There is a clear need for continued investment in soil conservation, particularly for hillside soils and areas where mechanized tillage has become more common. 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. Soil conservation and management in developing countries. 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. The tilled grain sorghum on the right yielded only 61 bua in a dry year while the notill on the left yielded about 121 bua. Soil conservation is the practice of protecting the soil against erosion or deterioration. Introduction to soil and water conservation geolearning. 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. Send all nomination materials electronically as a pdf to. It is a complex mixture of i mineral particles formed from rocks, ii humus or ganic material formed from decaying plant remains, iii. Using satellite imagery to assess impacts of soil and.
The actual art of soil conservation is based on certain basic principles which include. Improved water infiltration, less runoff and reduced evaporative losses in notill systems can save from 5 to 12 inches per year, making more water available for crop production. The chief agents of soil erosion are water and wind. 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. Local citizens recognize the district as a key leader in soil and water quality. Soil conservation and watershed management programsactivities ministry of forests and soil conservation department of soil conservation and watershed management. Soil erosion in a maha season can be as high as 54 t ha1 from chena lands dharmasena, 1992a. The ministry for the environment and the new zealand association of resource. It includes soil conservation, soil amendment, and optimal soil health. Soil and water conservation is in its outlines a worldwide strategy in the context of a sustainable and povertyorientated natural resource management rauch 2007 soil and water conservation are those activities at the local level which maintain or enhance the productive capacity of the land including soil, water and vegetation in areas prone to degradation through. Soil conversation involves working to reduce contamination and depletion.
It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil. This newly restructured website addresses the needs of our clients for researchbased information and current research projects on soil and cropping systems management practices that impact soil health, soil carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, crop productivity and environmental services. The different soil conservation and fertility management best practices, included in this manual such as terracing, mulching, crop rotation, ridges and beds, are. Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon by which soil is removed from rocks. In agriculture, some amount of soil management is needed both in nonorganic and organic types to prevent agricultural land from becoming poorly productive over. 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.
Pdf soil conservation and watershed management programs. Welcome to the iowa state university extension and outreach soil management website. Although erroneously dubbed as dirt or perceived as something of insignificant value, humans can not survive without soil because it is the basis of all terrestrial life. Soil conservation practices soil is the most important resource on which agriculture is based. Some of the methods that must be adopted for conserving soil are as follows. The latter are achieved through soil conservation, improved local land management practices, such as crop rotations and zero tillage, and management of land. Proper management of this valuable resource is vital to sustain longterm agricultural productivity. Soil conservation an integral part of rural development planning. Management decisions both at the field and offsite have the potential to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Soil conservation contour plowing soil conservation and sustainable agriculture 5. Soil conservation is fundamentally a matter of determining a correct form of land use and management. 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. Effect of the annual crop type on soil losses by erosion.
Study and use of surveying and leveling instruments. Broadly categorizing there are two methods of soil conservation. In cottoncultivated plots and sorghumpigeon pea intercropped plots without any soil conservation measures, the annual soil loss was 22. A correct form of land use and management is one that provides a higher.
Resource management plans can help farm owners and operators take advantage of all the conservation measures at their disposal. Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion and exhaustion. Corn growing in a notillage system plot as part of the longterm sustainable agriculture demonstration project at beltsville, maryland. Resource management planning program virginia department of. Soil conservation wisconsin initiative on climate change impacts.
The goal is to help farmers adapt to the shortterm effects of climate change and mitigate the impacts of climateinduced shocks over the medium term world bank 2017. Soil is a vital resource that provides food, feed, fuel, and fiber. Conservation and use of natural resources biology notes 25. Soil management is the application of operations, practices, and treatments to protect soil and enhance its performance such as soil fertility or soil mechanics. It promotes integration of social, economic, physical and biological needs and values, to achieve a more holistic, productive, and healthy ecosystem. Soil conservation stores more of the runoff from excess rainfall in the reservoir of the soil for subsequent crop use.
The cooperative conservation partnership initiative ccpi was a voluntary conservation initiative that enabled the use of certain conservation programs along with resources of eligible partners to provide financial and technical assistance to owners and operators of agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands. The plans are designed to encourage farmers, either the farm owner or operator, to use a high level of best management practices bmps that reduce runoff pollution to local waters and, in many cases, improve the. Manual on integrated soil management and conservation practices. Slashandburn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas. Soil management and conservation for small farms food and. Manual for best practices in soil conservation and soil fertility. Information has been gathered from individual knowledge and personal notes along with past often unpublished, or scarce copies of, printed material. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one.
Principles of soil conservation and management request pdf. 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. The number of georgia citizens receiving training in soil and water conservation best management practices from their local soil and water conservation district is growing. Application efficiencies use compact, low volume, or concentrate quantity with spray. Soil and water conservation engineering, seventh edition. Tillage of alternate rows, of vineyard and orchards, thereby reducing passes across field. Soil and water conservation is an integral part of watershed management. The handbook represents best current practice in the. 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. Erosion prevention strategies should focus on barriers with low capital and labor investment e. Calculations shall account for the effects of other practices in the conservation management system. Soil conservation an overview sciencedirect topics. Slm encompasses other established approaches such as soil and water conservation, conservation agriculture, natural resources management, and integrated ecosystem management.
Soil conservation management a good soilmanagement program can help to protect soil, reduce runoff into surface water, and maintain or improve soil quality. Manual on integrated soil management and conservation. Publications and other resources on how to assess, improve and maintain soil health for both croplands and pastures. In agriculture, some amount of soil management is needed both in nonorganic and organic types to prevent. Although notill management is generally preferred over practices that disturb soil, an occasional tillage may be necessary, in some soils e. Modern concepts of soil conservation sciencedirect. New zealand association of resource management under contract from the ministry for the environment. Proper soil management is a key to sustainable agricultural production. Some of this material is derived from internal regional council manuals and. Principles of soil conservation and management humberto.
Ime role of soil conservation in watershed management on agricultural lands. Today these techniques of soil and water conservation are being prac ticed in many countries with much benefit to great numbers of people. Stabilizes soil surface, reduces soil compaction, reduces windblown dust. A sequel to the deforestation is typically large scale erosion. Climate change threatens to increase the potential for soil erosion, reduce soil quality, lower agricultural productivity and negatively impact food security and global sustainability, making it one of the most severe challenges we will face in the 21st century. The soil conservation technical handbookis a comprehensive collection of know how about soil conservation in new zealand. Reduce or prevent soil erosion by best management practices such as terracing, cover cropping, strip cropping, no till planting, sodding waterways, diversion. Iv soil conservation david sanders encyclopedia of life support systems eolss symptom of bad land use and management. Thus, soil and water conservation practices are becoming increasingly important in the arid and semiarid. Soil conservation is fundamentally a matter of determining a. It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil productivity, environment quality, and agronomic production. 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 or other chemical soil contamination. Soil management and soil conservation practices essex county. Soil conservation is the prevention of soil loss from erosion or reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination.
Principles of soil conservation and management springerlink. Purpose of soil and water conservation districts to provide information about soil, water, and related. It is a complex mixture of i mineral particles formed from rocks, ii humus or ganic material formed from decaying plant remains, iii mineral salts, iv water, v. Soil erosion has been continuing over, such a large part of india. Soil conservation measures should aim at preventing or at least minimising the soils loss. In order to do this proper land utilisation coupled with agricultural practices should be adopted. 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. 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. Manual on integrated soil management and conservation practices ix page 19. Erosion caused in this case by an intense thunderstorm squall lifting the soil from the fields photo by arjen verkaik, skyart productions. What is soil conservation and what are various ways to. Soil management alternative farming systems information. Unesco eolss sample chapters land use, land cover and soil sciences vol. Specific topics include soil quality, soil biology, soil organic matter, organic fertilizers and amendments, composting, soil conservation, crop rotation, mulching and nutrient management.
Soil can be drained away or contaminated, destroying it for use. Although watershed management was formerly considered to be nearly synonymous with soil and water conservation, it goes far beyond it today, comprising a variety of further activities that attempt to improve the living conditions of the people living within the respective. 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. Agriculture accounts for roughly 70% of total freshwater withdrawals globally. At the core of soil conservation in wisconsin and the united states is voluntary adoption of. Natural resources, especially water and soil, are essential for the function and structure of agricultural production systems and for the overall social and environmental sustainability. Unfortunately, soil erosion is usually only identified as a problem. The soil and water management and conservation young scholar award serves to recognize young scientists who have made outstanding contributions to soil and water management and conservation within seven years of completing their ph. Management to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Tilling alternate rows for weed management allows for approximately 50% reduction in field activity.
1458 649 247 671 214 201 381 502 259 1196 568 306 1428 431 1070 361 315 618 943 987 1065 1419 632 904 71 1266 217 1434 1463 961 969 951 767 447 1291 1367 1112 858 280 9 1105 519 223 1260