Soil … No-till farming is a way of growing crops without disturbing it through tillage. Even when you eat meat, you're either eating an animal that fed on plants to survive, or an animal that fed on animals who fed on plants to survive. Try digging drainage channels to guide water runoff away from your plants, installing a rain barrel or catch basin to collect water runoff, and building a landscape terrace on any slopes in your garden so water and soil doesn't run down them. Watering soil is a good measure of soil conservation. As the plants have a natural need for the nutrients in the soil in your area, they help to prevent soil erosion. For more tips from our Environmental co-author, including how to avoid compacting your soil to make it last longer, read on! Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! % of people told us that this article helped them. For best results, group trees or shrubs relatively close together so that little space exists between them for wind to penetrate. Bacteria and fungi help keep the soil healthy. A major part of conserving soil is preventing soil erosion. 9. The foliage will absorb excess water and protect the topsoil from the impact of rain, heavy wind and foot traffic. Crop rotation also helps in the improvement of soil structure and fertility. Ryegrass and clover make excellent choices for basic groundcover, as their roots spread deep and hold fast. The ideal pH level for most plants is 5.5-7.0. You can prevent soil erosion by slowing the force of the wind over open ground. Any soil limitations, such as acidity, salinity or toxicity problems must be addressed before and during the implementation of Conservation Agriculture. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Copyright © Gardenerdy & Buzzle.com, Inc. Soil conservation is important because soil is crucial for many aspects of human life as it provides food, filters air and water and helps to decompose biological waste into nutrients for new plant life. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Thanks a lot.". Organisms like earthworms help decompose organic material in the soil, aid soil aeration and help it maintain porosity. Contouring and terracing are methods prescribed by the US Natural Resources Conservation Service. doing an assignment and I needed help. We all know that roots of trees firmly hold on to the soil. The concept of soil conservation cannot be materialized without conserving and efficient use of water resources. Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. Learn more about the importance of Soil conservation. Developing or maintaining riparian zones helps conserve soil, as these zone prevent soil erosion from the banks of rivers or streams. Managing for soil health allows producers to work with the land – not against – to reduce erosion, maximize water infiltration, improve nutrient cycling, save money on inputs, and ultimately improve the resiliency of their working land. This article has been viewed 140,878 times. Watering the soil along with plants growing in it is a way to prevent soil erosion caused by wind. Related Articles: What are the Principles and Methods of Soil Conservation? But the tilling activity can lead to compaction of soil, loss of organic matter in the soil and the death of soil organisms. There is a variety of methods that can be used to conserve soil moisture. There are 21 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Applying too much mulch too often can result in the death of some types of plants, as mulch will change the soil's pH levels and can prevent sufficient oxygen from being absorbed by the plant's root system, effectively smothering it. Ways to conserve soil in conventional farming and individually at home include: Terrace farming for hilly areas, to prevent water from gathering force on its way downhill and eroding soil. Create a landscaping terrace by leveling the embankment of a slope and reinforcing the vertical walls with wood beams or stone. This has a negative effect on the metabolism of crops. I tried it, and it was just right. Tree roots function the same way as those grass roots did, just on a larger scale (because tree roots are bigger). Earthworms decompose dead organic matter to add nutrients to dry soil. This has a negative effect on the … Soil erosion is a growing problem in today’s world, as evolving climatic conditions like intense rain and wind cause soil to be lost and exhausted at an alarming rate. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group. Rodents help soil the same way. Thank you to. Irrigation itself isn't directly related to soil conservation, as it deals with supplying water to growing plants in places where natural water sources are inaccessible, but the practice of irrigation will keep plants healthy and firmly rooted, which helps hold the soil in place. Vegetation on the riparian zones helps maintain biodiversity and serves as a food source for animals inhabiting the area. Taking good care of our soil equates to taking care of our water supply. Losing soil around your home and garden can have a negative effect on your plants, but there are steps you can take to conserve your soil. We need to devise and implement ways of conserving soil. So soil is an important constituent of the ecological system and its conservation is essential. Dig a simple paved irrigation ditch by hand, or embed PVC or drainage pipe into the channel to install what is known as a "French Drain," which conducts water away with greater efficiency. At that time I was, "This helps me a lot because I am a student and also a nature lover. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. The salinity of soil is detrimental to the vegetative life in it. You can plant trees or shrubs in your windbreak. The growth of indigenous crops is a good way to conserve soil. We should make every effort to conserve soil-one of the most important natural resources. Nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying bacteria are major constituents of the nitrogen cycle. Also, trees and shrubs close together can benefit from and provide benefits to the micro-biota thriving in the soil. A vegetative cover acts as a cover and thereby protect from erosion by … Soil is one of the most important natural resources. This method helps in slowing the water runoff and prevents soil from being washed away along the slope. This means that the exposed area has lost its soil. Barley growth germinated by chisel ploughing after grain harvest in August Harmful gases and solid wastes that pollute air and water, also pollute land, rendering the soil infertile. This practice of farming on slopes takes into account the slope gradient and the elevation of soil along the slope. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Help-Save-the-Earth-Step-13.jpg\/v4-460px-Help-Save-the-Earth-Step-13.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9d\/Help-Save-the-Earth-Step-13.jpg\/aid1090738-v4-728px-Help-Save-the-Earth-Step-13.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"