Question

Suggest two measures to conserve soil.

Answer 1

Measures to conserve soil are as follow:-
1) Afforestation- Increase in area under forest is the best way to conserve soil. Indiscriminate felling of trees should be stopped and efforts should be made to plant trees in new areas. A minimum area of forest land for the whole country that is considered healthy for soil and water conservation is between 20 to 25 per cent but it was raised to 33 per cent in the second five year plan; the proportion being 20 per cent for the plains and 60 per cent for hilly and mountainous regions.
2) Constructing Dams- Much of the soil erosion by river floods can be avoided by constructing dams across the rivers. This checks the speed of water and saves soil from erosion.