SOIL CONSERVATION

This is a re-known practice in sustainable agriculture which involves the protection of soil from deterioration and other types of erosion so as to maintain soil fertility and productivity. It generally includes watershed management and water use. This practice couples preventing soil loss from erosion, reduced fertility caused by over usage, acidification, salinization and other forms of chemical soil contamination.It therefore calls for collective efforts of groups or individuals to improve the quality of the soil and minimize other negative events

Taking steps to preserve soil is an important part of following an environmentally responsible lifestyle.By reducing your environmental impact; consider counteracting Soil erosion which removes the topsoil that contains precious nutrients, organic matter, and micro-organisms essential to the viability of arable land.

While it may be easy to dismiss the importance of dirt, it's a fact that soil is vital to humankind. Over 99 percent of human foods come from the earth. Soil loss can have catastrophic consequences. A 2006 study in the Journal of the Environment (v.8 (1): pg. 119-137), Development and Sustainability, reported that the United States is losing soil 10 times faster than it can be replaced through natural processes

The loss of soil translates into serious economic losses. The 2006 study further estimated that soil erosion costs the United States over $37 billion each year in productivity losses. Unfortunately, most of the soil ends up in aquatic resources, bringing with it the pesticides and fertilizers used on agricultural lands.

The task in finding ways to conserve soil is generally addressed by both the Agriculture sector and household levels where several methods can be achieved through practices and measures you take on a farm and home levels. This is collectively termed as Agricultural Soil Conservationand community soil conservation respectively

Agriculture soil conservation involves practices like:

no till farming where crops are allowed to remain rather than being plowed under at the end of the season keeps the soils anchored in place rather than having bare ground exposed to wind and water for erosion.

Terracefarmingwhichuses the topography of the land to slow water flow through a series of terraces. This manipulation of the water flow prevents it from gathering speed and washing soil away from farmlands.

Contour farmingreplicates the effects of terrace farming, but on a smaller scale. Rather than planting crops in straight vertical rows, crops are planted following the contour of the landscape. Crops planted up and down hillsides create pathways for water to flow. Crops planted parallel to the land slow the flow of water that prevents soil erosion.

Whereas community soil conservation calls for:

Reduced impervious surfaceslike driveways and patios that allows precipitation to flow freely over them. Water flow gains momentum when moving over such surfaces and can then erode stream banks and lakeshores. A good compromise is to use paving stones rather than a concrete slab for your patio to allow the water to percolate down into the soil.

Planting a rain garden which is a shallow depression in your yard, that collects precipitation washing over impervious surfaces. It prevents soil erosion and gives you an opportunity to grow wetland plants.

Use of rain barrels that can be place underneath a downspout, to collect the water that runs off of your roof. The watercollected can be used for your lawn and garden. In this way, you can conserve water and soil.

Planting windbreaksthat prevent soil erosion by, slowing the force of the wind over open grounds. Planted trees or shrubs can act as your windbreak. In addition to preventing erosion, these plantings will also protect your home from wind damage.

Restoration of wetlands which are one of the most effective ways to prevent soil erosion. Wetlands act as natural sponges, absorbing rainwater and preventing it from carrying the soil away. They also provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife and help prevent water pollution.

Re-establishing forest cover which provides an extensive, tree-root network that offers a long-term solution to soil erosion. It can function both as a windbreak and a means to anchor soils in place.

Any of these ways to conserve soil will help protect this important natural resource and provide a solution for one of the most important environmental issues. Once you begin using soil conservation methods, you'll no longer look at soil as mere dirt.

Prepared by:

Ignatius Ahumuza

Executive director and co-founder Art Planet Academy Organization, founder at The Students’ Recycling Award, Co-Founder at The Uganda Micro Gardens Initiative