Soil erosion is a significant problem in the ethiopian highlands. The chief agents of soil erosion are water and wind. The function of soil and water conservation is not only to protect the soil but to sustain its productive capacity while using it in a proper condition 1, 4, 5. The increasing use of conservation tillage, notill, and cover crops is changing the way we view the soil and the environment. The soil conservation technical handbookis a comprehensive collection of know how about soil conservation in new zealand. Saline and sodic soils ndsu north dakota state university. In addition to improving soil fertility, water harvesting, enhancing the soil water retention capacity and reducing soil erosion are measures that could significantly improve agricultural productivity in rainfed marginal environments.
Conservation agriculture employs all modern technologies that enhance the quality and ecological integrity of the soil, but the application of these is. The principles of conservation agriculture conservation agriculture takes advantage of natural ecological processes to conserve moisture, enhance soil fertility, and improve soil structure, and to reduce soil. How conservation agriculture works in different types of farms. Introduction to soil conservation measures infonet. Som can be considered as the most important soil fertility and quality factor influencing other soil properties as infiltration, water holding capacity or soil structure. No tillage, along with other soil conservation practices, are the cornerstones of ca dumanski et al. Soil conversation involves working to reduce contamination and depletion. Code 330 defines standard methods recommended by the u. Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the top most layer of the soil from erosion or. Assessment of where the water comes from that result in the high water table is particularly important. Soil erosion, use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive farming, water pollution and land pollution are some of the aspects upsetting the natural functions of the soil. Modern concepts of soil conservation sciencedirect.
It involves the activities that can be undertaken to ensure our soils are at their optimum quality and health. Management of saline and sodic soils, kansas state university, 1992. Some of this material is derived from internal regional council manuals and. Oecd glossary of statistical terms soil conservation. Conservation definition of conservation by the free. The magnitnde of the problem and scale of operation should he defined. This definition is from soil taxonomy, second edition. Slashandburn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas. Conservation definition of conservation by the free dictionary. In agriculture, some amount of soil management is needed both in nonorganic and organic types to prevent. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one. Rather, ca is based on optimizing yields and profits, to achieve a balance of agricultural, economic and environmental benefits.
Conservation definition of conservation by merriamwebster. Principles of soil conservation and management springerlink. Some of the methods that must be adopted for conserving soil are as follows. Conservation and use of natural resources biology notes 25. Soil conservation is important because soil is crucial for many aspects of human life as it provides food, filters air and water and helps to decompose biological waste into nutrients for new plant life. Soil conservation is an important part of sustainable agriculture and food production, since it entails keeping soil from becoming a pollutant in the surface waters, and its ability to sieve and filter pollutants that would otherwise end up in drinking water. It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil productivity, environment quality, and agronomic production. Soil management is the application of operations, practices, and treatments to protect soil and enhance its performance such as soil fertility or soil mechanics. Assessment of where the water comes from that result in. Soil conservation practices can play a significant role in sustaining soil quality as climate change imposes additional stress on natural resources, including soil. A permanent soil cover is maintained with cover crops, crop residues or mulch.
It is a complex mixture of i mineral particles formed from rocks, ii humus or ganic material formed from decaying plant remains, iii. Types of soil sandy soil, clay soil, silt soil, and loamy soil. Erosion is the displacement of solids soil, mud, rock, and other particles by the agents of wind, water, ice, movement in response to gravity, or living organisms. New concepts and terminology are being used to describe these changes. The capacity of a soil to provide nutrients required by plants for growth. Over 80 percent of iowas landscape is in agriculture production activities, such as row crops, pasture and forestry. There are many types of conservation practices that can help prevent damage to the soil and can even help farms become part of a thriving ecosystem. Impact of physical soil and water conservation structure. Soil conservation definition of soil conservation at. In addition to improving soil fertility, water harvesting, enhancing the soilwater retention capacity and reducing soil erosion are measures that could significantly improve agricultural productivity in rainfed marginal environments. While the environmental concerns with industrial operations often focus on pollution, the intense use of resources, including water, also needs to be taken into consideration.
It enhances biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface, which contribute to increased water and nutrient use efficiency and to. Soil conservation is the practice of protecting the soil against erosion or deterioration. Impact of physical soil and water conservation structure on. Soil degradation ann verdoodt academic year 20112012 compilation of course notes by prof. The actual art of soil conservation is based on certain basic principles which include. Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the top most layer of the soil from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination. Write a report of more than 500 words about the soil and water and energy conservation practices you saw. By conserving soil we can also preserve the fertility of the soil. In the last two decades, various soil and water conservation interventions had been introduced in to different parts of ethiopia. Thus, soil and water conservation practices are becoming increasingly important in the arid and semiarid. Today these techniques of soil and water conservation are being prac ticed in many countries with much benefit to great numbers of people. Conservation agriculture enables these people to grow more food with less work. Soil conservation definition of soil conservation by. Although watershed management was formerly considered to be nearly synonymous with soil and water conservation, it goes far beyond it today, comprising a variety of further activities that attempt to improve the living conditions of the people living within the respective.
Land degradation is a major concern in ethiopia since it leads to declining agricultural productivity, poverty and food insecurity. Introduction to soil and water conservation geolearning. Soil properties of soil soil conservation chemistry. It enhances biodiversity and natural biological processes above and below the ground surface, which contribute to increased water and nutrient use efficiency and to improved and sustained crop production. It includes soil conservation, soil amendment, and optimal soil health.
Conservation of soil is one among a few of the techniques which have been undertaken to prevent soil erosion which removes the top layer of the soil thus removing all necessary organic matters and nutrients which are very necessary for plants to grow and produce fruits. However, the percentage of these can vary, resulting in more compound types of soil such as loamy sand, sandy clay, silty clay, etc. Because salts can only be leached downward in the soils with soil water, attention to drainage is very important. Soil conservation of all types studied is clearly beneficial, in terms of both land and labor investments. Ime role of soil conservation in watershed management on agricultural.
The three principles of conservation agriculture disturb the soil as little as possible, keep the soil covered as much as possible, and. Pdf soil, definition, function, and utilization of soil. Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion and exhaustion. Soil can be classified into 3 primary types based on its texture sand, silt, and clay. Water conservation is an important aspect of worksite environmental management. Soil and water conservation is in its outlines a worldwide strategy in the context of a sustainable and povertyorientated natural resource management rauch 2007. In the approach to soil conservation in developing countries, the technical aspects to. Ca encourages application of modern technologies that enhance the quality and ecological integrity of the soil. Soil conservation treats soil as a living ecosystem. Definition of conservation agriculture conservation agriculture ca is not business as usual, based on maximizing yields while exploiting the soil and agroecosystem resources. The district administers a website and an electronic directory of natural resource professionals and resource materials. Good soil conservation helps to put nutrients back into the soil. Soil conservation an overview sciencedirect topics.
Soil conservation practices control wind or water erosion by limiting soil particle. Soil conservation can be defined as the combination of the appropriate land use and management practices that promotes the productive and sustainable use of. This workbook can help you but you still need to read the merit badge pamphlet. Soil conservation is the prevention of soil loss from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination. Most soil and water conservation efforts focused on highly degraded areas with limited production potential. Conservation practices save soil and sustain agriculture. Soil fertility, plant health, and the resistance and resilience of crop plants to pest and pathogens d. It generally includes watershed management and water use.
The principles of conservation agriculture conservation agriculture takes advantage of natural ecological processes to conserve moisture, enhance soil fertility, and improve soil structure, and to reduce soil erosion and the presence of diseases and pests. Soils under conservation agriculture tend to improve their soil organic matter som content after applying the technology for certain years. Soil and water conservation is an integral part of watershed management. Some conservation practices, such as changing your crop rotation, stripcropping and contour. Other conservation practices, such as grassed waterways and terraces, may. Scoutingbsasoil and water conservation merit badge. Soil erosion has been continuing over, such a large part of india. Some conservation practices, such as changing your crop rotation, stripcropping and contour farming may only require a change in the way you operate your farm.
Soil conservation and management in developing countries. What is soil conservation and what are various ways to. Soil conservation definition, any of various methods to achieve the maximum utilization of the land and preserve its resources through such controls as crop rotation, prevention of soil erosion, etc. Goals of a sustainable soil fertility management program 1. The soil is the basis for food production and will remain so in future. Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon by which soil is removed from rocks. Soil conservation definition is the prevention or reduction of soil erosion and soil depletion by protective measures against water and wind damage.
In agriculture, some amount of soil management is needed both in nonorganic and organic types to prevent agricultural land from becoming poorly productive over. Broadly categorizing there are two methods of soil conservation. Soil conservation article about soil conservation by the. At the core of soil conservation in wisconsin and the united states is voluntary adoption of appropriate. Soil conservation definition of soil conservation by the. The district employs a skilled receptionist or information specialist to assist customers in a timely courteous manner. Soil conservation stores more of the runoff from excess rainfall in the reservoir of the soil for subsequent crop use. In order to do this proper land utilisation coupled with agricultural practices should be adopted. This workbook can help you organize your thoughts as you prepare to meet with your merit badge counselor.
May 14, 2012 soil conservation practices can play a significant role in sustaining soil quality as climate change imposes additional stress on natural resources, including soil. Soil conservation definition and meaning collins english. Soil and water conservation is in its outlines a worldwide strategy in the context of a sustainable and povertyorientated natural resource management rauch 2007 soil and water conservation are those activities at the local level which maintain or enhance the productive capacity of the land including soil, water and vegetation in areas prone to degradation through. Understanding the terms defined in this fact sheet will help farmers understand relationships between tillage, crop rotation, cover crops, carbon sequestration, organic matter pool, agricultural. Soil and water conservation 265 life on this planet, as the so il is an essential resource to suppor t plants for producing food, and to provide shelter to insects and animals.
Information has been gathered from individual knowledge and personal notes along with past often unpublished, or scarce copies of, printed material. Conservation agriculture is a farming system that promotes maintenance of a permanent soil cover, minimum soil disturbance i. Pdf farmers perception about soil erosion in ethiopia. Soil degradation is one of the crucial issues in mountainous areas of ethiopia which needs efforts to reduce it. Soil conservation is the protection of soil from erosion and other types of deterioration, so as to maintain soil fertility and productivity. Soil can be drained away or contaminated, destroying it for use. It is a complex mixture of i mineral particles formed from rocks, ii humus or ganic material formed from decaying plant remains, iii mineral salts, iv water, v. Sustainable land management is defined as the use of land resources, including soils, water, animals and plants, for the production of goods to. Conservation agriculture food and agriculture organization.
Soil and water conservation are those activities at the local level which maintain or enhance the productive capacity. Soil conservation wisconsin initiative on climate change impacts. The objective of this study was to investigate how farmers perceive the severity of soil erosion in the upper blue nile basin. Water conservation is the preservation, control, and management of water resources. Meanwhile, soil erosion was becoming recognized as a serious problem in many countries. The first is problem definition, using the questions. Conservation definition is a careful preservation and protection of something. Types of soil sandy soil, clay soil, silt soil, and. The policy should establish general guidelines and define the directions for achieving. Conservation agriculture is a farming system that promotes minimum soil disturbance i. You still must satisfy your counselor that you can demonstrate each skill and have learned the information. Soil conservation measures should aim at preventing or at least minimising the soils loss. Sandy soil essentially consists of small particles formed by weathering rocks.
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