Soil Degradation and Conservation Action movie Soil Degradation

Soil Degradation and Conservation Action movie

Soil Degradation £ Land degradation is a huge problem today, especially for the world’s poor £ An area equal to the size of China and India combined is now classified as having impaired biological function £ Most the result of poor land management £ MEDCs £ Tradition of agriculture has lead to soil conserving practices £ However…sometimes climate and intensive agriculture lead to devastating levels of erosion still £ What about LEDCs?

Processes Leading to Soil Degradation £ Two Types of Processes lead to soil degradation £Processes that take away soil £Mainly due to removal of vegetation £Wind and water then remove the soil £Processes that make the soil less suitable for use £Various chemicals end up in the soil and make it useless in the long run £Over fertilizing (salinization), various pollutants/pesticides

Human Activities Leading to Soil Degradation £ Overgrazing £Too many animals graze in the same area or animals stay in the same area too long £ Deforestation £Selective cutting: careful choosing each tree £Strip cutting: Cutting in rows £Clear cutting: Removing large areas of trees £Ex: In tropical regions leaves deflect and slow down rain

Human Activities Leading to Soil Degradation £ Unsustainable agriculture £Total removal of crop after harvest £Having uncovered soil between rows £Plowing in the direction of the slope £Excessive Pesticides £Excessive irrigation (leads to salinization and erosion) £Monocultures (deplete specific nutrients)

£ Types Soil erosion by water ¤Sheet Wash ¥Uniform loss of soil, usually when water crosses a flat field or mountainous region in a land slide ¤Gullying ¥Rivulets join to become larger, channel becomes wider and deeper, usually on steeper slopes or where water moves fast ¤Wind erosion ¥On drier exposed soils the wind continually removes topsoil

Soil Conservation £ Soil Conditioners £ Most common are organic materials and lime £ Lime: Increases p. H to counter soil acidification £ Also helps clay particles stick together and act more like sand £ Organics improves texture and acts as a nutrient source as well £ Wind Reduction £ Alley cropping/strip cropping £ Soil Conserving Cultivation £ Strip cropping with cover crops between rows £ Terracing (create horizontal levels on slope) £ Contour farming (Plow perpendicular to hillside)

Soil Conservation £ Improved Irrigation £ Limiting evaporation reduces salinization £ Limiting run-off reduces erosion £ Marginal Land £ Accept the fact that some land is NOT suitable for farming £ Crop Rotation £ Some crops are hungrier than others £ Rotate with a nitrogen fixer