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Digging up the Dirt on Soil Conservation

February 05, 2010

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Read about how critical soil conservation is and how modern science is helping farmers to protect their soil.

By Produce More, Conserve More staff

While the environmental conservation movement did not truly begin until the late 1800s, farmers have been concerned about soil conservation – limiting the erosion of soil and preventing the depletion of its vital nutrients – for much longer than that. Soil conservation is critical because without enough healthy soil, farmers are unable to produce the food that the world needs. Thankfully, modern science and centuries-old practices are helping farmers protect the soil and improve agricultural productivity over the long-term.

Preventing Erosion

Erosion is a process, driven by gravity and usually involving wind or water, where solids such as soil are moved elsewhere. However, erosion is not an unavoidable phenomenon. Soil erosion prevention measures include conservation tillage; strategic placement of runoff barriers; mulching of surface soils; utilizing wind breaks; and planting of cover crops.

In addition, contour plowing – where ridges are formed in the soil based on the land’s contour lines – and terracing – the creation of benches into a hillside – are used by farmers to slow water flow and prevent topsoil erosion. As noted, contour plowing of fields and contour furrows on grassland encourage improved water retention and prevent runoff. Terracing remains common on smaller farms and in developing countries, with some of the most famous terraces located in Longji, China. In response to the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, the U.S. government launched the Soil Conservation Service to teach farmers about these erosion prevention methods.

While many of these measures have been practiced for hundreds of years, more sophisticated technology has made way for the adoption of new and improved practices in modern times.

Protecting Soil’s Natural Chemistry

Protecting and enhancing soil’s natural chemistry is the second core element of soil conservation. Key practices include:

· Managing the salinity of the soil by using certain chemicals and planting saline-tolerant vegetation;

· Controlling adverse soil pH levels, which can be the result of natural conditions or contaminants like acid rain;

· Promoting the health of organisms that live naturally in soil and contribute to its chemical balance, such as earthworms;

· Preventing and responding to contamination of the soil;

· Mineralizing the soil by adding crushed minerals or supplements; and

· The rotating of crops and resting of the land, which allows the soil to naturally regain its nutrients over time.

A Success Story

Many Latin American countries are facing environmental crises due to the overuse of slash-and-burn agriculture – where forests were destroyed to make room for fields or livestock. The effects of this practice were devastating for soil, often resulting in significant erosion, nutrient depletion and even desertification. But one country in the region, Argentina, has successfully engineered a dramatic and sustainable transformation of its agricultural industry, thanks in large part to soil conservation efforts.

Beginning in the 1970s, Argentine farmers, researchers and private companies worked together to foster a new technological cycle that promoted rapid growth of the production of certain crops; conservation tillage practices served as one catalyst for this change. Through these efforts, the agricultural area under zero tillage in Argentina increased from 300,000 to 22 million hectares between 1991 and 2008. The result? An estimated 200,000 new agricultural jobs, additional food supplies that helped control global food prices, and the reversal of decades of soil degradation. According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, the total economic impact of this effort has been estimated at $34 billion.

A Bright Future

As society’s technological capabilities continue to improve, and as we gain a deeper understanding of how to best protect our environment through practices like soil conservation, the future looks bright for one of our most precious resources – our soil – that is so critical for producing crops to meet our planet’s growing demand for food.

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