Soil Conservation NCES: 6.E.2.3 &2.4 Kim Lachler 2011
Soil is important Without soil plants can not grow Plants provide us food and oxygen
Terms Weathering Erosion Deposition The breaking down of rock The movement of sediment Deposition The sediment being laid down
Causes of erosion Steep slopes Little vegetation Water Wind Humans
Human causes Agriculture Topsoil erodes when crops are removed and fields are left without plants The nutrients get depleted from the same crops being grown year after year.
Human causes Forest Harvesting (cutting down trees) Exposes the soil In tropical forest Trees are removed for farming and grazing The soil is thin and the topsoil does not last long
Human causes Overgrazing Livestock are left on the same field too long They eat all the vegetation leaving the soil exposed.
Human causes Strip mining Leaves rock exposed Topsoil is discarded
Human causes Construction Top soil is removed Plants are removed
Affects of erosion Topsoil loss Poor/no plant growth Sediment running into streams and drinking water
Methods to prevent soil erosion No-till farming The stacks of the crop are left over winter New crops are planted without tilling the stocks under
Methods to prevent soil erosion Contour Farming Plant on the natural relief of the land
Methods to prevent soil erosion Terracing On steep slopes “stair” are carved out to slow down water run-off
Methods to prevent soil erosion Cover crop Planting a winter crop Not only reduces erosion but using the right plants can put nutrients back into the soil
Methods to prevent soil erosion Pasture rotation Livestock graze on a field for a short period. They are moved to a different field to give time for the other field to recover.
Methods to prevent soil erosion Crop rotation Planting specific type crops in a different spot each year. This helps the nutrients of the soil.
Methods to prevent soil erosion Responsible construction Water down soil so it doesn’t blow off or run off Use silt nets to catch eroding soil Plant new plants when finished
Methods to prevent soil erosion Controlled strip mining Each layer when removed is set aside Layer are put back in the correct order when finished mining Plants are planted
Methods to prevent soil erosion Use sidewalks Doesn’t create “cow paths” which exposes soil.
Bibliography Glencoe Soil conservation, Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11 Soil erosion, Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11 grazing, Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11 Strip mining, Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11 construction, Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11 No till farming, Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11 Pasture rotation Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11 covering, Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11 Sidewalk, Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11 Cow path, Google Images, googleimages.com, accessed 11/26/11