Soil Conservation Essay

In this globalisation era, every developer seems to compete in pursuing the development of
international standards, whereas the environmental sustainability is left behind. Clearing an open
space such as forest leads to soil erosion, which is a common issue uprising in this decade.
Deforestation, industrial construction and mining activities bring a huge impact to the ecosystem.
The environmental damages through sedimentation, pollution and increased the rate of flooding are
causes raised by the soil erosion (Morgan, 2005). Soil erosion is defined as removal of soil surface
by the water or wind (Blanco & Lal, 2008). According to Bruijnzeel and Critchiey (1994), the
runoff surface usually started at either hillside hollows or concave foot slopes nearby the streams.
Wall et al. (n.d.) stated that the climatic forces such as rain falls, frost and wind further the run off
upon the land with various conditions of slope and vegetation types. The relation of deforestation
with the soil erosion is observed due to root system that provided by the trees. The presences of the
trees minimise the runoff of the soil because the root system plays its role as holder. That is why
trees are very essential as the tree's roots hold the topsoil together. They also help in root penetration
and in aeration. Myers (1992) asserted that the effect of rainfall causes more soil erosion in the land
that has deforestation compared to other land in the Earth. Shelton et al. (n. d.) also mentioned that
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Soil Case Study
Sandy soils in the Southeast are characterized by low nutrient and water holding capacity which is
further reduced by intense rainfall patterns and has been exacerbated by long–term farming in the
region. These conditions lead to rapid nutrient loss in soils below the root zone. Nutrient run–off is a
well–established cause of non–point source pollution affecting bodies of water and negatively
impacting water quality.
Modern crop cultivars with higher yields also frequently demand increased use of fertilizers,
contributing further to nutrient run–off and pollution. In addition, soils in the Southeast range in
composition from deep sands to sandy loams, necessitating the development of a range of soil
management solutions tailored for the...show more content...
In addition, certain particularly effective nematicides have been unavailable or in short supply,
increasing the need for alternative, cost–effective solutions for controlling these pest.
This study proposes an examination of the soil amendments biochar, gypsum, and fly ash for
improving nutrient retention and water holding capacity in sandy Southeastern soils producing
cotton and testing biochar gypsum, and fly ash, with and without poultry litter and measuring the
soil nutrient profile, compaction, and pest populations before, during, and after each growing season
for two years in dryland farmed cotton.
The biochar, gypsum, and fly ash treatments will be applied with and without poultry litter to
compare the treatments as an alternative or adjunct to poultry litter fertilizer. The effect of both
treatments on thrip count and nematode populations will also be assessed.
The evaluation of biochar application to soil as a method for reducing N loss from fertilizers,
improving soil quality and fertility, and increasing yield and farm profitability have not been
thoroughly addressed (Hue, 2016).
2)Statement of Solution
The central idea of this study is to examine methods of making more efficient use of poultry litter as
a fertilizer in cotton production by reducing the amount of nutrient leaching and improving the water
holding capacity of the soil. Biochar, gypsum, and fly ash will be evaluated for enhancing soil

Soil Conservation In South Texas
What is soil? Soil is a mixture of broken rocks, minerals, living organisms, and decaying matter.
Look around you; do you think that we need soil in our everyday lives? Sure we do. Natural
flowing water is filtered through the soil thus making it drinkable. We breathe the air that is
produced by plants that grow in soil. Our clothes wouldn't be made if the cotton plant had no soil to
grow in. Did you know that soil makes up the outermost layer of our planet? Texas is home to more
than 1,000 different kinds of soil which are classified into 9 soil orders. Out of the 1,000 types of
soil only 6% are able to sustain crop life. In South Texas the most common type of soil is sandy
loom soil which is classified as a molliols. Sandy loom soil...show more content...
No till farming uses double–disc openers to cut out the last crop planted and dropping the new seed
in its place. This farming technique does not disturb the soil as much as normal tilling. Many soil
conservationists argue that soil tillage destroys the aggregation and microorganism of the soil. This
in later terms reduces the sustainability of our food production and reduces the intake of water by
the crop. No till farming benefits all farmers when used with cover crop, crop rotation or windbreaks.
It may seem like we will never run out of soil, but soil conservation is a critical issue in Texas
today. So if the entire farming community implemented at least one type of soil conservation effort
we would widely improve our agriculture benefits. These benefits would include saving energy, by
using less diesel fuel for tractors. Implementation of these farming practices could save water and
reduce several types of diseases and pests that farmers encounter when planting their crops. This is
no time to be cutting corners on expenses because the United States spends about $37.6 billion each
year on soil

The Cause And Effects Of Soil Erosion?
"If you truly get in touch with a piece of carrot, you get in touch with the soil, the rain, the sunshine.
You get in touch with Mother Earth and eating in such a way, you feel in touch with true life, your
roots, and that is meditation. If you chew every morsel of our food in that way you become grateful
and when you are grateful, you are happy." Said Thich Nhat Hanh. Soil erosion is the process by
which the surface of the earth is worn away by the action of water, wind or by living organisms.
Geologist said that about 70% of soil erosion is caused by human activities like agriculture, surface
mining, excessive construction and forestry. The soil conservation is happening because of
geographic and economic reasons. Agriculture also takes place for being a cause of erosion.
"Mother nature may be a force, but nothing like humans when it comes to causing erosion," said a
Syracuse University scientist. A person or an animal can cause erosion by simply removing soil,
which is called accelerated erosion. People have been the main cause of worldwide erosion since
the first millennium. In the United States, the rate average is around 1,500 feet per million years,
and the rate is even higher in other parts of the world. Natural processes operate over areas larger
than those affected by agriculture and construction, but even taking that into account, "the bottom
line is, we move about 10 times as much sediment as all natural processes put together" Wilkinson
said, a U–M

Soil Salinity
Soil salinity Soil salinity is the salt content in the soil; the process of increasing the salt content is
known as salination. Salt is a natural element of soils and water. Salination can be caused by
natural processes such as mineral weathering or the gradual withdrawal of an ocean. It can also be
caused by artificial processes such as irrigation.
|Contents |
|1 Causes of soil salinity |
|2 Natural occurrence |
|3 Dry land salinity |
|4 Salinity due to irrigation |
|5 Consequences of salinity |
|6 Regions affected...show more content...
This is the case, for example, in large parts of Australia. Human practices can increase the salinity of
soils by the addition of salts in irrigation water. Proper irrigation management can prevent salt
accumulation by providing adequate drainage water to leach added salts from the soil. Disrupting
drainage patterns that provide leaching can also result in salt accumulations. An example of this
occurred in Egypt in 1970 when the Aswan High Dam was built. The change in the level of ground
water before the construction had enabled soil erosion, which led to high concentration of salts in
the water table. After the construction, the continuous high level of the water table led to the
salination of the arable land.
Dry land salinity
Salinity in drylands can occur when the water table is between two to three metres from the
surface of the soil. The salts from the groundwater are raised by capillary action to the surface of
the soil. This occurs when groundwater is saline (which is true in many areas), and is favored by
land use practices allowing more rainwater to enter the aquifer than it could accommodate. For
example, the clearing of trees for agriculture is a major reason for dryland salinity in some areas,
since deep rooting of trees has been replaced by shallow rooting of annual crops.
Consequences of salinity
The consequences of salinity are detrimental effects on plant growth and yield damage to
infrastructure (roads, bricks, corrosion

Adam Pazcoguin
Soil Erosion Research Report
The topic I chose for the science fair is soil erosion, which is the process of rocks and soil being
slowly weathered away. Soil erosion often pushes the soil downhill, and often times contaminated
soil will get into our water–ways, causing pollution. It is also said that up to 80% of Earth's
agricultural soil can be affected by soil erosion. This can be very unhealthy for the economy, and can
be harmful to future agriculture as well. Factors that affect soil erosion are waves, water, ice,
gravity, and glaciers. This project would be relevant to the topic "Earth and planetary sciences"
because it goes along the "Earth science" theme which has to do with weathering and erosion.
First let's talk...show more content...
As I wrote earlier, up to 80% of Earth's agricultural soil is susceptible soil erosion. In other words,
soil that can be used for future farms would be ruined. Soil erosion can also pollute waterways. This
not only makes it so our fresh–water is contaminated, but the animals inhabiting that area will lose
their home as well. Soil erosion can also increase the risk of a flood. Since the land had been
corroded, it can't hold up as much water as before. Thus, increasing the risk of a flood occurring in
agricultural fields. Judging from this paragraph, you can tell how bad the situation can be, that is
why I want to find a way that fixes this problem.
The last point I want to address is how we can prevent soil erosion. 3 procedures we can do to
help prevent erosion are: use land according to its capability, protect the soil surface with a type of
cover, or control the runoff before it becomes an erosive force. Another source says we can also
prevent erosion by planting vegetation, matting for residential properties, using mulch/fertilizer, and
retaining walls/edging. Each of these can reduce soil erosion and can also be healthy for the
environment.
Overall, Soil Erosion can be very harmful to the environment, but there are ways to prevent it.
While there are multiple forms of erosion, my experiment will revolve around soil erosion and a
way to prevent it. I have a better background about my topic now that I have seen some sources that
explain things

Soil Conservation
Soil, which is one of the most important natural resources, is often less heeded. The importance of
soil conservation is relatively less talked about as compared to the conservation of water and other
natural resources. The almost–omnipresent soil is mostly taken for granted. Its omnipresence is
ironically the reason behind us, human beings, taking it for a ride. We rarely even think of it as a
natural resource that needs to be conserved, a part of the natural wealth that needs to be preserved.
The concept of the conservation of soil takes into account, the strategies for preventing the soil from
getting eroded and preventing it from losing its fertility due to an adverse alteration in its chemical
composition. Here are some ways to...show more content...
Salinity of soil is detrimental to the vegetative life in the soil. The death of vegetation is bound to
cause soil erosion. Hence, salinity management is one of the indirect ways to conserve soil.
Soil organisms: Organisms like earthworms and others benefiting the soil should be promoted.
Earthworms, through aeration of soil, enhance the availability of macronutrients in soil. They also
enhance the porosity of soil. The helpful organisms of soil promote its fertility and form an element
in the conservation of soil.
Indigenous Crops: Planting of native crops is known to be beneficial for soil conservation. If
non–native plants are grown, the fields should be bordered by indigenous crops to prevent soil
erosion and achieve soil

Soil Is A Vital Part Of The Natural Environment
Soil is a vital part of the natural environment. Without soil the land on Earth would be wastelands
of barren rock. Soil is the thin skin of our earth where we plant and grow vital grain crops such as
wheat, corn and rice that feed more than seven billion of us. The future rests on the soil beneath our
feet. History is littered with the remains of civilizations that ignored, exploited and degraded the soil
beneath their feet. One–third of the world's soil has already been damaged by wind and water
erosion, deforestation, compaction, nutrient depletion and pollution. By our own actions we are
losing soil faster than nature can create it. Unless we protect the remaining soil and improve land
use and conservation practices, the global amount...show more content...
Soils that have a higher percentage of clay will have a higher water holding capacity and a lower
hydraulic conductivity. Sometimes when there is a compacted layer of clay underground it can
lead to flooding after heavy storms. There are 12 different soil types known as orders. Each order
is based on one or two dominant physical, chemical, or biological properties that differentiate it
clearly from the other orders (Importance of soil to agriculture. (2013). The 12 soil orders all end in
"sol" which is derived form the Latin word "solum" meaning soil or ground. Most of the orders
also have roots that tell you something about that particular soil. For example, "molisol" is from
the Latin "mollis" meaning soft. The 12 soil orders are presented in the sequence in which they
"key out" in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's dichotomous Soil Taxonomy system. Gelisols are
soils that are permanently frozen or contain evidence of permafrost near the soil surface. Histosols
are dominantly composed of organic material in their upper portion. These soils most often occur in
extremely wet areas. Spodosols are among the most attractive soils. These soils form as rainfall
interacts with acidic vegetative litter such as needles of conifers to form organic acids. Andisols
typically form from the weathering of volcanic material such as ash, resulting in mineral in the soil
with poor crystal structure. These

Soil Conservation
INTRODUCTION
Soil is the precious gift of nature to the mankind. All the plant family, animal kingdom and human
society at large depend upon soil for their sustenance directly or indirectly. Ironically, soil is the most
neglected commodity on the earth. Shifting cultivation on the hill slopes, non–adoption of soil
conservation techniques, and over exploitation of land for crop production due to population stress,
leads to enormous soil erosion. It will take hundreds of years to form an inch of soil, but in no time
it gets washed away down the slope due to erosion.
SOIL CONSERVATION
Soil Conservation is the process by which the loss of soil is checked, reducing the velocity of
run–off through erosion control measures for maximum...show more content...
A terrace reduces the length of the hill side slope, thereby reducing sheet and rill erosion and
prevents formation of gullies.
There are different types of terraces as follows:
вњ“ Bench terracing: It consists of transforming relatively steeps land into a series of level or
nearly level strips or steeps running across the slope. The soil materials that are excavated from the
upper part of the terrace is used in filling the lower part and a small bund is also raised along the
outer edge of the terrace to check the downward flow of rainwater and also soil erosion. вњ“
Channel terrace: It consists of making of wide but shallow channels across the slope of the land
either exactly on contour line or with a slight grade (0.1 to 0.2 per cent). In this process, the
excavated soil is placed along the lower edge of the channel in the form of low ridge. вњ“ Narrow
based terrace: It consists of making a number of narrow based ridges or bunds at a distance of 1m to
2m across the slope of the land at suitable intervals in high rainfall areas. вњ“ Broad based ridge
terrace: It consists of making wide but low bunds on the contour lines by excavating soils from
both sides of terrace. This is practiced in areas where the rainfall is relatively low. вњ“ Contour
trenching: It consist of making a series of deep pit (i.e. 2ft. wide and 1ft. deep) or trenches across
the slope at convenient distance. The soil excavated from the

Soil During Industrial Revolution
Industrialization during the time period of Industrial Revolution has improved the systems of
communication, transportation, and standard of living by manufacturing mass productions. Through
the development over the centuries, our life became convenient compared to hundreds of years ago.
Nevertheless, as we continuously pursue convenience for our lifestyles, the Earth is constantly
damaged by human's desire. During the Industrial Revolution, there was a lack of industrial
regulations on the limitation of chemicals and greenhouse gas emission. Thus, industries did not
consider the preservation of nature and exposed the enormous amount of contaminants into our
nature. This mistakes of early age have led to destructions in our natural resources...show more
content...
Soil is the basis for the natural ecosystems and a living thing, it sustains life on Earth and works as
a natural recycling facility with nutrients to the plants. However, many people do not know about
the good benefits that soil gives to our lives and how humans hurt the conditions of soil with
chemicals. Soil is often times mistreated due to the misconception of soil as dirt. Nevertheless,
Professor Asmeret Berhe highlighted during the lecture, Soil, that soil is a place of full of life
that supports living thing. The living organism depends on the conditions of soil because soil
delivers nutrients to plants. For instance, improving the conditions of the soil increases the
harvest of crops. Unhealthy soil will not be able to do its job as a natural recycling facility, and
not be able to give a good amount of nutrients to plants to abundantly grow. Therefore, conditions
of soil are very important in agriculture. Furthermore, having organic soils can conserve the
amount of water used for irrigation. Soil is main supply of water to all land and plants because it
holds the water for organisms. Organic soil can hold few amounts of water for a long time so it
helps farmers to reduce the agricultural water consumption. Soil is very important to out lives than
what we imagine and think. The global awareness of soil preservation is less significant to people
than other conservation efforts like reducing the amount of plastic used, but soil preservation is very
significant to our earth system. Therefore, it is very important for humans to help the Earth healthy
sustain life by stop mistreating soil as dirt and treating it as a living thing that holds full of

Soil Essay
University of Phoenix Material
Soil and Glaciers Worksheet
From Visualizing Earth Science, by Merali, Z., and Skinner, B. J, 2009, Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Copyright 2009 by Wiley. Adapted with permission.
Part 1
Size grades of soil are named sand, silt, and clay, which includes colloids. Size grades are defined
using the metric system. Use Figure 4.8 from the textbook to fill in the following chart. Specify the
type and size and description of the particle. In some cases, particle size will be less than some
value or greater than another value. For instance, gravel is greater than 2.0 mm.
|Name |Size |Description |...show more content...
Describe why these factors are important in the formation of soil.
|Soil forming factor |Importance in soil formation |
|Parent material |Direct impact soil chemisty and fertility rich in solube ions– calcium, magnesium
potassium|
| |and sodium. |
|Climate |Precioitation, temperature. Warmer temperature speed up the formation of soil. Cooler |
| |temperature less precipitation slow down soil formation. |
|Living organisms |Plants animals and micro organism all affect soil formation by producing or
contributing to|
| |humus production. |
|Topography |water to soak into the regolith |
| |important topographic variable connected with soil is the slope of the land surface |
|Time |longer soil–forming processes, mature soil, |
| | it takes thousands of years

Farmers have incorporated tilling into their farming practices for centuries. In the spring growers
are itching to till their fields before planting to break up the soil, increase soil temperatures, and
dry out the soil. Tillage is also used to help get rid of weeds throughout the growing season and
speed up the decomposition time of organic matter. Growers today have endless options about how
deep to plow, how many times to plow, and what brand of plow to use.Tillage has always been on
the list of things growers do year in and out to help them farm more easily, but how does tilling
affect the soil?
Farmland and the environment get injured in many ways by tillage. It increases wind and water
erosion, disrupts the health of the soil, and is costly. Overtime tillage affects the makeup of the soil
and how water infiltrates, which results in compaction issues. A great amount of
conservation–minded growers have turned to no–till agriculture in the push to make farming a more
sustainable practice. No–till agriculture prepares the soil for growing crops without disrupting the
soil. Farmers need to farm today like they will farm forever and utilizing a no–till system will benefit
them today and keep the soil healthy for the future.
For thousands of years, farmers have been tilling the soil in order to increase the amount of food
produced to feed the world. "Early evidence indicates that simple light weight wooden ploughs, for
instance, were employed extensively in the valleys of

Literature review of the important aspects of study has been divided under the following heading
and sub–headings which are stated in this chapter.
Conservation agriculture is a management system that maintains a soil cover through surface
retention of crop residues with no till/zero and reduced tillage. CA is explained by FAO (http:/
/www.fao.org.ag/ca) as it is a concept of resource saving agricultural crop production system which
is based on enhancing the natural and biological processes above and below the ground. According
to Dumanski et al. (2006) conservation agriculture (CA) is not "business as usual", based on
maximizing yields while exploiting the soil and agro–ecosystem resources. Rather, it is based on
optimizing yields and profits, and achieving a balance of agricultural, economic, and environmental
benefits. It promotes that the combined social and economic benefits gained from combining
production and protecting the environment, including reduced input and labor costs, are greater than
those from production alone. With CA, farming communities become sources of healthier living
environments for the wider community through reduced use of fossil fuels, pesticides, and other
pollutants, and through conservation of environmental integrity and services. As per FAO definition
CA is to achieve acceptable profits, high and sustained production levels, and conserve the
environment. It aims at acting against the process of degradation inherent in the conventional

The Importance Of Soil And Its Effect On Plants
INTRODUCTION
In order for a plant to grow to optimum size and produce optimum crop it is essential for all
requirements to be met. These include temperature, light, water, oxygen, mineral nutrients and
support. If it is too hot or too cold the plant may develop abnormalities and reduced production. The
optimum temperature changes for each variety of plant. In terms of light and oxygen is required in
large amounts. Light is required for photosynthesis and oxygen for respiration which is required to
carry out all plant functions. Mineral nutrients are what plants absorb through their roots. These
minerals are supplied by the soil and are used for many plant functions. Some nutrients are needed in
large amounts and other are only needed...show more content...
MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY
–Seedling tray
–Tomato seeds
–Watering can
–30 tomato plants
–30 small pots
–Dirt
–Measuring cylinder
–Water
–Bucket
–5 tidy trays
–Masking tape
–Permanent marker
1.Fill a seedling tray with soil and plant a few seeds into each square.
2.Leaves to grow for two weeks
3.Label each pot with masking tape and write the test and plant number. For example Test 1, Plant 4.
4.Fill each pot with dirt and plant one tomato plant into each pot. Refer to Appendix 7.
5.Place the six pots form each test and place together in the labelled tidy tray.
6.Take notes on the appearance and record in journal. Measure height, amount of leaves, stem
thickness and overall appearance. Repeat this for six to seven weeks.
7.Measure the height in millimetres and measure the plant as it is, even if it is lying over.
8.Water the plants, by filling a bucket with water and measuring out the correct amount of water
using a measuring cylinder, giving each test the set amount of water, as follows: Control: 50ml
/week (17ml three times a week) Test 1: 100ml/week (33ml three times a week) Test 2: 25ml/week
(8ml three times a week) Test 3: 75ml/week (25ml three times a week) Test 4: 10ml/week (3ml
three times a week)
9.Each week give the plants their set amount of water, on three different days.
10.On one day of the week record the amount of leaves,

Effect of Organic Farming on Soil Nutrients and Structure
Works Cited Missing
Since the 1970s, the agribusiness and agrochemical industries have been aware of a growing
problem: as the global population soars, soils around the world are becoming less suitable for
farming as a result of erosion, nutrient depletion, and structural degradation. In the United States,
about 60,000 farmers have abandoned the "conventional" system which relies on chemical
fertilizers and pesticides, and adopted the organic farming systems that allowed areas of China and
India to be successfully farmed for 4,000 years (Reganold et al., 1990, p. 112). Organic farmers use
plant matter and animal and municipal wastes for fertilizer, and rely on natural predators...show more
content...
370). While humic matter has some intrinsic water–storing properties, it is possible that some of the
increased water levels are a result of the erosion of finer particles on the conventional farm, which
lost 32.4 ton/ha of topsoil a year, four times that of the organic farm (Reganold et al., 1987, p.
371). Jordahl and Karlen (1993) observed that the soil on a conventional Iowa farm had
significantly less silt and clay than a similar soil from an adjacent organic farm, suggesting that the
fine materials had been eroded away (p. 29).
The high humus levels are responsible for the erosion resistance documented on organic farms. High
levels of organic matter increases aggregate stability, which prevents erosion, allows for easier water
and mechanical (such as plow and root) penetration, and better aeration. Soil aggregates are
stabilized primarily by micro–organisms and polysaccharides, a product of many bacteria.
Experiments by Molope and Page (1986) indicate that fungi play a key role in binding soil particles
together. In the development of aggregates, fungi mycelia (root–like structures) provide the initial
support in the first six days of ped development after disaggregation (from oxidation as a result of
plowing or heavy rain) (p. 236.) After six days, other processes are thought to take over, primarily
the adhesive binding of polysaccharides,

Soil Erosion Of Soil Conditions
п‚§During Monsoon, different loses occurs in storing structures of surfaces because of high
evaporation. Evaporation of barren soil along with the combined process involving evaporation,
gaseous state transformation and transpiration of the water from the surface of earth into
atmosphere increases the exhaustion of soil moisture thereby decreasing the quantity and rate of
soil permeation. The overall result is reducing the overflow production potential. п‚§For recharge,
the biggest restraining factor could be capacity of penetration of soil. The nonstop removal of soil
helps in retaining the penetration capability in recharge areas as far as sandy and sandy loam soils
are concerned. Because of intrinsic limitations of clayey soils, the results shows striking
differences when compared to sandy soil. For two different soil conditions, results for infiltration
tests in excavated wells in the state of Andhra Pradesh highlights that, in case of silty clay, within
10 minutes of the test, the infiltration rates become insignificant however for sandy loam soil, in
first 25 minutes of the test, the rates starts to become stable around 129.1 mm/hour. The restoration
capability of percolation ponds gets affected severely if rate of infiltration approaches to zero real
quick. Hard rocky areas having thin layer of soil cover face the problem of less penetration potential
to great extents. As infiltration rates reduce to a minimum value, severe effects can be seen on the
functioning of the

Benefits Of A Sustainable Soil Management Essay
Sustainable soil management is about the fruitful management of agricultural resources to fulfill
human needs while preserving or enhancing environmental excellence and conserving natural
resources for future groups. Enhancement in agricultural sustainability entails, together with
effective water and crop management, the optimal utilization and soil fertility management and soil
physical properties, which depend on biological processes and biodiversity in the soil. These
finding a proper choices of management practice for an area requires basic understanding of soil
science principles, soil morphology, the landform origin, soil classification, nutrient cycling, and
valuation methods used to help classify risks related with soil disturbance and possible soil
productivity losses.
Soil is the basis of terrestrial life; it's a self–regulatory material which holds a vital role in plant
production and life as a whole. Soils management is a good mandate for sustainable farming
practices. Good soil production greatly relies on factors namely the environment, climate as well as
the maintenance. A fully functioning soil has optimal production at the least cost. Maximizing the
soils health is vital to for increasing profitability. Improved soil function is commonly a matter of
maintaining proper habitat for the myriad of creatures that comprise the soil food web and this can
be accomplished by having little or no soil disturbance, growing as many varying species of plants as

While wetland loss is happening globally, the destruction is most severe in the forty–eight
conterminous United States where almost half of the wetlands were lost by the middle of the
1980's. Over the past thirty years "the wetlands have been recognized as complex, diverse
ecosystems whose functions provide an incredible range of beneficial functions and services
within the landscape" (BenDor et al. 342). Areas where wetlands were once located were
considered wastelands and little was done to protect or preserve these areas. These important
ecological areas have been lost in the last two centuries due to industrialization and urbanization. In
this paper, I want to explore the threats our wetlands are facing and examine if enough is being
done to preserve these natural resources. To understand why the loss of wetlands is important, we
need to know what wetlands are and the significance of them in our environment. The Fish and
Wildlife Service defines wetlands as "land where water saturation is a dominant factor that
determines the nature of soil development and types of plant and animal communities living in the
soil and on the surface." There are two types of Wetlands; non–tidal and tidal. Non–tidal wetlands are
the type most prevalent in the United States. Some examples are, deep water swamps like the
Okefenokee in Georgia and inland freshwater marshes or meadows like the prairie potholes in the
Midwest, Everglades in Florida and Sequoia National Park in California. Tidal

Roosevelt's Soil Erosion
In his first 100 days in office, Roosevelt addressed soil conservation, the key to turning around the
Dust Bowl conditions, by creating the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the Soil Erosion
Service. The establishment of the Soil Erosion Service was the first major federal commitment to
the preservation of privately owned natural resources. In 1935, Roosevelt started the Prairie States
Forestry Project to plant nearly 220 million trees, a project undertaken by the U.S. Forestry Service,
the CCC, the new Works Progress Administration (WPA) and local farmers. The seven
–year project
created over 18,000 miles of windbreaks on 30,000 farms, a so–called "shelter belt" from the Texas
Panhandle to Canada. These agencies and this response were a

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