soil conservation

1. Soil ConservationSoil Conservation

2. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Soil conservationSoil conservation – using techniques to– using techniques to
reduce erosion and restore soil fertility –reduce erosion and restore soil fertility –
mostly keeping vegetation in placemostly keeping vegetation in place

3. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 TerracingTerracing – growing on steep slopes to– growing on steep slopes to
minimize runoff and erosionminimize runoff and erosion

4. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Contour planting (farming)Contour planting (farming) – rows across– rows across
slope rather than up and down – each rowslope rather than up and down – each row
slows waterslows water

5. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Strip croppingStrip cropping – planting alternating rows of– planting alternating rows of
different crops – one is always covered withdifferent crops – one is always covered with
vegetation and catches water from othervegetation and catches water from other

6. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Cover cropsCover crops – planting secondary crop after– planting secondary crop after
harvest to hold soilharvest to hold soil

7. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Alley croppingAlley cropping ((agroforestryagroforestry) – planting) – planting
crops together in strips between trees –crops together in strips between trees –
reduces water lossreduces water loss

8. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 WindbreaksWindbreaks ((shelterbeltsshelterbelts) – trees around) – trees around
fields to reduce wind erosionfields to reduce wind erosion

9. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Conservation-tillage farmingConservation-tillage farming – planting– planting
crops without disturbing soil (no-till andcrops without disturbing soil (no-till and
minimum tillage)minimum tillage)

Reduces erosionReduces erosion

Increases crop yieldsIncreases crop yields

Raises soil carbon contentRaises soil carbon content

Lowers water useLowers water use

Lowers pesticidesLowers pesticides

Uses less tractor fuelUses less tractor fuel

10. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION

11. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 HydroponicsHydroponics – growing plants without soil –– growing plants without soil –
uses flowing water containing nutrients anduses flowing water containing nutrients and
sometimes fish – closed systemsometimes fish – closed system

12. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Erosion hotspotsErosion hotspots – highly erodible land that– highly erodible land that
should be identified and removed fromshould be identified and removed from
agricultural cultivation – plant with treesagricultural cultivation – plant with trees

13. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Fertilizers can help restore soil nutrientsFertilizers can help restore soil nutrients
 Runoff can cause water pollution:Runoff can cause water pollution:

Algae growthAlgae growth

TurbidityTurbidity

EutrophicationEutrophication

14. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Organic fertilizersOrganic fertilizers – from plant and animal– from plant and animal
materialsmaterials

Animal manureAnimal manure – dung and urine of farm animals– dung and urine of farm animals

Green manureGreen manure – cut vegetation plowed into soil– cut vegetation plowed into soil

CompostCompost

15. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Synthetic (commercial) inorganicSynthetic (commercial) inorganic
fertilizersfertilizers – contain nitrogen (Haber-Bosch),– contain nitrogen (Haber-Bosch),
phosphorous and potassium andphosphorous and potassium and
micronutrientsmicronutrients

16. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURESUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
THROUGH SOIL CONSERVATIONTHROUGH SOIL CONSERVATION
 Crop rotationCrop rotation – nutrient-depleting crops one– nutrient-depleting crops one
year, legumes (root nodules with nitrogenyear, legumes (root nodules with nitrogen
fixing bacteria) the nextfixing bacteria) the next

17. Reducing Soil SalinizationReducing Soil Salinization

18. Reducing DesertificationReducing Desertification
 Difficult – cannot control droughtDifficult – cannot control drought
 Can – reduce population growth,Can – reduce population growth,
overgrazing, deforestation, destructiveovergrazing, deforestation, destructive
planting, irrigation, miningplanting, irrigation, mining
 Work to decrease our contribution to climateWork to decrease our contribution to climate
changechange