SOIL CONSERVATION

IMPORTANCE OF SOIL Soil provides minerals and nutrients for

plants. All animals get energy from plants,

since all food chains start with plants as producers.

SOIL IS TEAMING WITH LIFE! Soil is full of many living things, such as

bacteria, fungi, worms, insects and small mammals.

Each one serves and important purpose.

HOW SOIL IS LOST Erosion Salinization Deforestation Degradation or depletion Desertification

EROSION Erosion is the process by which wind,

water, gravity, or ice transport soil and sediment from one location to another.

Soil unprotected by plant growth can be lost.

SALINIZATION The accumulation of salts in soil is

known as salinization. Common to parts of the world where

rainfall is low.

DEFORESTATION Clearing of trees from land area without

replacing them is deforestation. Leaves soil exposed to erosion.

LAND DEGRADATION When soil is overused it loses its

nutrients. This is called land degradation. This can happen from poor farming

techniques, over mining, cutting trees or overgrazing.

DESERTIFICATION Desertification is a process where land

becomes more desert-like as a result of change in climate, prolonged drought, or human activity.

SOIL CONSERVATION Soil Conservation is a method to

maintain the fertility of soil by preventing erosion and the loss of nutrients.

SOIL CONSERVATION There are many ways that farmers help

prevent erosion. We will focus on the physical measures. Contour plowing Terracing No-till farming Cover crops Crop rotation

CONTOUR PLOWING Plowing across the slope of hills to

prevent erosion.

TERRACING Changing one steep field into a series

of small, flat fields.

NO-TILL FARMING No-till farming is a method of farming

where the farmer harvests his crops without turning over the soil.

COVER CROPS Cover crops are crops that are planted

between harvests to replace certain nutrients in the soil and prevent erosion.

CROP ROTATION Rotating crops from one year to the

next in order to slow down nutrient depletion. And reduce insect damage to crops.

SO… How does soil quality affect us? How can we show good stewardship?