Soil Conservation Measures or Techniques Check Full Information

Soil conservation has been a somewhat taboo subject for me. This is also why I’ve not discussed about it in my previous articles. However, for the first time in my life, I believe it will be essential to discuss soil conservation techniques and methods that can help you save money, conserve your natural resources, and protect the environment to some extent.

Table of Contents

Soil Conservation Measures or Techniques

Vegetation Cover and Protective Reforestation – To prevent soil erosion, it is crucial to maintain the land’s vegetation cover, as this retains the soil’s moisture and prevents raindrops from causing soil erosion.

The vegetation cover holds together the soil particles. Additionally, vegetation cover slows water flow, thereby reducing soil erosion.

**Soil Conservation Measures or Techniques**

Contour Linear Plowing – Using this technique, hill slopes are subdivided into several sections in order to lessen the slope. The contour lines are followed when ploughing these small sections.

This reduces soil erosion and makes more water available for crops and natural vegetation. In such areas, crops are planted in rows so that they can absorb as much rainwater as possible.

Vedikakaran – In this technique, agriculture is conducted by slicing hill slopes into terraced fields. In turn, the eroded soil is deposited in the terraced fields below, along with a reduction in land erosion. In the mountainous regions of monsoon Asia, terraced fields are used for rice cultivation and rubber plantations.

This technique reduces wind and water erosion. In this, the base section of the stem along with the root system of herbaceous plants like pulse plants, mustard plants etc. is left in rows in the field while harvesting in the form of stubble.

These stubble rows restrict the evaporation of soil moisture and contribute organic matter to the soil, resulting in an increase in the ratio of moisture to soil fertility.

In this type of agriculture, crops are grown in the form of broad stripes. Agriculture in stripes is suitable for sloping land. The plates are constructed at an angle of 90 degrees to the slope or wind direction.

Arid agriculture – Arid agriculture is appropriate for rainfed regions. To prevent soil erosion, grass, forage, and rajka are sown in this method.

Protection of flood zones – During the rainy season, areas with excessive precipitation frequently experience flooding. Floods cause soil erosion due to the flow of water. Therefore, the flood prone areas should be managed.

Cover crops – When an area or region’s land is to be abandoned for a period of time, crops or legumes should be planted as a cover crop to prevent soil erosion.

Manipulated sowing of crops – No single type of agricultural crop should be grown continuously in a single agricultural area for more than two years, as this depletes the soil of essential elements and minerals. The fertility of the soil can be maintained naturally through successive crop rotations.

For example, rotation of wheat, peas, barley, and sugar beet cultivation in a given area over a given time period is regarded as optimal for maintaining soil fertility. Rotation or manipulation of crops reduces the impact of harmful microorganisms and the diseases they cause, as well as the impact of soil pollution.

Ban on Temporary Agriculture – Temporary agriculture or Jhuming agriculture, which is prevalent in equatorial forest regions, should be strictly banned due to the fact that cutting down trees for temporary agriculture increases soil erosion.

Aside from this, the land’s fertility has been exploited in vain for this agriculture. Consequently, temporary agriculture should be prohibited.

It is crucial to implement a complete and effective ban on uncontrolled pastoralism because it has a negative impact on the vegetation cover and loosens the soil particles. Both of the preceding processes contribute to soil erosion.

Planting vegetation in bunds and ducts – In areas that are flooded annually and where large pits or ravines are formed due to duct erosion, vegetation should be planted. To prevent this, the fields should be surrounded by high bunds and dams, and the uneven terrain should be levelled.

In regions prone to gully erosion, grass and trees should be planted. All of these actions, or processes, reduce soil erosion.

Plantation – In regions where soil erosion is a problem, there should be extensive plantation, and cutting trees in these regions should be effectively prohibited by administrative law. In order to prevent erosion in these areas, which are located on the edge of the desert, parallel lines of trees should be planted.

Chemical testing of soil and use of chemical fertilisers – For a particular crop variety to produce at its highest level, it is necessary that all essential nutrients for that crop be present in the local soil. In order to accomplish this, periodic chemical analysis of the soil should be performed, and chemical fertilisers should be applied to areas deficient in essential nutrients.

Availability of irrigation methods- In order to maximise the benefits of soil fertility, it is necessary to periodically irrigate agricultural crops. In addition to this, the establishment of a good water system and water sources Additionally, it is required to develop, enhance, and make adequate preparations for the utilisation of waste water.

In places impacted by air pollution, nitric acid and sulfuric acid combine with rainwater in the soil to protect it from contamination. Additionally, domestic and industrial trash is occasionally dumped on the land.

All of these behaviours contribute to the problem of soil pollution, which hinders its productivity. Therefore, it is essential to safeguard the soil against pollution in order to preserve its fertility.

Different Soil Applications

In many places of the world, manures and fertilisers are employed to preserve the soil’s fertility, and crops are seeded by hand. Due to this, various crops take different nutrients from the soil, compensating for the soil’s fertility. Following are the land uses of various soil types:

Soils of the warm belt – Agriculture is conducted by chopping down the woods in the warm belt, which drastically affects the fertility of the soil in a relatively short time. Therefore, this region’s soils are better suitable for planting crops like as rubber, coconut, banana, cacao, sago, and spices, etc. On fertile lava-based soils, rice and sugarcane are grown for commercial purposes in Java.

Soils of woods and grasslands in the subtropical belt – The red and yellow soils present in the subtropical belt are rendered productive through the application of manures. In countries such as India, China, Pakistan, and Vietnam, among others, dung and leaf manure have been utilised for generations.

Currently, artificial fertilisers are being employed in these nations. This region’s deltaic tremor is very advantageous for agriculture.

In addition to wheat, rice, jowar, bajra, maize, cotton, oilseeds, etc., animal husbandry is practised on these soils. 70% of the world’s population is dependent on the shaking riverbeds. Human communities from China, India, Pakistan, Japan, Western Europe, and the eastern United States have established in places with quaking ground.

In temperate deciduous forest regions, dark and brown soils are prevalent. Food crops such as wheat, barley, and maize, as well as animal feed, fruits, and vegetables, are grown on the soils of this region.

This region’s soils support a variety of agricultural activities, including food production and animal husbandry. These are less acidic than coniferous forest podzol soils. They contain a large amount of humus. Europe and the northeastern United States contain these soils.

Soils of temperate grasslands — Lime-rich, or pedocal, soils are found in the region of temperate grasslands. In this location, the black chernozem and prairie soils of the steppe are the most fruitful.

In these soils, wheat, maize, barley, oats, rye, etc. food grains, cow feed, and cotton are grown on a huge scale for commercial purposes. These soils can be found in the former Soviet Union, the United States, southern Canada, Argentina, and the southeastern region of Australia.

Northern Coniferous Forest Soils- Limeless, or Pedalfer, soils are prevalent in the vicinity of acidic northern coniferous forests. Pedjoli and Paudjoli soils are less fruitful. Hence it is less appropriate for agriculture. In these meadows, it is simple to cultivate barley, oats, potatoes, and fruit orchards.

Gray desert soils – These types of soils are prevalent in arid regions. Gray is the hue of these soils because they lack humus. In these, a layer of lime accumulates close to the surface.

Humus is present in smaller quantities, while alkalis are present in greater quantities. This sort of soil requires irrigation for crop production. In the Nile valley in Egypt and the Indus river valley in Pakistan, irrigated crops are farmed.

In other regions where irrigation facilities are not developed, sheep farming is the primary form of animal husbandry.

Planning Economically for Soils

The majority of the world’s population is economically dependent on agriculture. Therefore, the agricultural value of soil is well-known. The following three considerations are essential for the correct use of land.

(1) The most suitable crops should be chosen based on the characteristics of the soil.

(2) Agricultural procedures should be devised to preserve the land’s yield.

(3) Forest land and chard land should be managed properly to prevent their destruction.

Today, subsistence agriculture is prevalent in the majority of the world’s nations. Even if the local climate, soil, etc.

are unfavourable, every farming family cultivates the crops necessary for its survival. With the advancement of civilization and the expansion of transportation, the propensity toward specialisation in food production has risen.

Experiments have demonstrated that different types of soil are beneficial for certain crops. Consequently, the finest crops should be chosen with consideration for the local ecology. Consequently, the following steps should be taken:

(1) Red and yellow soils are good for dairy production.

(2) In grey-brown forest soils, intensive dairy farming, vegetable production, horticulture, and forestry thrive.

(3) Prairie and steppe soils are suitable for mechanised wheat and maize cultivation.

Frequently Asked Questions Soil Conservation Measures or Techniques

What are the four methods of soil conservation?

These techniques include crop rotation, decreased tillage, cover crops, mulching, and farming on slopes with variable gradients.

What are three ways to conserve soil?

Crop rotation, conservation tillage, and the use of compost and manure are all part of an organic or ecological farming method that tries to reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides while boosting soil fertility over the long term.

What are the methods of soil conservation in India?

Working along the contours (cultivation against the direction of the wind). Strip cultivation (cultivation in strips). The government has taken measures to control flooding. The transformation of formerly unsuitable land.

What is soil conservation suggest measures to conserve soil?

Soil conservation is the process of reducing soil erosion and fertility loss. Planting trees and vegetation can aid with soil conservation. Garbage made of plastic should not be discarded on the ground.
We can protect the soil by use less pesticides and herbicides.

Conclusion

Erosion of the soil is a global issue that affects every continent. To better manage the available land and nutrients; to protect the fertility and dispersion of sediment, every nation has some form of soil conservation practises in place. Diverse nations around the globe, for instance, are focusing on the proper use of contour bulldozing, terracing, and alley cropping; reducing soil erosion by improving drainage system with bunds and slow-sand filter techniques; retaining water in wet lands and rivers; and even employing chemicals to help hold the soil in place.