If farming is done up and down the slope, the flow of water is accelerated, because each furrow serves as a rill. Nasarawa state of nigeria abstract the study examined agricultural land use and adopted conservation measures in lafia local government area of nasarawa state. Conservation effects on soil quality and climate change. These measures are effective in low rainfall areas particularly in fairly erosion resistant soils having gentle slope so il is an essential resource to suppor t plants for producing food, and to provide shelter to insects and animals. According to fao 1984, agronomic measures is that vegetation is used, either alive or dead, in sufficient quantities to shield the soil surface from.
Soil and water conservation measures and challenges in kenya. Sheng professor colorado state university usa soil resources, management and conservation service fao land and water development division foreword our existence depends largely upon the thin layer of soil from which we produce most of our food, fibres and timber. These measures can be applied together with physical or biological soil and water conservation measures. Field layout, cropping systems, and, ultimately, livestock enterprises relate directly to the nature and characteristics of the soil. There are always strong links between measures for soil conservation and measures for water conservation, and this applies equally in semiarid areas. It exploits resources while conserving them through moisture retention, fertility and soil conservation, which make the system less dependent on expensive inputs such as energy, machines. Plant canopy protect the soil from the adverse effect of rainfall.
Vaught department of agronomy soil is the basic resource of all farming operations. To minimize the problem of soil erosion, adaptation of suitable soil and water conservation swc measures and cultivating suitable crops is the most critical factor manivannan et. Erosion processes and soil conservation technology 4. Agronomic soil conservation measures and their effects on crop productivity in yunnan province, china author. Pdf agronomic practices for erosion control researchgate. A gis based slope analysis for recommended soil and water. Soil conservation for small farmers in the humid tropics by t. It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil productivity, environment quality, and agronomic production. During intense rain storms, the soil cannot absorb all the rain as it falls. Certain conservation measures can reduce soil erosion.
Soil conservation measures agriculture planning and. The building of channels adequate to carry runoff is then dealt withf followed by a discussion of the control of destructive gullies. Compensatory measures can include the use of selected tillage methods. Conclusion biological method of soil conservation is various ways of maintaining a cover of vegetation during the periods of high erosion threat. In addition, agronomists develop methods to preserve the soil and to decrease the effects of erosion by wind and water. Agronomic soil conservation measures and their effects on. Scientific discussion is supported by appropriate data and more than 200 references. Soil strength and resistance to penetration increase as the soil bulk density is increased by compaction, and as the soil becomes drier. Soil and water conservation 265 life on this planet, as the so il is an essential resource to suppor t plants for producing food, and to provide shelter to insects and animals.
Agronomic measures in traditional soil and water conservation. Farmers adoption of soil and water conservation technology. Erosion processes and soilconservation technology 4. Hence, the use agronomic practices for soil and water conservation is vital for climate change adaptation and mitigation because it can give both productive role producing food, fodder, fuel, wood and protective role soil conserving functions, windbreaks and shelterbelts. The various conservation techniques can be described under the below headings. The sugar industry design norms for spacing of contour banks advocate that specific designs should be used to design soil conservation structures for slopes less than 3% or greater. Terracing is the only practical method of soil conservation on steep land.
The following boxes explain the nature of agronomic measures which are essential in interbunded or terraced areas. Furthermore, it is the cheapest way of soil and water conservation. Mechanical soil conservation techniques erosion surface. Principles of soil conservation and management springerlink. Review design norms for soil and water conservation. Mechanical or engineering soilconservation measures 4. Soil conservation food and agriculture organization. Soil conservation practices such as cover crops and reduced tillage can favorably improve soil health by increasing the number of soil organisms that break down organic matter, and in the process, release plant nutrients.
Contour farming, crop rotation, strip cropping, choice of crops, mulching, cover crop, reforestation, mixed crop, wind breaks are major biological soil conservation methods. Researchers in agronomy also seek ways to use the soil more effectively in solving other problems. The major agronomic practices are contour cultivation, tillage, mulching, dead furrow, line sowing, broad bed. The excess water flows down the slope under the influence of gravity. Measures for soil and water conservation soil management. A gis based slope analysis for recommended soil and water conservation techniques in sekela district, amhara state, ethiopia abineh tilahun1 and bogale teferie2 1department of geography and environmental studies, adigrat university, ethiopia.
However, swc measures that are both protective and sufficiently productive have not yet been implemented in the conserved sub. These measures cannot prevent detachment of soil particles, but they counter sediment transport downhill and can be unavoidable in certain circumstances, at least to supplement agronomic measures. Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the top most layer of the soil from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization or other chemical soil contamination. Soil and water conservation technologies according to. Slashandburn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas. The erosion of siwaliks has been studied by glover and hamilton 1935 and gorrie 1951 and various methods have been suggested for soil conservation. Some possible agronomic measures are shown in the figure right. For effective conservation of soil and water, we must treat and use the. Effective practices in mitigating soil erosion from fields. Agronomic measures of soil conservation in soil and water conservation programmes agronomic measures have to be considered in coordination with others for their effectiveness. It is an expensive method or reducing soil erosion since it requires moving soil to construct the leveled areas, protecting the steep areas between terraces and constant repair and maintenance.
Agronomic measures for soil and water conservation semiarid. The role of agronomic practices on soil and water conservation in. Agronomic methods are supported with mechanical measures where land slope exceeds permissible limits and runoff gains erosive velocities. Adopted engineering and agronomic conservation measures. Agronomic soil conservation measures use of vegetation. These include agronomic measures such as fallow pastures, cover crops, crop rotation, ridge planting, stubble retention on the soil surface and mulching, incorporation of stubble. The department has been implementing various soil and water conservation measures in arable land like earthen bunds, stone pitched contour bunds, vegetative hedges, contour staggered trenches, moisture conservation pits, etc to intercept rainfall where it falls and to obviate the chances of the runoff water from acquiring erosive velocities in arable land. The main soil and water conservation measures practiced here are grouped into agronomic, soil management and mechanical.
Design of soil and water conservation structures for. The article concludes with an account of the mechanical measures that may he used to reduce wind erosion. Soil erosion has been continuing over, such a large part of india. Adopted engineering and agronomic conservation measures of. Adopted engineering and agronomic conservation measures of agricultural land use in lafia l. Many measures are directed primarily to one or the other, but most contain an element of both. Soil conservation includes all those measures which help in protecting the soil from erosion and exhaustion. The erosion control measures involve the construction of various structures for the. Biological soil and water conservation measures learning. An examination of soil and water conservation practices in. Physical soil conservation measures physical soil conservation structures are permanent features made of earth, stones or masonry, designed to protect the soil from uncontrolled runoff and erosion and retain water where needed. Apr 18, 2015 agronomic measures of soil conservation in soil and water conservation programmes agronomic measures have to be considered in coordination with others for their effectiveness.
Agronomic measures for soil and water conservation. Agronomic include increasing soil surface cover, intercropping, contour farming, cover cropping and agroforestry, increasing soil surface roughness, and increasing both surface depression storage and infiltration. Some of the methods that must be adopted for conserving soil are as follows. Soil conservation for small farmers in the humid tropics. Manual on integrated soil management and conservation practices. Introduction to soil conservation measures infonet. Consequently, the government has invested in soil and water conservation swc. Conservation farming is a broadbased approach of land and water management. Thus, biological measures are an effective method of soil and water conservation, especially since they are low in cost. To minimize the problem of soil erosion, adaptation of suitable soil and water conservation swc measures and cultivating suitable crops is the most critical factor manivannan et al. Simple methods can be applied to approximately predict the effect of a given soil conservation measure on soil loss for an area of interest.
Soil strength and mechanical impedance to root penetration vary with i soil texture or grain size distribution, ii soil structure or consistency, and iii soil water content. Measures adaptable to pasture and range land are considered next. In some systems they may be more effective than structural measures. Soil and water conservation technologies according to wocat are. Agronomic measures of soil conservation in soil and water conservation. Pdf now, soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, and land degradation. Additionally, these can be used with structural and agronomic measures. These measures are effective in low rainfall areas particularly in fairly erosion resistant soils having gentle slope of soil conservation is very complicated and is receiving attention of scientists and engineers. The increased biological activity of these soil microbes is an indicator of a healthy soil sciarappa et al, 2015. The erosion preventative measures mainly comprise the agronomic soil and water conservation practices that improve land productivity without construction of structures see training manual 4 in these series. Soil and water conservation is the basis of such a program, and also helps improve land impoverished by erosion and overusemakes it more productive so that it can support more people. Crops and vegetables which cover the ground surface well and have extensive root system reduce soil erosion. Introduction to soil conservation measures infonet biovision home.
Climate and the need to retain or discharge the runoff. In order to keep the land productive, a good conservation program is imperative. Therefore, it is important that swc structures be supplemented with other biological and agronomic measures in conjunction with soil fertility amendments appropriate to site. Soil and water conservation measures consist of agronomical and mechanical methods. For example, a technique called contour plowing may be used to prevent soil erosion and conserve rainfall. For maintaining the fertility status of soil and conserving the water, different types of measures or practices exist. Agronomic soil and water conservation measures learning. Top 8 agronomic measures for soil and water conservation. Soil erosion by watertechniques wikibooks, open books for. Effectiveness of those measures to tackle land degradation in the north and.
Pdf the role of agronomic practices on soil and water. Utilize the role of vegetation to protect the soil against erosion. Several types of biological soil and water conservation measures exist see figure. Soil land management practices such as tillage and cropping practices, directly affect the overall soil erosion problem and solutions on a farm. Mechanical or engineering soil conservation measures 4. Pdf loss of topsoil through erosion leads to loss of plant nutrients and poor soil fertility. The grasses and legumes produce dense sod which helps in reducing soil erosion. Traditional soil conservation practices and agronomic measures have been historically practiced in various parts of the country lundgren, 1993. Enhancedincludes soil testing, completed nutrient budget, use of slow release. Agronomical practices like contour cultivation, use of. Hence, the use agronomic practices for soil and water conservation is vital for climate change adaptation and mitigation because it can give both productive role producing food, fodder, fuel.
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