1. Cover crop Crop planted between harvesting and next season’s planting Normally nitrogen-fixing Prevents erosion

2. shelterbelts Windbreaker Rows of trees or tall plants to slow wind

3. Conservation Tilling Conservation Tilling Tilling Tilling – Turn over soil before planting – Creates pores for air and water – More susceptible to erosion No-till method No-till method – Tractor drills deep holes to put seeds and fertilizer in – Seeds of each crop are planted among the remains of the previous crop – the first crop hold the soil while the new crop develops Reduced-tillage Reduced-tillage – Disturbs surface soil slightly Require substantial herbicides and fertilizer Require substantial herbicides and fertilizer

4. Terracing- the hillsides are formed into large steps (small level fields) Labor-intensive often used for growing crops such as grapes for wine and coffee Contour farming- used on gentle slopes -plowing is done across the slope of a hill instead of up and down. Both methods prevent water from running directly down hill and washing away all of the valuable topsoil. Terracing and Contour plowing are conservation methods designed to prevent downhill erosion

5. Overgrazing Too many animals eat too much and impede plants’ regrowth Too many animals eat too much and impede plants’ regrowth Removes too much plant cover Removes too much plant cover More soil exposed for erosion More soil exposed for erosion Non-native weedy plants invade the exposed soil Non-native weedy plants invade the exposed soil Range managers tell ranchers rotate herds to different locations Range managers tell ranchers rotate herds to different locations

6. desertification process by which land in arid or semi arid areas becomes more desert like because of human activity.

7. ways desertification can occur: – Over grazing- less roots to hold soil – Soil compaction – Hoof erosion – Over plowing – not enough fallow (rest) time – Drought

8. The Dust Bowl 1930s desertification in Great Plains 1930s desertification in Great Plains Farming increased rapidly and ranchers overgrazed land Farming increased rapidly and ranchers overgrazed land Erosion by removing grasses Erosion by removing grasses Drought occurred Drought occurred Strong winds created dust storms Strong winds created dust storms

9. U.S. Policies Soil Conservation Act Soil Conservation Act – Established soil conservation service, later renamed Natural Resources Conservation Service – Worked with farmers to create conservation plans before they receive subsidies Conservation Reserve Program Conservation Reserve Program – Pays farmers to stop cultivating cropland that erodes easily and place it in areas with conservation plans

10. Soil Pollution Irrigation – Providing water besides precipitation to crops – Can cause waterlogged crops and salinization (buildup of salts) Salinization – In hot areas, water and dissolved salts get pulled up from lower horizons through evaporation and capillary action – Water completely evaporates and salt left behind

11. Preventing Salinization Avoid planting crops where large amounts of water are needed Avoid planting crops where large amounts of water are needed Irrigate with water with low salt content Irrigate with water with low salt content Don’t over-irrigate Don’t over-irrigate Supply water close to roots (drip irrigation) Supply water close to roots (drip irrigation) Plant salt-tolerant plants Plant salt-tolerant plants

12. pesticides chemicals used to kill insects, weeds, and other crop pests