Soil Conservation EQ Why is soil a valuable
Soil Conservation EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?
The Value of Soil • Everything that lives on land depends on soil either directly or indirectly • Fertile soil is valuable because it is limited in supply – Less than 1/8 of the Earth’s soil is suitable for farming EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?
Soil Damage and Loss • Soil Loss – Over farmed by the same crops – Erosion by wind and water – Loss of plant cover EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?
George Washington Carver • Scientist from the early 1900’s, Alabama • Developed new crops and farming methods that helped restore farming fertility to the South • Planted peanuts in cotton fields to replace soil nutrients EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?
EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource? Dust Bowl 1930 - 1938 Cause- plowing removed prairie grass from the Great Plains and exposed the soil Then a drought occurred turning the topsoil to dust Wind started blowing soil across the country
Soil Conservation • Soil Conservation – management of soil to prevent its destruction • Ways to conserve soil – Contour plowing – plowing land along curves of a slope; slows runoff and prevents soil from washing away – Conservation Plowing – disturbs the soil and plant cover as little as possible; leave dead weeds and stalks in ground to help return nutrients to the soil – Planting wind screens EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?
Class Work and Homework Fill In What did I learn Confused Say EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource? Read pages G 57 – G 60, questions 1 -4 Documentary
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