Reduce Soil Erosion
• Soil conservation, some methods– Terracing– Contour planting– Strip cropping with cover crop– Alley cropping, agroforestry– Windbreaks or shelterbeds– Conservation-tillage farming
• No-till• Minimum tillage
• Identify erosion hotspots
Fig. 12-24a, p. 302
Fig. 12-24b, p. 302
Fig. 12-24c, p. 302
Fig. 12-24d, p. 302
Solutions: Mixture of Monoculture Crops Planted in Strips on a Farm
Conservation Tillage
• Conservation-tillage farming: method of soil cultivation that leaves the previous year's crop residue on fields before & after planting the next crop– No-till: involve planting crops directly into residue
that either hasn't been tilled at all – Minimum tillage: some residue has been
removed, but at least 30 to 70% remains
No Till & Minimum Tillage• Planting into corn
residue (no till)• Soybeans grown in striped
rows between corn residue (minimum tillage)
Benefits of Conservation Tillage
• Environmental benefits – Reduces soil erosion by 60%-90% from rain & wind – Improves soil and water quality by adding organic
matter as crop residue decomposes– Conserves water by reducing evaporation– Conserves energy due to fewer tractor trips – Reduces air pollution from dust and diesel – Crop residue provides food and cover for wildlife
Benefits of Conservation Tillage
• Practical benefits – Fewer trips across the fields saves time and money
(lowers fuel, labor and machinery maintenance costs) and reduces soil compaction that can reduce yields
– Optimizes soil moisture, enhancing crop growth in dry periods or on droughty soils