Modern concepts of soil conservation sciencedirect. 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. Land degradation soil degradation is the decline in soil quality caused by its improper use, usually for agricultural, pastoral, industrial or urban purposes. Purpose of soil and water conservation districts to provide information about soil, water, and related. Soil conservation david sanders world association of soil and water conservation, bristol, england,uk keywords. The principles of conservation agriculture conservation agriculture emphasizes that the soil is a living body, essential to sustain quality of life on the planet. Soil management is to create optimum conditions for plant growth through improved soil fertility and structure.
Soil conversation involves working to reduce contamination and depletion. Soil conservation measures should aim at preventing or at least minimising the soils loss. Soil can be drained away or contaminated, destroying it for use. In addition to improving soil fertility, water harvesting, enhancing the soil water retention capacity and reducing soil erosion are measures that could significantly improve agricultural productivity in rainfed marginal environments. Factors which affect the rate of soil loss are rainfall, rate of runoff, soil types, slope, plant cover and presence or absence of conservation measures. Conservation agriculture e rosion and lack of rainfall are problems that many african farmers face. No tillage, along with other soil conservation practices, are the cornerstones of ca dumanski et al. Soil and water conservation engineering, seventh edition. A sequel to the deforestation is typically large scale erosion. Broadly categorizing there are two methods of soil conservation. If you see your soil eroding, protect it with grass or plants.
It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil productivity, environment quality, and agronomic production. Conservation agriculture and soil qualityan overview article pdf available in international journal of current microbiology and applied sciences 62. Soil erosion is a leading issue to consider when maintaining healthy soil, either for farming practices or sustaining livestock. In order to equip the community as well as mdt members with the basic knowledge about these mechanical measures, this manual for soil conservation works has been prepared. Pdf soil erosion is a natural process in which particles of soil are moved by wind and water, and displaced to another location. It encompasses physical soil erosion, chemical salinity and alkalinity, pollution and biological deterioration pollution and. Some of this material is derived from internal regional council manuals and. An introduction to soil conservation northampton county. Some of the methods that must be adopted for conserving soil are as follows.
If erosion is severe, you can combine conservation agriculture with other techniques to control erosion. The actual art of soil conservation is based on certain basic principles which include. Often, one type of climate will also have many different types of soil. Soil conservation techniques also help minimize the damage that development can do to surrounding open space. Soil conservation practices and erosion control in india. The land is also necessary to ensure the quality of water we derive from our earth. 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. If you live on a farm, make sure that the soil on your fields and.
Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon by which soil is removed from rocks. Corn growing in a notillage system plot as part of the longterm sustainable agriculture demonstration project at beltsville, maryland. Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion and exhaustion. Soil conservation is when you prevent soil erosion by planting new plants, taking care of plants, or keeping soil from being contaminated. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one. Soil conservation an integral part of rural development planning. Soil management and conservation for small farms food and. Methods and materials in soil conservation a manual written and illustrated by john charman consultant to fao under the supervision of rod gallacher, technical officer soil conservation agll, fao. The main aim of these practices is to reduce or prevent either water erosion or wind erosion, while achieving the desired moisture for sustainable production. From the pages earlier, we learned about the role of soils and how essential they are for life on earth. Methodologies for assessment of soil degradation due. The chief agents of soil erosion are water and wind.
Erosion caused in this case by an intense thunderstorm squall lifting the soil from the fields photo by arjen verkaik, skyart productions. Soil conservation means the use and preservation of the natural resources of earth and their protection from destructive influences misuse, decay, fire, or waste. Contour farming, crop rotation, strip cropping, choice of crops, mulching, cover crop, reforestation, mixed crop, wind breaks are major biological soil conservation methods. With contour cultivation, all cultivation is done across the slope. Nov 02, 2012 soil conservation soil conservation is a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the earths surface or becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification, salinization, soil erosion or other chemical soil contamination to retain the fertility of soil. Another form of slashing cover crops is by the use of manual or mechanical knives.
This acts as a mulch, protecting the soil from wind erosion and raindrop impact. The tippecanoe county soil and water conservation district swcd is a legal subdivision of state government, the only local unit of government responsible for coordinating the conservation of our soil, water, and related natural resources. Conservation tillage is where cropgrowing soils are left, after harvest, covered in crop residues. Today these techniques of soil and water conservation are being prac ticed in many countries with much benefit to great numbers of people. Stop soil erosion by finding ways to conserve soil. A permanent soil cover is maintained with cover crops, crop residues or mulch. Mechanical control of erosion te ara encyclopedia of new. What is soil conservation and methods of soil conservation. Soil conservation and management in developing countries.
While it may be easy to dismiss the importance of dirt, its a fact soil is vital to humankind. Dec 19, 2016 conclusion biological method of soil conservation is various ways of maintaining a cover of vegetation during the periods of high erosion threat. Principles of soil conservation and management springerlink. Soil conservation soil conservation is a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the earths surface or becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification, salinization, soil erosion or other chemical soil contamination to retain the fertility of soil.
The soil conservation technical handbook is a comprehensive collection of know. Soil conservation is important because soil is crucial for many aspects of human life as it provides food, filters air and water and helps to decompose biological waste into nutrients for new plant life. Studies of farming systems and methods of land management e. Types of soil and soil conservation in hindi unacademy. Thus, soil and water conservation practices are becoming increasingly important in the arid and semiarid. To be considered conservation tillage, the system must provide. Northampton county conservation district nccd martinsjacoby watershed association mjwa ppl corporation funding is provided by ppl and a pa dep environmental education grant.
Practical methods of soil conservation are broadly grouped as follows. Soil conservation service scs publications united states. Soil conservation service scs publications united states 177 177 vol no. Erosion processes and soilconservation technology 4. In addition to improving soil fertility, water harvesting, enhancing the soilwater retention capacity and reducing soil erosion are measures that could significantly improve agricultural productivity in rainfed marginal environments.
In india, we are aware of advancing deserts of rajasthan and erosional losses, floods. Soil conservation and water conservation are achieved simultaneously and go handinhand. Physical soil conservation measures physical soil conservation structures are permanent features made of earth, stones or masonry, designed to protect the soil from uncontrolled runoff and erosion and retain water where needed. Three ways to conserve soil through agricultural means follow. These activities will propose and executed by the gram panchayats. Soil erosion, use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive farming, water pollution and land pollution are some of the aspects upsetting the natural functions of the soil. This material is provisionally made accessible in the present form in order to make the contents widely available in advance of eventual printing. What are the principles and methods of soil conservation. Erosion processes and soil conservation technology 4. Slashandburn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas. Ca encourages application of modern technologies that enhance the quality and ecological integrity of the soil.
Soil conservation is the best way to make sure that we have the land we need to live on or, in my case, live in. Soil conservation is the practice of protecting the soil against erosion or deterioration. Use these handson activities to help your students understand. The chief causes of soil erosion are water and wind. The objective of conservation tillage is to provide a means of profitable crop production while minimizing soil erosion due to wind andor water. Eco allstar kids soil conservation ideas and projects for kids.
Resolutions of the woodlands meeting held at albuquerque, new mexico, february 2427, 1937. But whatever the soil, they all have similar ingredients in them. Land degradation, soil erosion and soil conservation pmf ias. Soil conservation is important because if we run out of healthy soil, we would be unable to plant the crops that are necessary. Soil conservation is a combination of all methods of management and land use that safeguard the soil against depletion or deterioration by natural or humaninduced factors. Soil erosion wreaks havoc on our environment, and soil conservation is the effort to prevent erosion and improve the quality of soil. The soil conservation technical handbookis a comprehensive collection of know how about soil conservation in new zealand. Porosity is important because it determines the ease with which water, oxygen, and nitrogen can work their way down between soil particles to the root zones of plants. If you see something thats making the soil sick, do everything you can to make the soil healthy again. In particular, it recognizes the importance of the upper 020 cm of soil as the most active zone, but also the zone most vulnerable to erosion and degradation. Pdf methods of controlling soil erosion researchgate. Climate and the need to retain or discharge the runoff.
Soil erosion is a leading issue to consider when maintaining healthy soil, either for farming practices or. Conservation agriculture can help overcome both by conserving soil and by storing water in the soil. Soil conservation stores more of the runoff from excess rainfall in the reservoir of the soil for subsequent crop use. An introduction to soil conservation the workshop will include instruction, discussion, field experience, and activities conducted by. Conserving soil and water welcome to act conservation. The main objectives of soil and water conservation are to obtain the maximum sustained level of production from a given area of land by preventing soil degradation and environmental pollution. Cc21 revised 1959 questions and answers on soil and water. Wikipedia defines soil conservation as, soil conservation is the prevention of soil loss from erosion or reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination. In order to do this proper land utilisation coupled with agricultural practices should be adopted.
The emphasis is on soil conservation, but conserving soil moisture, energy, labor, and even equipment provides additional benefits. Good soil conservation helps to put nutrients back into the soil. Soil erosion has been continuing over, such a large part of india. Pdf conservation agriculture and soil qualityan overview. Soil degradation is a serious global environmental problem and may be exacerbated by climate change. Soil conservation helps protect the land, prevent erosion and preserve soil nutrients on land thats being used for farming. Fieldbased soil and water conservation field based soil and water conservation measures are essential for insitu conservation of soil and water. The contribution of soil and water conservation to. Contents page abstract i list of boxes, tables and figures iv acronyms iv 1 introduction 1 rethinking natural resource degradation a livelihoods approach to soil and water conservation introduction to the case studies 2 tanzania 4 background to the case study area farming systems and soil and water conservation. There are always a lot more reasons to conserve soil. There are several methods of soil conservation that can be achieved through agricultural practices and measures you take at home.
What is soil conservation and what are various ways to. Taking good care of our soil equates to taking care of our water supply. Biological soil conservation methods linkedin slideshare. Conclusion biological method of soil conservation is various ways of maintaining a cover of vegetation during the periods of high erosion threat. Soil management inappropriate land use activities often cause changes in soil conditions, which in turn contribute to soil erosion. Information has been gathered from individual knowledge and personal notes along with past often unpublished, or scarce copies of, printed material. Water quality is determined by either direct or indirect methods. This creates a series of minibarriers to the downward flow of water. 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. Project phaseii, several soil and water conservation activities be undertakenwill.