Soil Conservation

Question 1

Name and explain 8 methods of soil conservation.

Answer 1

1. Afforestation-
   stop reckless cutting down of trees and plant shelter belts
2. Terrace farming-
   hill slopes are cut into terraces on which crops are planted. This also slows down the speed at which water flows down
3. Contour ploughing-
   Involves ploughing along natural contours of hills rather than up or down the slopes check on flow of water.
4. Strip farming-
   Growing different crops in narrow strips along natural contours of land
5. Crop rotation-
   - cultivation of different crops on the same land each year to prevent exhaustion of one nutrient as different crops require different nutrients
6. Bundling of fields-
   This is done along rivers to reduce soil erosion during floods
7. Construction of dams-
   Preventing floods by controlling flow of water
8. Control on overgrazing-
   Control grazing of sheep and cattle as soil becomes more vulnerable to damage by wind and water. Fodder should also be grown as a crop