Let’s Get Down and Dirty! APES

Soil is a mixture of eroded rock, mineral nutrients, decaying organic matter, water, air, and living organisms

Mature soils are arranged in a series of zones called soil horizons Most mature soils have at least three of the possible horizons

In forests you will find the O Horizon (surface litter layer) Topsoil layer (humus) Subsoil layer (inorganic matter) Parent material (inorganic matter)

The A and O Horizons is where the interaction with bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and small worms take place

Fertile soil that produces high crop yields has a thick topsoil layer with lots of humus

Dark brown or black topsoil is nitrogen rich and high in organic matter

Gray, bright yellow, or red topsoil is low in organic matter and needs Nitrogen enrichment

It can take 200 to 1000 years to develop an inch of topsoil

Soil Problems Acidic soil – decrease uptake of nutrients add lime and organic fertilizer Alkaline soil -western and southwestern United States Add sulfur – converted by bacteria to sulfuric acid Soil erosion Sheet erosion Rill erosion Gully erosion

Soil removed in uniform layer; slowest moving water at top of hill

Flowing water coalesces into small channels; tiny gullies form

Gully Erosion Channels coalesce into larger channels; water increases velocity and volume; erodes into larger gully

Harmful Effects of Soil Erosion Loss of soil fertility Loss of ability to hold water Pollutes water, kills fish and shellfish Clogs irrigation ditches, boat channels Fills lakes and reservoirs with silt

Providence Canyon resulted from poor farming practices – Lumpkin, GA

Global Soil Erosion Topsoil is eroding faster than it forms on about one third of the world’s croplands 15% of land scattered across the globe are too eroded to grow crops because Overgrazing (35%) Deforestation (30%) Unsustainable farming (28%)

Global Soil Erosion About 40% of world’s land used for agriculture is seriously degraded by Erosion Salinization Waterlogging Soil degradation has reduced food production on about 16% of world’s cropland

Practices That Leave Soil Vulnerable to Desertification Overgrazing on fragile arid and semi-arid land Deforestation without reforestation Surface mining without reclamation Irrigation techniques that lead to increase erosion Salt buildup from irrigation Farming on land with unsuitable terrain or soils Soil compaction by farm machinery and cattle

Symptoms of Desertification Loss of native habitat Increased erosion Salinization Lowering of water table Reduced surface water supply

Consequences of Desertification Worsening drought Famine Declining health standards Environmental refugees

Soil Conservation Conservation tillage farming (no till) Terracing Contour farming Strip cropping Alley cropping Gully reclamation Windbreaks or shelterbreaks Land classification

No till farming or Minimum tillage farming

Terrace Farming

Strip Cropping – a row of crop such as corn alternates in strips with another crop, such as grass-legume mixture, that completely covers the soil

Alley cropping or agroforestry – several crops are planted together in strip or alleys between shrubs and trees

Windbreaks or shelterbreaks – reduce wind erosion (retain soil moisture, fuelwood, and provide a habitat

Gully Reclamation

Land Classification Identify land that should not be cleared of vegetation or planted in crops

Restoring Soil Fertility Organic Fertilizers

Restoring Soil Fertility Commercial Inorganic Fertilizer

Restoring Soil Fertility Green Manure – plowing into soil plants currently growing Composting Restoring Soil Fertility

Restoring Soil Fertility Crop Rotation – plant areas or strips with nutrient-depleting crops (tobacco, corn, and cotton deplete soil of nitrogen) one year and the next year they plant the same areas with legumes

Not crop rotation – center pivot irrigation

Questions?