This document outlines several land management practices to control water erosion: 1. Plant cover protects the soil from erosion and holds soil particles together. 2. Land use should match the slope, for example pasture on steep slopes. 3. Maintaining organic matter through crop rotations and residue improves soil structure and water retention. 4. Crop residue and reduced tillage protect the soil surface and prevent loosening of soil particles.

1. Management of Water Erosion

2. Land Use and Management
Practices
1. Plant cover
2. Select appropriate land use
3. Maintain organic matter
4. Maintain crop residue cover
5. Reduce tillage
6. Use zero tillage and direct seeding
7. Grow forage and crop rotation
8. Improve drainage
9. Terracing

3. PLANT COVER
 Protect the soil from erosive power of water
movement and raindrop impact.
 Also hold soil particle together.

4. Select Appropriate Land Use
 Should consider the potential for soil erosion
under different practices.
 Example: steep and sloped land can be used for
forage production.
 Wooded areas with poor soils and steep slopes
can be managed as woodlots.

5. Maintain Organic Matter
 OM improve soil structure and tilth by cementing
soil aggregates with aid of micro-organism.
 Soil with stable aggregates has more large pores
to hold water; higher WHC,less ponding, less
runoff and erosion.
 To maintain soil quality new additions of plant
material= rate of OM decomposition & nutrients
used by plants.
 Examples: rotations, manure applications and
legume plowdown.

6. Maintain Crop Residue Cover
 Cover the soil surface with a cover of growing
plants (crop residue).
 Reduce impact from raining.
 Slows the flow of water, giving soil time to absorb
water; reduce runoff and erosion.

7. Reduce Tillage
 Conventional tillage disturb the soil and buries
crop residue cover.
 Also loosen soil particles; easily detached by rain
and running water.
 Tillage is reduced by replacing tillage operation
with weed control, herbicide application and other
alternative tillage equipment.

8. Use Zero Tillage or Direct
Seeding
 Zero tillage minimize soil disturbance to maintain
crop residue.
 Long term zero tillage increase soil OM content
and improve soil fertility.
 Direct seeding also aim to conserve both soil
moisture and soil structure but only differs
whereas tillage is done at minimal rate.
 Most tillage practice to control weed is replaced
with herbicide usage and management practices
(crop and herbicide rotation).
 Save time and lowers operating costs.

9. Grow Forges and crop rotations
 Forges can be grown on poorer soils or steep
slopes.
 Can use to build organic matter or break disease
cycle.
 Crop rotation alternate forges with cereal or
legumes.
 Legumes in the rotation also add nitrogen and
improve soil fertility.

10. Improve drainage
 Drains are constructed to flow excess water on
the field to be directed to rivers or pit.
 Should be maintained regularly to ensure drain is
not clogged.

12. Terracing
 Control water erosion on wide slopes without
well-developed channels.
 Water is collected at channels and move slowly
towards the terrace outlet.

13. Water channels