Question

Discuss soil conservation.

Answer 1

Soil conservation:

1. Soil conservation refers to various methods devised to for protection of soil from erosion and to retain soil fertility.
2. Soil conservation is practiced to improve soil health.
3. The following are the soil conservation methods of importance:

Cover crops:

1. Cover crops provide soil protection and improve the soil fertility.
2. Mixed cover crops include grass, legumes which increases the biomass returned to the soil.
3. They also enhance and improve soil productivity and prevent soil erosion.

Afforestation:

1. Afforestation refers to the mass-scale planting of trees.
2. Roots of trees spread deep into the layers of soil to prevent soil erosion.

Contour plowing:

1. Contour plowing helps in slowing the water run-off and prevents the soil from being washed away along with slopes.
2. Contour farming practices were applied more in European countries such as Italy and Spain.

Intercropping:

1. Intercropping is a multiple cropping system where two or more crops are grown continuously on the same field.
2. Intercropping with leguminous plant species absorbs nutrients from deeper soil horizon and reduces Nitrogen deficiencies among neighbouring non-leguminous crops.

Buffer strips:

1. Trees and bushes permanently maintained near waterbodies prevent sediment and water wash offs.
2. Roots fix the soil to avoid slumping and erosion.