In some systems they may be more effective than structural measures. 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. These measures can be applied together with physical or biological soil and water conservation measures. Though soil and water conservation swc technologies have been adopted in geshy subcatchment, their effects on soil quality were limitedly studied. Mechanical or engineering soilconservation measures. An examination of soil and water conservation practices in.
Soil conservation measures agriculture planning and. Design of soil and water conservation structures for. This manual is based on the training course for soil management and conservation, focused particularly on efficient tillage methods for soil conservation. Soil land management practices such as tillage and cropping practices, directly affect the overall soil erosion problem and solutions on a farm. This research investigated the effects of swc practices on soil. The selected farmers were trained about the implementation of the trials, including land preparation and. There are a number of the agronomic measures of soil and water conservation. 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 in traditional soil and water conservation. Soil conservation basically means a way of keeping everything in place, literally as well as in a more abstract sense of maintaining the functions of the soil in sustaining plant growth. The major agronomic practices are contour cultivation, tillage, mulching, dead furrow, line sowing, broad bed. Several types of biological soil and water conservation measures exist see figure.
Broadly categorizing there are two methods of soil conservation. Introduction to soil conservation measures infonet. Recommendations of soil and water conservation measures must always be weighed against the other urgent needs of the rural population. Agronomic conservation measures function by reducing the impact of raindrops through interception and thus reducing soil erosion and increasing infiltra tion rates, and also reducing surface runoff and soil erosion tidemann, 1996. Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on soil. Public law 7446 authorized a broad program of soil and water conservation, and it is still the basic authority for the agencys work with farmers and conservation. This study analyzes effects of soil and water conservation swc on soil quality and implications to climate change adaptation and mitigation in the upper blue nile river basin of ethiopia by using the anjeni watershed as a case study site. However enclosure and afforestation were also widely practiced. Soil conservation stores more of the runoff from excess rainfall in the reservoir of the soil for subsequent crop use. A split plot design with the soil and water conservation measures soil bund vs no bund in the main plot and agronomic practices improved vs traditional in subplots was employed on 20 and 30 farm plots at jeldu and diga, respectively. Soil erosion is a natural phenomenon by which soil is removed from rocks.
Current state of soil and water conservation in zeiy watershed according to hurni et al. Soil and water conservation measures consist of agronomical and mechanical methods. Consequently, the government has invested in soil and water conservation swc. A series of such bund divide the area into strips and act as barrier to the flow of water. The excess water flows down the slope under the influence of gravity. Adopted engineering and agronomic conservation measures of agricultural land use in lafia l. Integrated soil, water and agronomic management effects on. Thus, biological measures are an effective method of soil and water conservation, especially since they are low in cost. Soil erosion and nutrient depletion have been the major challenges in ethiopia that adversely affect soil fertility and crop productivity. The important mechanical soil conservation measures are as follows. Common agronomic conservation practices of the environmental quality. 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. These measures are effective in low rainfall areas particularly in fairly erosion resistant soils having gentle slope 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.
There are always strong links between measures for soil conservation and measures for water conservation, and the applies equally in semiarid areas. Erosion processes and soilconservation technology 4. With the aim of curbing land degradation problems, efforts are underway on the implementation of soil and water conservation swc practices. Nigeria jonathan kuje yohanna technology s simeon ode college of agriculture, p m b 33, lafia, nasarawa. Effects of soil and water conservation measures on soil. Effects of soil and water conservation techniques on soil productivity and bean grain yield in nyamasheke district, rwanda joas tugizimana bsc in agricultural engineering.
Contour bunding consists of building earthen embankment at intervals across the slope and along the contour line of the field. It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil productivity, environment quality, and agronomic. Soil and water resources are under immense pressure due to ever increasing population thereby ensuing growing demand for food, fiber and shelter. Stress is now given for management of valuable resource trinity of soil, water and biomass through conceptualization of various soil and water conservation programmes. 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. During intense rain storms, the soil cannot absorb all the rain as it falls. Both engineering and biological methods have been used to check the soil. This can contribute enormously to reduce the speed of surface water. Agronomic methods are supported with mechanical measures where land slope exceeds permissible limits and runoff gains erosive velocities. In the past ten years, intensive soil and water conservation works have been started, one of which was goromti watershed. 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. Biological measures for soil and water conservation work by their protective impact on the vegetation cover. A split plot design with the soil and water conservation measures soil bund vs no bund in the main plot and agronomic practices improved vs traditional in subplots was employed on 20 and 30 farm plots. There are always strong links between measures for soil conservation and measures for water conservation.
Conservation effects on soil quality and climate change. Biological soil and water conservation measures learning. Agronomic measures in traditional soil and water conservation practices in the sikkim himalaya, india american research journal of agriculture temperature of the watershed ranges from an average. 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. We developed a new framework for investigating the distribution of engineering measures. In conservation agriculture only minimal or no soil. Yunnan, maize, straw mulch, contour cultivation, soi1 erosion, trop yield 636. Agronomy is the application of science and technology from the fields of biology, chemistry, economics, ecology, soil science, water science, pest.
Impacts of soil and water conservation practices on. Design of soil and water conservation structures for smallholder agriculture training notes by prof. A further development of this method is to compute a daily soil water balance sheet on the best obtainable information. Contour farming, crop rotation, strip cropping, choice of crops, mulching, cover crop, reforestation, mixed crop, wind breaks are major biological soil conservation methods. At higher slopes contouring alone can actually be deleterious, since water. Manual on integrated soil management and conservation. For example, a technique called contour plowing may be used to prevent soil erosion and conserve rainfall. In addition, agronomists develop methods to preserve the soil and to decrease the effects of erosion by wind and water. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one of the most difficult and pressing problems before man. The increased biological activity of these soil microbes is an indicator of a healthy soil sciarappa et al, 2015.
Effect of soil and water conservation measures on land. Several types of biological soil and water conservation measures. Some possible agronomic measures are shown in the figure right. It discusses in detail soil conservation topics in relation to soil productivity, environment quality, and agronomic production. Mechanical or engineering soil conservation measures 4. Soil and water conservation swc are activities that maintain or enhance the productive capacity of land in areas affected by or prone to soil erosion. Pdf the role of agronomic practices on soil and water. If farming is done up and down the slope, the flow of water is accelerated, because each furrow serves as a rill.
Additionally, these can be used with structural and agronomic measures. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil is today one. The effects of fanya juu soil conservation structure on. Researchers in agronomy also seek ways to use the soil more effectively in solving other problems. Principles of soil conservation and management springerlink. Adopted engineering and agronomic conservation measures. 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.
Enhancedincludes soil testing, completed nutrient budget, use of. The following boxes explain the nature of agronomic measures. Agronomic soil and water conservation measures learning. 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. Principles of soil conservation and management humberto. The average annual soil erosion moduli of slope tillage, hedgerows with slope tillage, contour tillage, and straw mulching with conventional tillage decreased by 59.
However, little is known about the application of swc measures on soil erosion over large areas. The following boxes explain the nature of agronomic measures which are essential in interbunded or terraced areas. For maintaining the fertility status of soil and conserving the water, different types of measures or practices exist. Effects of soil and water conservation measures on runoff. Mechanical soil conservation techniques free download as powerpoint presentation. Soil conservation measures should aim at preventing or at least minimising the soils loss. 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. The project also invested in conservation measures like hillside stabilization and improved soil management. This 2year project in northwest ohio measured the impact that soil conservation practices have on selected soil. The adequacy of existing agronomic or vegetative conservation measures. Agronomic measures for soil and water conservation. International soil and water conservation research journal. Review design norms for soil and water conservation. Effects of soil conservation measures on soil erosion in.
Mechanical soil conservation techniques erosion surface. Combination measures of plant buffer strips and agronomic. It exploits resources while conserving them through moisture retention, fertility and soil conservation. Climate and the need to retain or discharge the runoff. Effectiveness of those measures to tackle land degradation in the north and. 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. Soil and water conservation swc measures are among the most important ways to control soil erosion in mountainous areas. Dec 19, 2016 conclusion biological method of soil conservation is various ways of maintaining a cover of vegetation during the periods of high erosion threat. Accelerated erosion due to misuse of resources of land, water and soil. Conservation farming is a broadbased approach of land and water management. Agronomic soil conservation measures and their effects on. Resource inventorization undertaken as part of soil survey activities throws light on the status of the natural resources, their limitations and ameliorative measures. Furthermore, it is the cheapest way of soil and water conservation. Agronomic soil conservation measures use of vegetation.
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 combination measures of plant buffer strips with amorpha fruticosa linn and 4 different agronomic measures were used to control soil and nutrient losses of sloping land in a small watershed in danjiangkou reservoir. Soil and water conservation technologies according to wocat are. Soil and water resources are being deteriorated due to different anthropogenic and natural factors. Efforts were also taken to reduce ghg emissions through watershed reforestation, perennial crop expansion, alternate wetting and drying, soil management, water. All swc measures are classified into physical, agronomic. All swc measures are classified into physical, agronomic and vegetative type and their implementation is agroecological and land use type. 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. Researchers in agronomy also seek ways to use the soil. Soil conservation encyclopedia of life support systems. Slash and burn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas.
The study was conducted to evaluate the effects swc measures on soil quality. As more tools become available to measure soil health factors, it is critical that we evaluate the efficacy of these tools. These measures are effective in low rainfall areas particularly in fairly erosion resistant soils having gentle slope conservation of soil and water resources is important for sustainability of agriculture and environment. Measures for soil and water conservation soil management. Top 8 agronomic measures for soil and water conservation. Today these techniques of soil and water conservation are being prac ticed in many countries with much benefit to great numbers of people. Agronomic measures in traditional soil and water conservation practices in the sikkim himalaya, india american research journal of agriculture temperature of the watershed ranges from an average maximum of 22 c during summer and 4 c during the winter season. In order to do this proper land utilisation coupled with agricultural practices should be adopted. Crops and vegetables which cover the ground surface well and have extensive root system reduce soil erosion. Erosion processes and soil conservation technology 4. Land degradation is a global negative environmental process that causes the decline in the productivity of land resources capacity to perform their functions. Physical soil and water conservation structures were given emphasis mainly fanya juu and soil bund with support of ngos and various government agencies.
First it describes methods that may be applied to cultivated landditches jor the interception of water, absorp tion and drainage terraces, basin listing, contourfurrowing, bench terraces, and special measures. Today these techniques of soil and water conservation. Several other agronomic practices help in soil and water conservation either by increasing infiltration or by providing more opportune time for infiltration or by improving soil physical properties or by decreasing soil detachment of soil. Certain conservation measures can reduce soil erosion. This balance sheet can show the soil water content between a defined field capacity water content upper boundary and permanent wilting point lower boundary according to the daily gains and losses of water.