Section: Plant & Soil Science  Unit: Soil Conservation Lesson Title: Conservation Practices

 

Conservation tillageConservation tillage

                                                                           

30% Residue is desired

Lowest Cost per ton per acreof soil saved

Most popular conservationpractice

Grass waterwayGrass waterway

                                                      

Used to funnel water away from fields

Spread over a large area to slow run-off

Especially helpful for reducinggullying

Contour tillageContour tillage

                                                                           

Tilling with contourslows run-off and breaks up wind drifting

Used on slopes of 3 to 12%

Contour StripsContour Strips

                                                                           

Used when erosion risk is too great for contourtilllage alone

Used on slopes of 6 to 12%

Wind stripsWind strips

                                                                           

Reduces legth of sweep of the wind across poor soil

Used perpendicular to prevailing winds

The surface is usuallyroughened to slow wind

Field StripsField Strips

                                                                           

Similar to contour strips

Strips are placed perpendicular to downhillslopes

Strips are usually equal widths apart

TerracesTerraces

                                                                           

Used to slow and hold water from running off of land

Used on lands with slopes of12 to 25%

Land DrainageLand Drainage

                                                                           

Used when soil won’t allow water to drain internally

Tile lines are laid out and used to help waterdrain internally

Land LevelingLand Leveling

Occurs on slopes of 1 to 3%

Level land improves water distribution

Occurs with a laser leveling system

Timely tillageTimely tillage

                                                                           

Tillage of soil is usually necessary

Timing is important, if soil is too wet, tillage will ruinsoil structure

Tilling when soil is too dry will make seedbed prep difficult

Organic matter Organic matter maintenancemaintenance

Ridge till, no till and minimum till are farming practices that leave residues on the surface and increase organic matter

Mow pastureMow pasture

                                                                           

Mowing is recommendedwhen grass and weeds are too tall to allow desirable grass species to grow

Establish coverEstablish cover

                                                                           

Planting cover grasses is important on land not suitable for cropping

Establishing cover is essential for pastures that have beenmistreated

Eradicate brush or weedsEradicate brush or weeds

                                                                 

Removing brush and weeds by physical or chemical meanson rangelands helps productive forages thrive

Proper grazing useProper grazing use

                                                                           

Managing grazing lands is important for the successful feeding of animals

Rotational grazing shown here is one intense management practice that is becoming more popular