Reduce Soil Erosion

• Soil conservation, some methods– Terracing– Contour planting– Strip cropping with cover crop– Alley cropping, agroforestry– Windbreaks or shelterbeds– Conservation-tillage farming

• No-till• Minimum tillage

• Identify erosion hotspots

Fig. 12-24a, p. 302

Fig. 12-24b, p. 302

Fig. 12-24c, p. 302

Fig. 12-24d, p. 302

Solutions: Mixture of Monoculture Crops Planted in Strips on a Farm

Conservation Tillage

• Conservation-tillage farming: method of soil cultivation that leaves the previous year's crop residue on fields before & after planting the next crop– No-till: involve planting crops directly into residue

that either hasn't been tilled at all – Minimum tillage: some residue has been

removed, but at least 30 to 70% remains

No Till & Minimum Tillage• Planting into corn

residue (no till)• Soybeans grown in striped

rows between corn residue (minimum tillage)

Benefits of Conservation Tillage

• Environmental benefits – Reduces soil erosion by 60%-90% from rain & wind – Improves soil and water quality by adding organic

matter as crop residue decomposes– Conserves water by reducing evaporation– Conserves energy due to fewer tractor trips – Reduces air pollution from dust and diesel – Crop residue provides food and cover for wildlife

Benefits of Conservation Tillage

• Practical benefits – Fewer trips across the fields saves time and money

(lowers fuel, labor and machinery maintenance costs) and reduces soil compaction that can reduce yields

– Optimizes soil moisture, enhancing crop growth in dry periods or on droughty soils