The document discusses various agronomic and mechanical measures for soil conservation. It describes crop rotation, contour farming, cover cropping and mulching, and strip cropping as agronomic measures that help reduce erosion, maintain soil nutrients and moisture levels. Mechanical measures mentioned include basin listing, subsoiling, contour trenching, terracing, bunding and gully control structures, which divide slopes and capture runoff to prevent erosion and allow water absorption. The overall aim of these techniques is to reduce the velocity of runoff and retain water in the soil for longer to minimize erosion and optimize crop growth.

1. “AGRONOMIC AND
MECHANICAL MEASURES FOR
SOIL CONSERVATION’’

3. Growing crops in a recurring sequence on the same field. The benefit are:-
 Reduce sheet and rill erosion.
 Reduce wind erosion.
 Maintain the balance of nutrients.
 Improve organic matter.
 Reduction is water use.
3. Contour farming:-
Crop are cultivated along the contour of the land.
In heavy rain, the runoff in checked by the plants growing along the contour.
it has following advantage:-
 Conserve soil and water.
 Conserve soil fertility.
 Increase crop yield.
4. cover cropping and mulching :-
Reduces soil erosion by leaving acover over the soil which reduces soil
displacement .

4. Reduce the volume and velocity of runoff over the soil .
The benefits are of mulching :-
 provide erosion control.
 Minimize weed establishment and growth.
 Conserve soil moisture & improves soil quality.
5. Strip cropping:-
It involves the planting of crop in rows to check the flow of water.
a) Contour strip cropping:-
This is cultivation of soil protecting crops in strip alternating with erosion
permitting crops.
b) Field strip cropping :-
 Plants are cultivated in parallel strip across the slopes.
 These may be legumes or grasses.
c) Contour buffer strip:-
Narrow strips of permanent vegetative cover around hill slopes alternate down
the slope with wider cropped strips that are farmed on contours.
The benefits are:-
 Reduce sheet and rill erosion .

5.  Reduce sheet and rill erosion .
 Reduce transport of sediment and other water borne contaminants down slope.
 Increase water infiltration.
6. Agrostological measures:-
 Cultivation of grass in a land which is heavily eroded is called an agrostological
measure.
 This helps in soil protection as well as produce fodder to cattle.
7. Dry farming method :-
This may be practiced where rainfall in low, indefinite and variable. In dry farming
methods only crops are grown that can sustain even a very low rainfall.
8. Afforestation:-
Process of a forestation establishment of new forests in one of the methods for soil
conservation.

7. 9. terracing:-
The method of dividing slope into several flat fields is called terracing and each of
the terrace works as an embankment of earth, built across the slope to control
runoff and reduce erosion.
10. Planning of wind break trees:-
Strong tall plants are to be planted densely , as a boundary on the fields.
Mechanical soil conservation method:-
The main aims of mechanical measures are to allow for the absorption of runoff ,
dividing the slope into short ones and protection against run off.
Objective:
 To divide a long slope of land into a series of shorter ones in order to reduce the
velocity of run off water.
 To retain the water in the land for long period so as to allow maximum water to
be absorbed and held in the soil and less water flows down the slope of the land
at non erosive velocity.
 to protect the soil against by water

8. The important mechanical soil conservation measures are
follows:-
1. Basin listing :-
Small basins are formed along the contour with an implement called basin lister.
These will hold water for some time.
2. sub-soiling:-
Soil is broken with a sub soiler into fine grains to increase their absorptive
capacity.
3. Contour trenching:-
Several 2 feet by one foot trenches are formed across the slope at suitable
intervals. Tree seedlings are to be planted above the trench.
4. terrace outlet
5. Gully control
6. Ponds
7.Contour bunding
8. terracing

9. Thank you