EQ: What is soil conservation?

Soil conservation - is preventing of soil loss from erosion.

Why is soil important? Soil is a natural resource that we all depend on to survive. Food comes from our soil. Trees that provide oxygen need soil to thrive. We can’t survive without soil!

Farming and our Soil Farmers constantly disturb and clear soil in order to grow our crops or feed cattle. If they do not use soil conservation methods, soil can easily wash, blow and erode away. It takes thousands of years to replace this soil.

The Dust Bowl The Dust Bowl was an area in the Midwest that suffered from drought during the 1930s and the Great Depression. The soil became so dry that it turned to dust. An example of what happens if soil conservation methods are not used. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J80GOk1HFY

Terracing Creating step-like structures into the hillsides. Rain is stopped from flowing down.

Windbreaks Planting trees around farmland to block wind erosion.

Contour Farming Planting crops along the natural curves of the land. This slows and stops water erosion.

No-till farming growing crops from year to year without disturbing the soil and leaving behind leaf litter.

Crop Rotation Alternating between crops that take different amount of nutrients from soil. Adding humus for healthy soil.