The Techniques of Agricultural Practices to Prevent Soil Erosion

Leaving plant residue in the field while tilling can prevent runoff erosion.

Water erosion caused by rain, flood, irrigation and livestock displaces soil, removing its nutrients and moving it into rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. New soil can offset the ecosystem of these bodies of water, damaging the wildlife and cleanliness of the water. Damage from wind erosion includes loss of fertile soil along with freshly planted seeds. The good news is that erosion due to agricultural processes is on the decline: according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, between 1982 and 1997 erosion decreased by about 40 percent due to conservation programs and educational awareness.

Things You'll Need

• Tractor
• Plow
• Field cultivator
• Fencing
• Shovel
• Sod
• Hedges
• Trough

Instructions

1. Search your property for common erosion sites such as steep hills, valley bottoms and areas of light, sandy topsoil. These are some areas you will focus on erosion-proofing.

2. Use the conservation tillage method, which means tilling the soil and leaving at least 30 percent of the crop residue on the soil. Crop residue prevents rain and irrigation runoff which can cause erosion.

3. Practice contour farming if you are planting on a slope. Contour farming involves planting crops around the slope rather than in rows moving down the slope. This technique makes it more difficult for water runoff to form easy stream pathways down your field.

4. Dig drainage ditches around your fields to prevent large amounts of runoff from flowing in and washing soil away. Watch ditches to make sure they're in working order and are removing excess water. If possible, remove soil sediment from drainage ditches and place the soil back where it came from after heavy rains.

5. Irrigate your fields with only as much water as needed to prevent runoff. This is especially important if you're farming on a slope.

6. Plant grass or hedges over soil you want to prevent from eroding. Plant roots can hold soil together so it doesn't get washed away. This protects soil from wind erosion as well.

7. Feed livestock in dry areas of your land; livestock can uproot grass in wet areas, increasing the potential for soil erosion. Move livestock around the fields regularly so they don't eat all of the grass in one area.

8. Fence off streams and riverbeds to keep livestock out of these areas. If you can, water livestock with troughs. If livestock must drink from a river or stream, fence off the main flow. Livestock trampling through and grazing along riverbeds can loosen the soil and cause erosion.

References

• Department for Environment Food and Rural Areas: Controlling Soil Erosion
• Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management/Division of Agriculture: Erosion and Sediment Control
• Capital Regional District: How to Prevent Erosion
• Iowa State University: Preventing Soil Erosion after Spring Rains
• United States Environmental Protection Agency: Soil Preparation