Soil Chronicles Part 3by Rosa Domingos | 22-12-2018 23:59 |
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.jpeg) In the last Soil Chronicles report, I highlighted the causes of soil damag/degradation and mentioned the status quo of soil degradation in some countries. In the third and final report, I will be keeping it short and sweet;where I will be mentioning the manners at which soil damage is being prevented. There is no simple solution to reducing land degradation because it is generally caused by a wide range of problems. In general, once a problem is defined and the impact is understood, the key issue becomes the way problem is managed. Fortunately there are a few strategies around to deal with land degradation, and we shall look at some of these now: Wind breaks Artificial and natural windbreaks, such as shrubs, reduce the erosion effects of wind. Plants also have the added benefit of ¡°anchoring¡± the soil, reducing the effects of erosion from water. Terracing Terracing of slopes reduces the effects of water runoff and helps conserve rain water. Strip farming Alternating strips of different types of crops helps reduce the effects of erosion. Crop rotation Crop rotation is the planting of different crops in the same field in a specific order; monoculture is the planting of the same crop. Crop rotation has been shown to increase the nutrients of the soil, as well as reduce pests and crop disease. Continued soil degradation directly impacts the environment and our ability to feed a growing global population. At the least, it undermines the ability to use land optimally, and at its worst, it can lead to desertification, rendering land unusable. Controlling and reducing soil degradation is a matter of raising awareness of the issue and encouraging innovative approaches in land management techniques. Source https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https:// www.qld.gov.au/environment/land/ managerment/soil/erosion/management &ved=2ahUKEwi_4MKR2bPfAhVKsaQKHe-7AcMQFjASegQICRAB&usg=AOvVaw0NG KER94RH7WY_FwseiRsI&cshid=15454908 12876
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