Soil Tillage, Land Preparation and Conservation Topic 2061

Soil ErosionDeveloped by Amanda R.

Moore

Erosion Erosion is a process that removes

soil layers from a farmer’s field to bodies of water or other land.

Erosion Productive layer of soil is called

humus or topsoil When this layer is eroded, ground

can become very unproductive

Types of Erosion Wind Erosion

Water Erosion

Tillage Erosion

Wind Erosion Occurs where land is flat or dry Wind blows and spreads soil

particles across the land In the Midwest much of wind

erosion occurs during the winter when ground is frozen but upper most layer is dry and loose

Water Erosion May occur gradually

During rainfall When winter snow melts

May occur suddenly during floods

Generally occurs on slopes

Tillage Erosion Caused by the way a farmer tills

the land Equipment used Frequency of tilling Management during the winter

Methods to Reduce Soil Erosion Contour Tillage

No-Till Agriculture

Windbreaks

Conservation Tillage

Forage Rotation

Cover Crops

Grassed Waterways

Strip Cropping

Contour Tillage Reduces water erosion

Produces furrows perpendicular to the slope of the field

Breaks up flow of water

No-Till Agriculture Reduces erosion by keeping plant

residue on surface longer Stirs only 2” of soil rather than the 8”

in traditional plowinghttp://topaz.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/types/soil.htm

Windbreaks Used to reduce wind erosion

Planting trees along the borders of fields

Often practiced in flat areas

Conservation Tillage Leaving crop residue in field after

harvesting For example:

Corn stalks left in field all winter to reduce erosion and fertility decline

Forage Rotation Crops such as alfalfa included in

rotation with corn

Cover Crops Plant crops that will grow during

most erosive months For example:

Fall rye or winter wheat act as ground cover to protect from soil erosion

Grassed Waterways Planting grassy strips in natural

land depressions prone to water run-off

Excess water absorbed by grass instead of eroding soil

Conclusion Soil conservation is critical to

agriculture It also creates need for heavier

doses of pesticides and herbicides Long term soil conservation must

be balanced

Resources Soil Erosion

http://topaz.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/types/soil.htm

Soil Erosion in Agricultural Systems www.msu.edu/user/dunnjef1/rd491/soile.htm

Strip Cropping Alternate a field

with strips of different crops or fallow

http://topaz.kenyon.edu/projects/farmschool/types/soil.htm