What are the methods of reducing soil erosion?

Question 1

How do long-term crops help reduce soil erosion?

Answer 1

• plants that don’t require frequent replanting and soil disturbance reduces erosion rates
• e.g. permanent grassland

Question 2

How does zero-tillage cultivation help reduce soil erosion?

Answer 2

• cultivation that minimises soil disturbance reduces the risk of soil erosion
• direct drilling of seeds into the ground causes less disturbance than ploughing and sowing

Question 3

How does contour ploughing help reduce soil erosion?

Answer 3

• at 90^ to the slope reduces erosion as water flow is stopped by ploughed furrows and loses its kinetic energy ( no longer carry soil particles )
• soil particles are deposited in the furrow
• furrows can overflow if rainfall is too heavy

Question 4

How does tied ridging help reduce soil erosion?

Answer 4

• a flat field is divided with a criss-cross of intersecting ridges
• these retain water when it rains
• this increases infiltration and reduces runoff

Question 5

How does terracing help reduce soil erosion?

Answer 5

• narrow fields are created with soil held in place by retaining walls built along the contours
• water flows quickly over the walls, but slows down as it flows across the fields
• this water may infiltrate into the soil

Question 6

How do rows of stones help reduce soil erosion?

Answer 6

• if gradient is gentle, rows of stones laid along contours can slow runoff
• this can reduce erosion rate
• any disturbed soil is deposited behind the stone rows

Question 7

How do windbreaks help reduce soil erosion?

Answer 7

• growing crops reduces the velocity of wind and wind erosion
• field will be exposed if plants are removed when crop is harvested
• protection is maintained if there are hedgerows or rows of trees around the field

Question 8

How does multicropping held reduce soil erosion?

Answer 8

• reduces exposure to wind erosion if they are harvested and re-sown at different times ( there is always a crop in the field protecting the soil )
• works most easily where farming uses human labour rather than machinery

Question 9

How does increasing soil organic matter help reduce soil erosion?

Answer 9

• organic matter on surface such as mulch protects the soil from wind and impact of rain drops
• as organic matter decomposes, it produces the colloidal material humus
• this helps the soil particles to adhere to each other

Question 10

How does livestock management help reduce soil erosion?

Answer 10

• stocking density can be controlled to reduce soil damage
• e.g. trampling damage
• livestock movement can be controlled
• e.g. reducing access to riverbanks ( where trampling is more likely to cause erosion )
• livestock can be removed at high-risk times
• e.g. following heavy rain