Soil Conservation

How do we use the land to change the land?

• Mining – rocks and minerals are removed from the ground for profit by one of two methods: surface or sub-surface mining

• Agriculture – crops, pastures for animals

• Development – the construction of homes, offices, stores, roads etc.

Why is soil so valuable?

• Soil is used by everything that lives on land, either directly or indirectly– provides minerals and other

nutrients for plants– all animals get their energy

from plants by either eating them or eating animals that have eaten plants

Why is soil so valuable?

- provides a habitat for animals

- stores water for plants

- keeps water from running off, flowing elsewhere and possibly causing

flooding

How can soil be lost or damaged?

1. Exhausted – lose fertility because crops are planted year after year

2. Polluted – mining, chemical spills, HUMANS

3. Desertification – without plants to hold and cycle water, an area can become a desert

4. Erosion – wind (dust bowl), water (rain)

Pollution

Soil Erosion (Rain)

Wind Erosion Dust Bowl

What is soil conservation?

• Soil conservation is a method to maintain the fertility of the soil by protecting the soil from erosion and nutrient loss.

1. Contour Plowing plowing fields along curves of slopes to prevent water erosion

2. Terracingchanges one steep field into several smaller fields to prevent water erosion.

3. No-till farmingdead weeds and stalks are left in the ground from year to year to prevent wind / water erosion

4. Crop Rotationplant different crops in a field from year to year to slow nutrient depletion.

5. Cover Cropscrops that are planted between harvests to replace certain nutrients and prevent erosion. (George Washington Carver urged farmers to use this method.)

What can YOU do to conserve soil?

• Provide Ground Cover (plants, pine straw, mulch)

• Water the soil (not too wet but do not keep dry)

• Build Retaining walls