soil are detached and then transported to a different place. Principles of soil conservation and management springerlink.
Some of the methods that must be adopted for conserving soil are as follows. List of conservation management practices may 20, 2004 1 list of conservation management practices. Stop soil erosion by finding ways to conserve soil. They are enriched with the knowledge to manage water in communal ways. As well soil conservation practices restore fertility, fauna and slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. The emphasis is on soil conservation, but conserving soil moisture, energy, labor, and even equipment provides additional benefits.
The paper highlights how different agroforestry practices can be used to conserve soil and discusses the major concern of each and every practice used by farmers. Manual on integrated soil management and conservation practices. It also gives some details of rainwater harvesting, as well. Timing in implementation of soil conservation measures is also important in plantation tree crops, as the highest risk of erosion usually occurs in specific. They contain technical information about the conservation of soil, water, air, and related plant and animal resources. The chief agents of soil erosion are water and wind. I do not in this paper deal with relevant agronomic and agroforestry practices, although these are often used in combination with mechanical swc. What is soil conservation and what are various ways to. In agriculture, some amount of soil management is needed both in nonorganic and organic types to prevent agricultural land from becoming poorly productive over. To be considered conservation tillage, the system must provide. It includes soil conservation, soil amendment, and optimal soil health. The actual art of soil conservation is based on certain basic principles which include. If nonnative plants are grown, the fields should be bordered by indigenous crops to prevent soil erosion and achieve soil conservation. For example, reducing or protecting bare areas or exposed soil and reducing the rate of runoff.
Many soil conservation measures relate to agriculture since it continues to be the major cause of soil degradation. Soil conservation practices are commonly used in forestry during harvesting and replanting operations. Evaluation of the effect of increasing the quantity of maize residues in the soil cover on the runoff flow, the runoff velocity and the total soil losses 88 20. A sequel to the deforestation is typically large scale erosion. The role of agriculture in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Conservation practices play an important role in decreasing food safety risks on the farm. Corn growing in a notillage system plot as part of the longterm sustainable agriculture demonstration project at beltsville, maryland.
Soil conservation consists of protecting the soil from water runoff through mulching, planting of cover crops, and contour ridges construction. To increase carbon sequestration, farmers can adopt practices that increase crop residues left on. Their traditional ways, though less popular, are still in use and efficient. Ways to conserve soil in conventional farming and individually at home include. The objective of conservation tillage is to provide a means of profitable crop production while minimizing soil erosion due to wind andor water. Lets learn about a few traditional water conservation methods in india used by our illiterate yet successful water managers in india.
Relating soil properties to the surrounding landscape is an important part of land evaluation. To do this it is necessary to study the land carefully, so as to be able to fit conservation practices and structures to the various kinds of land. Design of soil and water conservation structures for. There are a number of resources to help determine how land should be used. The purpose of this study is to present good practices in soil and water conservation and soil protection and restoration from the point of view of their contribution to reducing the vulnerability of the regions population and improving the resilience of its agrosilvopastoral systems. Dec 07, 2016 soil conservation practices can reduce soil erosion caused by flooding, wind and other agents. Technical guides are the primary scientific references for nrcs. The conservation gateway is for the conservation practitioner, scientist and decisionmaker. Agricultural soil conservation involves the practices that can be used by farmers to promote the health and quality of soils.
Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion and exhaustion. Climate and the need to retain or discharge the runoff. Terrace farming for hilly areas, to prevent water from gathering force on its way downhill and eroding soil. Soil erosion has been continuing over, such a large part of india. Soil conservation encyclopedia of life support systems. Logging conservation practices global forest atlas. These practices include switching from conventional tillage to conservation tillage or notill, reducing or eliminating fallow as part of. Anne arundel soil conservation district soil conservation montgomery soil conservation. Soil conservation practices can reduce soil erosion caused by flooding, wind and other agents. In agriculture, some amount of soil management is needed both in nonorganic and organic types to prevent. In such areas maximum conservation of water in the soil and reduction of soil erosion are the two main problems. Erosion processes and soilconservation technology soil erosion takes place when particles of soil are detached and then transported to a different place. The concern about global food security in relation to soil erosion and strategies for confronting the remaining problems in soil management and conservation are specifically addressed. Soil conservation an overview sciencedirect topics.
This presentation highlights about the purpose, scope and methods of water conservation practices. Assessing conservation practices and land classification schemes. Soil moisture conservation techniques climate technology. Soil management is the application of operations, practices, and treatments to protect soil and enhance its performance such as soil fertility or soil mechanics. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one. Crop rotation and periodic use of clover or alfalfa hay crops increase soil organic matter and lead to improved. Lessons learned were described as one part of implementing and maintaining conservation practices, controlling sediment, controlling nutrients, and the human dimension. Streamside vegetation, grassed filter strips, and wetlands help keep our water supply clean by reducing the movement of pathogens, nutrients, and pesticides into streams, rivers, and lakes. Conservation tillage decreases erosion by disturbing the soil as little as possible when planting crops. It may not be suitable for agriculture, or suitable only for an activity which limits erosion. Terracing or division terrace decreases erosion by shaping the land to create level shelves of earth to decrease soil and water runoff.
Therefore, soil conservation practices usually aim at the primary causal factors and areas. Soil and water conservation measures are predominantly applied for the following purposes. Soil conservation services were subsequently set up in a number of countries in africa and in australia, new zealand, and india. The improved dry farming practice developed as result of researches carried out in india is an integrated rational system of cultivation of purely rained and drought enduring crops in dry areas. Munodawafa reports that grain yields of maize grown under semiarid conditions on the infertile, sandy soils of southern zimbabwe can be predicted accurately from the amount and timing of rainfall. Some of the categories and ways to conserve the soil include. Soilconservation services were subsequently set up in a number of countries in africa and in australia, new zealand, and india. Effect of the annual crop type on soil losses by erosion. Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the top most layer of the soil from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination slashandburn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas. Technical guides used in each field office are localized so that they apply specifically to the geographic area for which they are prepared.
Soil and water management practices are highly site specific and technologies that are a. Manual on integrated soil management and conservation. The food and agriculture organization of the united nations fao finds soil and water conservation swc go handinhand and describes and defines it as activities which maintain or enhance the productive capacity of the land in areas affected by or prone to degradation. Soil conservation practices include minimum and notillage, which maintain high levels of crop residues on the soil surface and reduce heavy machinery traffic. Soil erosion is a leading issue to consider when maintaining healthy soil, either for farming practices or sustaining livestock. For effective conservation of soil and water, we must treat and use the various kinds of land according to their capability and need. Manual on integrated soil management and conservation practices ix page 19.
Terracing or division terrace decreases erosion by shaping the land to create level shelves of. The district is respected for putting people with questions and concerns about soil, water. It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil productivity, environment quality, and agronomic production. Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the top most layer of the soil from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination. This volume is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students interested in understanding the principles of soil conservation and management.
Three ways to conserve soil through agricultural means follow. Purpose of soil and water conservation districts to provide information about soil, water, and related natural resource conservation. Tied ridges are also used in various farming systems. The choice of zimbabwe as a case study is premised on the fact that. Today agronomic and agroforestry practices are receiving increasing attention. Soil conservation and water conservation are achieved simultaneously and go handinhand. Conservation practices in broader context soil and water.
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