Principles Of Soil Conservation:

Principles of Soil Conservation:

The following are some basic principles of soil conservation.

1. Use land according to its capability.

As misuse of land is the main cause of erosion, It is a common practice to bring even steeply sloping land under cultivation.

п‚Ñž The modern approach requires that after a survey of the soil a scientific inventory of the land be prepared.

п‚Ñž Conservation plans should then be prepared in which the appropriate use and treatment for each piece of land are specified.

п‚Ñž Generally speaking, only level to nearly level (0вЂ"2% slope) and gently sloping lands (2вЂ"5% slope) should be cultivated.

п‚Ñž Marginal lands with steep slopes should be brought under range crops or forests. Gullied lands and those with even steeper slopes are more suitable for tree plantation.

2. Retain rainwater

Rainwater should be retained as close as possible to where it falls, so as to make the best use of precipitation and minimize potential runoff effects. However, it may not always be possible for all the rainwater to be absorbed into the soil. In high rainfall areas the amount of water usually exceeds the absorptive capacity of the soil, so that the excess must be disposed of safely.

Rainwater can best be retained in the soil in the following ways.

a. The soil surface can be kept covered by cultivated crops or vegetation, particularly during the rainy season.

b. Fields should be kept loose to allow maximum infiltration of rainwater when the fields are fallow.

c. The flow of surface water down a slope can be regulated by constructing field embankments and terraces or by reducing the size of the fields.

d. A proper system needs to be provided for the safe disposal of runoff water, since most of the rains during summer are erratic and of high intensity. This will reduce immediate damage by heavy rains.

3. Minimize runoff

The practices adopted on both arable and non-arable lands should be such as to minimize runoff and maximize retention of rainwater.

4. Store surplus water

Surplus water should be stored in darns or other reservoirs. This water can then be used later for supplemental irrigation, livestock, or other purposes.

5. Maintain soil fertility

Soil fertility should be maintained at a level which can support sustained crop production.

6. Use non-arable lands effectively

Non-cultivable lands, or those damaged by erosion should preferably be brought under forest.

Soil Conservation Practices:

Specific applications of land and water management knowledge with the goal of protecting soil resources from exploitation, destruction, or neglect are called soil conservation practices.

п‚Ñž Soil conservation measures are highly site-specific and depend upon land use pattern, soil characteristics, topographic conditions, rainfall patterns, and potential erosion hazards.

п‚Ñž In order to determine proper land use and appropriate soil practices a land capability/erosion survey should be carried out.

Soil conservation practices can be classified into

Land management and crop management,

Land management refers to the proper use of land,

Crop management pertains to selection of crops, tillage practices, and cultural operations.

п‚Ñž These two management approaches are complementary: land management is fundamental to crop management. For convenience in applying technology in the field, practices are grouped into those appropriate for arable lands and those appropriate for non arable lands.

Conservation of Arable Land:

The cultivable area is known as arable land.

п‚Ñž The ever increasing demand for food and raw materials for human and industrial consumption can be met only by increasing cropped area, improving crop yields, or both. It is, therefore, imperative that the cultivated area should be managed in such a way that it remains productive on a sustained basis.

п‚Ñž The conservation of cultivated area should aim at reduction in the quantity and velocity of runoff, and its safe disposal.

This can be achieved by adopting the following practices:

1. Maintaining crop cover.

Soil is the biggest storehouse of water.

п‚Ñž Soils vary widely in the degree to which they allow infiltration of water and the degree to which they retain it.

п‚Ñž Although these characteristics depend upon inherent soil properties, they can be improved by appropriate soil and crop management practices.

п‚Ñž Efforts should be made to maintain crop cover on the soil surface during the monsoon.

п‚Ñž If soils are to be left fallow, they should be ploughed across the slope before the onset of the rainy season and occasionally thereafter.

п‚Ñž This practice (ploughing) is especially important where the slope is more than 2 percent.

2. Field Embankments:

The boundaries of the fields are raised to a height of 15вЂ"50 cm depending upon the rainfall and the slope of the land. In low rainfall areas the field boundaries may be raised as much as 50 cm in order to allow maximum absorption of rainwater into the soil.

3. Tillage to an Appropriate Depth: