2. Soil conservation practices

3. Contents Soil conservation practices Soil conservation practices Crop rotation Crop rotation Wind break Wind break Cover crop and mulching Cover crop and mulching Conservation tillage Conservation tillage Residue management Residue management Grassed waterways Grassed waterways Buffer strips Buffer strips Diversion terraces Diversion terraces Erosion prevention Erosion prevention

4. Soil conservation practices What is soil conservation? What is soil conservation? Soil conservation is a set of management strategies for prevention of soil being eroded from the Earth’s surfacesoilerodedEarth or becoming chemically altered by overuse, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination.acidification salinizationsoil contamination It is a component of environmental soil science.environmental soil science

5. Crop rotation Is a tool that enable farmer to increase soil organic content, soil structures, and rooting depth Is a tool that enable farmer to increase soil organic content, soil structures, and rooting depth Accomplished by growing secondary crops which enhance soil health Accomplished by growing secondary crops which enhance soil health Root crops are destructive to soil structure because of shattering of soil aggregates Root crops are destructive to soil structure because of shattering of soil aggregates So root crops should not grown more than once every three years So root crops should not grown more than once every three years

6. Cont…. Recommended rotation for root crops Recommended rotation for root crops Year 1-root crop Year 1-root crop 2 nd year-grain crop 2 nd year-grain crop 3 rd year-forage 3 rd year-forage

7. Windbreaks Windbreaks Windbreaks are created by planting sufficiently dense rows or stands of trees at the windward exposure of an agricultural field subject to wind erosion. Evergreen species are preferred to achieve year-round protection; however, as long as foliage is present in the seasons of bare soil surfaces, the effect of deciduous trees may also be adequate Windbreaks are created by planting sufficiently dense rows or stands of trees at the windward exposure of an agricultural field subject to wind erosion. Evergreen species are preferred to achieve year-round protection; however, as long as foliage is present in the seasons of bare soil surfaces, the effect of deciduous trees may also be adequatewindwardEvergreen speciesfoliagewindwardEvergreen speciesfoliage

8. Cover cropping and mulching effective at reducing soil erosion by leaving a effective at reducing soil erosion by leaving a cover over the soil which reduces soil cover over the soil which reduces soil displacement associated with the impact of displacement associated with the impact of raindrops hitting soil particles. They also raindrops hitting soil particles. They also reduce the volume and velocity of runoff over reduce the volume and velocity of runoff over the soil. the soil.

9. Cover cropping and mulching

10. Cont…. Selecting the correct cover crop depends on: Selecting the correct cover crop depends on: How much cover will the crop supply How much cover will the crop supply Can the crop be harvested the next season Can the crop be harvested the next season The importance of weed control The importance of weed control Soil improvement Soil improvement Nutrient conservation Nutrient conservation Date of seeding Date of seeding

11. Mulching Mulching consists of applying organic Mulching consists of applying organic material over the exposed soil. Hay makes the material over the exposed soil. Hay makes the best mulch, but it is important to ensure that the best mulch, but it is important to ensure that the hay is harvested before weeds are mature. hay is harvested before weeds are mature. Straw can also be used. Straw can also be used. Mulch should be applied at a rate of 3.3 to 4.5 T/ha to ensure at least 85% cover of the soil surface.

12. Mulching

13. Conservation Tillage Conservation Tillage is field operation Conservation Tillage is field operation aimed at preserving soil aggregates, organic aimed at preserving soil aggregates, organic matter and surface residue from previous crop matter and surface residue from previous crop Conservation tillage can include changes such Conservation tillage can include changes such as: as: timing of tillage (fall to spring) timing of tillage (fall to spring) using less destructive tillage implements (chise using less destructive tillage implements (chise plough instead of moldboard plough) plough instead of moldboard plough) less tillage (one pass instead of two) less tillage (one pass instead of two)

14. Residue management Residue management is a facet of Residue management is a facet of conservation tillage that is designed to leave conservation tillage that is designed to leave crop residue on the soil surface to prevent crop residue on the soil surface to prevent erosion. The amount of residue on the soil erosion. The amount of residue on the soil

15. Residue management

16. Grassed waterways Grassed waterways are shallow channels that Grassed waterways are shallow channels that allow large volumes of runoff to flow down a allow large volumes of runoff to flow down a slope without causing erosion. Grassed slope without causing erosion. Grassed waterways can be constructed in natural waterways can be constructed in natural depressions in fields where water accumulates. depressions in fields where water accumulates. Waterways should be 6 m wide, 30 cm deep Waterways should be 6 m wide, 30 cm deep and have a saucer shape. and have a saucer shape.

17. Grassed waterways

18. Buffer strips Buffer strips are vegetative areas that Buffer strips are vegetative areas that separate field boundaries from watercourses. separate field boundaries from watercourses. These buffer strips are effective at stabilizing These buffer strips are effective at stabilizing stream banks with their extensive root system. stream banks with their extensive root system. A proper buffer strip should A proper buffer strip should consist of at least 3 m of natural vegetation consist of at least 3 m of natural vegetation and, if the field is row cropped, an additional 2 and, if the field is row cropped, an additional 2 m wide grassed buffer strip should be left m wide grassed buffer strip should be left

19. Buffer strips

20. Diversion terraces Diversion terraces are shallow grassed Diversion terraces are shallow grassed ditches, with a berm on the downhill side, ditches, with a berm on the downhill side, which are constructed across the slope to which are constructed across the slope to intercept surface runoff water moving down the intercept surface runoff water moving down the field. field. Terrace construction information: Terrace construction information: Terraces may remove up to 5% of land from Terraces may remove up to 5% of land from production production Terraces should be designed to have a grade Terraces should be designed to have a grade along the length that is less than 2% along the length that is less than 2% The position of a terrace in a field depends on The position of a terrace in a field depends on field slope, soil type and other soil conservation field slope, soil type and other soil conservation practices used. practices used.