Preventing Soil Erosion

Preventing Soil Erosion Haley Farley 2023 Name: _______________________________________________________ Period: ______ Date: ____________ Essential Question: How do farmers prevent soil erosion? Erosion is the moving of sediments like topsoil, rocks, pebbles by water and wind. There are many harmful effects of soil erosion - it affects the quality of the soil and reduces the productivity of soil to a great extent. The soil loses its fertility which is difficult to be regained. The critical harmful effects of soil erosion are that the farmlands become unproductive and in some cases completely barren, and the agricultural output of such areas is none or very less. This results to starvation in many countries. Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion 1. Planting Vegetation as ground cover: Farmers plant trees and grass to cover and bind the soil. Plants prevent wind and water erosion by covering the soil and binding the soil with their roots. The best choice of plants to prevent soil erosion are herbs, wild flowers and small trees. Some excellent plants that help to prevent soil erosion are creepers because instead of growing straight up, they spread on the ground by crawling around. 2. Applying Mulches: Mulching soil, greatly help in soil erosion control. Mulching is done by putting dead leaves and shredded wood on the soil. Mulching acts as a protective covering for the tree and plants against extreme weathers. Mulching allows water to reach the soil slowly, and thus reduce the impact of rainfall or heavy watering. Mulches help to prevent the soil from turning acidic and suppresses weeds from growing. Over time, mulches made from organic materials break down and increase soil's structure and fertility. 3. Matting the soil: Matting is the process of covering the soil with biodegradable materials that include mulch, straw, coconut fiber and wood chips. These are held together with biodegradable netting made from coco coir. It is like covering the soil with a biodegradable carpet. Biodegradable spikes are used to hold the matting material in place. Biodegradable means it can decompose or decay and turn to soil fertilizer. Plastic in nonbiodegradable that is why it is not good for the environment. 4. Contour farming and terracing: The practice of tilling sloped land along lines of consistent elevation in order to conserve rainwater and to reduce soil losses from surface erosion. Contour farming act as reservoirs to catch and retain rainwater, thus permitting increased infiltration and more uniform distribution of the water. 5. Creation of windbreakers by planting evergreen trees around gardens or farmland, to prevent the wind blowing away the soil. Windbreakers helps in protecting crops from damage caused by strong & severe wind and improve plant health, quality and yield. Crop protected from wind are able to retain significantly more moisture. Clarifying Questions: 1. What is erosion? Erosion is the process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural processes such as wind or water flow _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2. What are the critical harmful effects of soil erosion? The critical harmful effects of soil erosion include loss of fertile topsoil, reduced soil productivity, increased sedimentation in water _________________________________________________________________________________________________ bodies leading to water pollution, decreased water quality, loss of biodiversity, and increased vulnerability to floods and landslides _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 3. How can soil lose its fertility due to erosion? Think! Soil can lose its fertility due to erosion when the nutrient-rich topsoil is removed, leaving behind infertile subsoil. Additionally, erosion can disrupt soil structure and decrease water retention capacity, further reducing fertility. 4. List the FIVE different ways to prevent soil erosion. Planting cover crops, Implementing conservation tillage practices, Establishing contour farming and terracing, _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Installing windbreakers or shelterbelts, Mulching the soil surface _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Why do farmers plant trees and grasses on their farms? Farmers plant trees and grasses on their farms to provide ground cover and stabilize the soil, reducing erosion caused by wind and _________________________________________________________________________________________________ water _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 6. What are the best plants that help prevent soil erosion? The best plants that help prevent soil erosion are those with deep root systems that anchor the soil and provide ground cover. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Examples include grasses like ryegrass and fescue, legumes like clover, and shrubs like forsythia and juniper. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. How can mulching prevent soil erosion? Mulching can prevent soil erosion by protecting the soil surface from the impact of raindrops, reducing runoff and soil loss. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mulch also helps retain soil moisture, moderates soil temperature, and suppresses weed growth. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8. How is mulching done? Mulching is done by spreading a layer of organic or inorganic material, such as straw, wood chips, or plastic, _________________________________________________________________________________________________ over the soil surface to provide protective cover. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9. Aside from preventing soil erosion, what are the other benefits of soil mulching? Aside from preventing soil erosion, other benefits of soil mulching include improved soil moisture retention, reduced weed growth, _________________________________________________________________________________________________ enhanced soil fertility as organic mulches decompose, and protection of soil organisms and beneficial microorganisms. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10. How is soil matting done? Soil matting is done by laying down a mat or blanket made of natural or synthetic materials over the soil surface to prevent erosion. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ The matting helps stabilize the soil, reduce runoff, and promote vegetation establishment. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 11. What does it mean by biodegradable? Biodegradable refers to materials that can be broken down naturally by microorganisms, typically within a relatively short period, without causing harm to the environment. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 12. Why are plastics not good for the environment? Plastics are not biodegradable and can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, contributing to pollution, habitat destruction. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 13. What is contour farming and terracing? Contour farming involves planting crops across the slope of the land following the contour lines, while terracing involves constructing _________________________________________________________________________________________________ level platforms on sloping terrain. These practices help reduce soil erosion by slowing down water flow and promoting infiltration, thereby minimizing runoff and soil loss. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Why do farmers do contour farming and terracing? Farmers do contour farming and terracing to reduce soil erosion, improve water retention, and increase agricultural productivity on sloping land. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ 15. How can windbreakers prevent soil erosion and help plants grow healthy? Think! Windbreakers, such as rows of trees or shrubs planted along the edges of fields, can prevent soil erosion by reducing wind speed, deflecting strong winds, and trapping _________________________________________________________________________________________________ airborne soil particles. Additionally, windbreakers provide habitat for beneficial wildlife, create microclimates that protect crops from extreme weather. _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Three Ways to Prevent Coastal Erosion. 1. Groins are man-made structures designed to trap sand as it is moved down the beach by the longshore drift. Longshore drift is a process of transportation. It involves eroded material being moved along a coastline. 2. Jetty is a man-made wall that is placed along the sides of an inlet. The reason that jetties are installed are to prevent the inlet from shifting positions and to keep it open permanently. 3. Breakwaters consist of large piles of rocks laid parallel to the shore. Breakwaters are generally used to calm waters for harbors and artificial marinas. 16. What are the three ways that help prevent coastal erosion? Construction of seawalls or revetments, Beach nourishment or replenishment, ____________________________________________________ Planting vegetation such as mangroves or dune grasses 17. Which is used to prevent longshore drift erosion? Breakwaters or groynes are used to prevent longshore drift erosion. ____________________________________________________ 18. Which is used to maintain the depths of the inlets and prevent harbor openings from closing or becoming too shallow? Dredging is used to maintain the depths of inlets and prevent harbor openings from closing or becoming too shallow. ____________________________________________________ 19. Which is used to calm water before reaching the coastlines, and marinas? Breakwaters or artificial reefs are used to calm water before reaching coastlines and marinas. ____________________________________________________ 20. Why do we need to protect the coastlines? Think! ____________________________________________________ We need to protect coastlines to preserve habitats for marine life, prevent loss of valuable land, maintain tourism and recreational opportunities, and safeguard coastal communities from the damaging effects of erosion and flooding.