Soil conservation practicesSoil conservation practices

ContentsContents

Soil conservation practicesSoil conservation practices Crop rotationCrop rotation Wind breakWind break Cover crop and mulchingCover crop and mulching Conservation tillageConservation tillage Residue managementResidue management Grassed waterwaysGrassed waterways Buffer strips Buffer strips Diversion terracesDiversion terraces Erosion preventionErosion prevention

Soil conservation practicesSoil conservation practices

What is soil conservation?What is soil conservation?Soil conservation is a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the Earth’s surface

or becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination.

It is a component of environmental soil science.

Crop rotationCrop rotation

Is a tool that enable farmer to increase Is a tool that enable farmer to increase soil organic content, soil structures, soil organic content, soil structures, and rooting depthand rooting depth

Accomplished by growing secondary Accomplished by growing secondary crops which enhance soil healthcrops which enhance soil health

Root crops are destructive to soil Root crops are destructive to soil structure because of shattering of soil structure because of shattering of soil aggregates aggregates

So root crops should not grown more So root crops should not grown more than once every three yearsthan once every three years

Cont….Cont….

Recommended rotation for root cropsRecommended rotation for root crops Year 1-root cropYear 1-root crop 22ndnd year-grain crop year-grain crop 33rdrd year-forage year-forage

WindbreaksWindbreaks

Windbreaks are created by planting sufficiently dense Windbreaks are created by planting sufficiently dense rows or stands of trees at the windward exposure of an rows or stands of trees at the windward exposure of an agricultural field subject to wind erosion. Evergreen agricultural field subject to wind erosion. Evergreen species are preferred to achieve year-round protection; species are preferred to achieve year-round protection; however, as long as foliage is present in the seasons of however, as long as foliage is present in the seasons of bare soil surfaces, the effect of deciduous trees may bare soil surfaces, the effect of deciduous trees may

also be adequatealso be adequate

Cover cropping and Cover cropping and mulchingmulching

effective at reducing soil erosion by effective at reducing soil erosion by leaving a leaving a

cover over the soil which reduces soil cover over the soil which reduces soil displacement associated with the impact displacement associated with the impact

of of raindrops hitting soil particles. They also raindrops hitting soil particles. They also reduce the volume and velocity of runoff reduce the volume and velocity of runoff

over over the soil. the soil.

Cover cropping and Cover cropping and mulchingmulching

Cont….Cont….

Selecting the correct cover crop depends Selecting the correct cover crop depends on: on:

• • How much cover will the crop supply How much cover will the crop supply • • Can the crop be harvested the next Can the crop be harvested the next

season season • • The importance of weed control The importance of weed control • • Soil improvement Soil improvement • • Nutrient conservation Nutrient conservation • • Date of seeding Date of seeding

MulchingMulching Mulching consists of applying organic Mulching consists of applying organic material over the exposed soil. Hay makes the material over the exposed soil. Hay makes the best mulch, but it is important to ensure that the best mulch, but it is important to ensure that the hay is harvested before weeds are mature. hay is harvested before weeds are mature. Straw can also be used.Straw can also be used.

Mulch should be applied at a rate of 3.3 to 4.5 T/ha to ensure at least 85% cover of the soil surface.

MulchingMulching

Conservation TillageConservation Tillage Conservation Tillage is field operationConservation Tillage is field operation aimed at preserving soil aggregates, organic aimed at preserving soil aggregates, organic matter and surface residue from previous cropmatter and surface residue from previous crop Conservation tillage can include changes suchConservation tillage can include changes such as: as: • • timing of tillage (fall to spring) timing of tillage (fall to spring) • • using less destructive tillage implements (chiseusing less destructive tillage implements (chise plough instead of moldboard plough) plough instead of moldboard plough) • • less tillage (one pass instead of two) less tillage (one pass instead of two)

Residue managementResidue management

Residue management is a facet of Residue management is a facet of conservation tillage that is designed conservation tillage that is designed

to leaveto leave

crop residue on the soil surface to crop residue on the soil surface to prevent prevent

erosion. The amount of residue on erosion. The amount of residue on the soil the soil

Residue managementResidue management

Grassed waterwaysGrassed waterways

Grassed waterways are shallow channels that Grassed waterways are shallow channels that allow large volumes of runoff to flow down a allow large volumes of runoff to flow down a slope without causing erosion. Grassed slope without causing erosion. Grassed waterways can be constructed in natural waterways can be constructed in natural depressions in fields where water depressions in fields where water

accumulates. accumulates. Waterways should be 6 m wide, 30 cm deep Waterways should be 6 m wide, 30 cm deep and have a saucer shape. and have a saucer shape.

Grassed waterwaysGrassed waterways

Buffer stripsBuffer strips

Buffer strips are vegetative areas that Buffer strips are vegetative areas that separate field boundaries from watercourses. separate field boundaries from watercourses. These buffer strips are effective at stabilizing These buffer strips are effective at stabilizing stream banks with their extensive root system.stream banks with their extensive root system. A proper buffer strip should A proper buffer strip should consist of at least 3 m of natural vegetation consist of at least 3 m of natural vegetation and, if the field is row cropped, an additional 2 and, if the field is row cropped, an additional 2 m wide grassed buffer strip should be leftm wide grassed buffer strip should be left

Buffer stripsBuffer strips

Diversion terracesDiversion terraces Diversion terraces are shallow grassed Diversion terraces are shallow grassed ditches, with a berm on the downhill side, ditches, with a berm on the downhill side, which are constructed across the slope to which are constructed across the slope to intercept surface runoff water moving down the intercept surface runoff water moving down the field. field. Terrace construction information: Terrace construction information: Terraces may remove up to 5% of land from Terraces may remove up to 5% of land from production production Terraces should be designed to have a grade Terraces should be designed to have a grade along the length that is less than 2% along the length that is less than 2% The position of a terrace in a field depends on The position of a terrace in a field depends on field slope, soil type and other soil conservation field slope, soil type and other soil conservation practices used. practices used.