Farming Sustainability Soil Conservation Topic 7 A S

Farming Sustainability & Soil Conservation Topic 7 A. S: M – O

Increasing the Sustainability of our Food Production System • What were the main issues again? – Land management (soil degradation), food waste, food distribution • What can be done? (what we can do) – Altering human actives such as: • Eating less meat • Eating local, organic, in-season foods – Improve the accuracy of food labels and dates – National and international governmental monitoring and control of farming practices.

Soil Restoration & Loss Prevention (what farmers can do) • What can be done to either prevent the loss of soil/nutrients or restore them after depletion? – Condition soil – Prevent erosion – Water Retention (reduce the amount you need)

Soil Conservation Methods 1) Soil Conditioners: • Artificial fertilizers can restore nutrients • Adding compost or manure to soils • Liming – What does this do?

2) Wind reduction techniques • Windbreaks – rows of trees, shrubs, fences or concrete walls that are planted along the boundaries of fields. – These slow wind speeds, which help conserve soil moisture and prevent erosion. • Shelterbelts – planted perpendicular to prevailing winds (are a type of windbreak) • Planting cover crops, usually legumes. Why?

Wind Breaks (Shelter Belts)

3) Water use Reduction Techniques (retention) • Contour plowing – planting crops in long strips that run along a hillside rather than running up and down. – Prevents water from making gullies – Slows the flow of rain water to increase soil infiltration. • Terracing – turning a hillside into a series of ascending terraces or steps – Saves soil from being eroded and conserves water.

Contour Plowing and Terracing in America’s Midwest

Terracing in Southeast Asia