Matthew VossAge: 16

Fremont Go-Getters

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Soil Conservation

Table of Contents

Page 1 – Title PagePage 2 – Table of ContentsPage 3 – Exhibit QuestionsPage 4 – Introduction to Soil ConservationPage 5 – How Can Soil Be So Important?Page 5 – Why Is Soil Conservation Important?Page 5-6 – What Factors Negatively Affect Soil?Page 6-9 – What Practices Can Farmers Use For Soil Conservation?Page 10 – What Benefits Does Soil Conservation Have For Farmers?Page 10 – What Is The Incentive For Soil Conservation?Page 11 – ConclusionPage 12 – Works Cited

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Exhibit Questions

What did you plan to learn or do? In this project, I planned to learn all about soil conservation. I think that soil conservation is a topic that has a lot of different subtopics, so there are a lot of different directions to go with a project like this.

What steps did you take to learn or do this? I simply researched soil conservation by looking online. There are several good, reputable websites online that have pretty much everything I could have asked for. In addition, I used my father as a good resource, who has been a large promoter of soil conservation, and will be recognized at a ceremony at the State Fair for his soil conservation practices.

What were the most important things you learned? I did learn that you may not necessarily be able to get all of the information that you might have been hoping for. I was hoping that I could find some very specific numbers on the economic impacts of soil conservation. Sadly, any studies done on this subject either were over my head, or too old and not what I was looking for.

Element of Design: Space – I think that it is very important to try to limit negative space in any type of project, not necessarily for the aesthetic appeal, but to try to fit as much information in as possible.

Principle of Design: Unity – In this project, I kept the format the same throughout, while occasionally putting in some pictures. This provides a good mix of unity while still occasionally changing the format up a bit.

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Introduction to Soil Conservation

Many people, especially those unfamiliar with farming, tend to fail to realize that a lot more goes into farming than just planting crops then waiting until they can be harvested. Instead, farmers have many different things to consider in how they plant crops, the different types of pesticides and nutrients used throughout the summer, and different strategies to protect the soil that is needed for the crops to produce the highest yields. Possibly the most important of these considerations is how to protect the soil. Soil conservation is considered the combination of practices to protect soil from degradation. Several different concerns are to be considered when looking to protect soil. These are the 4 major concerns listed by the National Resources Conservation Service: 1) Erosion by wind and water, 2) Maintaining and enhancing soil quality, 3) Water quality from nutrient and pesticides’ runoff and leaching, and 4) Managing the quantity of water available for irrigation. All of these factors are major concerns and considerations for farmers in protecting the soil of their farmland.

This year has especially been an interesting year for farming and soil conservation. Certain parts of Iowa have seen very high amounts of rain so far this summer, which is a major factor in soil conservation. Rainfall can erode soil, which is something farmers must consider in using different practices to work on soil conservation. This is an area that I find great interest in, because it is one of the most important things for farmers to think about, and some farmers definitely do better in than others. There are definitely a lot of things that I can learn in doing this project, and hopefully I can teach some things to the project’s readers.

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How Can Soil Be So Important?

If you ask any first grader what a plant needs to grow, he or she will probably say sunlight and water. Soil, however, is one of the most important things for any plant to be able to grow. Soil is made up of dirt, of course, but also many different organisms, dead and alive, that leave important nutrients for other organisms to use. Organic matter provides soil structure and water holding capacity, as well as protecting the soil from erosion. There are certain practices that farmers can use to keep the soil as healthy as possible, which in turn helps produce healthy crops and higher yields. Because productive soil is only present in certain parts of the world, keeping productive soil healthy is very important.

Why Is Soil Conservation Important?

Soil conservation is important for more than just keeping healthy crops and producing large yields. The main function of keeping soil healthy is to help keep nutrient levels high for the plants that grow in it, but that leads to a trickle-down effect with many other results. One thing that soil conservation helps with is mitigating greenhouse gases. According to the Soil Science Society of America, about thirty-five percent of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere are due to changes in land use. Greenhouse gases are stored in the same organic matter that makes the soil healthy for plants. Lack of sound soil management can allow the greenhouse gases in the organic matter to be released into the air. Meanwhile, if the greenhouse gases are released, that means that the organic matter was probably swept away due to erosion. Because of the prevention of greenhouse gases released, good soil management also leads to regulation of the Earth’s temperature.

Another very important factor of soil conservation is the prevention of pollution in soil, air, and water. Certain practices of farmers can help prevent pollutants from getting into our soil, water, and air. This prevention of pollution affects humans directly, by not harming our food and water. Prevention of pollution also, however, enhances the performance of the entire ecosystem, because soil is considered the foundation of ecosystem function. Yet another reason that soil conservation is important is for the Earth’s future. Many think that with humanity’s continuous growing population, new technologies and techniques will be needed to use land more efficiently. A big part of being able to use land efficiently is soil conservation and management. In unhealthy soil, more plants (and space) are/is needed to get similar yields to crops in healthier soil.

What Factors Negatively Affect Soil?

As I listed earlier, the Natural Resources Conservation Service considers the four major concerns facing cropland include: 1) Erosion by wind and water, 2) Maintaining and enhancing soil quality, 3) Water quality from nutrient and pesticides runoff and leaching, 4) Managing the quantity of water available for irrigation. Probably the most important factor affecting cropland is the erosion of soil. Erosion affects soil by breaking down soil particles, transporting them, and redistributing them. Soil erosion impacts soil quality, by taking away parts of the organic matter

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that makes soil healthy, thus hurting crop productivity. Erosion also can have off-site impacts by soil running into streams and rivers, which can really hurt water quality. There is also a large economic impact associated with soil erosion as well. About $90 million a year is lost for farmers around the country, due to lower crop yields, and the loss of nutrients in the soil. The loss of nutrients means that farmers must artificially put nutrients, which does have a certain cost. Some studies have also shown that erosion costs citizens over $9 million a year, as well.

The other factors that affect cropland are more about the process of soil conservation to maintain good soil quality. Later on, I’ll expand further on how farmers can keep good soil quality. The third factor is the quality of water from nutrient and pesticides runoff and leaching. Erosion is a major part of this, as well as using pesticides and nutrients to help crops. When it rains, if the soil is not able to hold the water, which is also a part of good soil quality, the water will run over the soil and into whatever water body is nearby. The water takes pesticides and artificial nutrients along with it, which can pollute the water, affecting other organisms that use that body of water for anything, either for water or as a habitat. In irrigation, farmers can use too much water, or use irrigation in the wrong places. A key in irrigation is to know when and where the extra water is needed. Certain areas of fields could have better water holding structures than others, and too much water could lead to a lot of runoff and erosion.

What Practices Can Farmers Use For Soil Conservation?

There are many different practices that farmers use to prevent erosion and keep soil quality high. In different situations, different farmers choose to use different practices, but many of the most successful farmers do something to try to prevent soil erosion. (Following all of the descriptions, there are pictures to show examples of some of the practices.)

Crop Rotation – Some farmers choose to consistently plant the same crop on the same field year by year. Certain crops especially (root crops) can be especially destructive to soil structure by continually digging into the ground during seedbed preparation and harvest. Crop rotation is a conservation practice that is most effective when used with other practices like nutrient management and conservation tillage.

Nutrient Management – Nutrient management is using crop nutrients efficiently, improving productivity while protecting the environment. When crops fail to use nutrients, those nutrients have the potential to leach into groundwater or end up in rivers and streams by runoff. This can hurt water quality and hurt water habitats, especially if the nutrients are nitrogen or phosphorous. Keys for farmers in nutrient management include soil tests to determine nutrient needs, as well as developing a plan for nutrient application. Crop rotation works with nutrient management, as certain crops replenish certain nutrients, while others exhaust the supply of nutrients.

Cover Crops – Cover crops are crops planted to cover the soil when the soil would otherwise be completely bare. There are several potential benefits to cover crops. They reduce wind and water

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erosion when the soil would be bare. They improve soil quality by adding more organic material to the soil, which also allows the soil to hold more water, which reduces runoff. Cover Crops also protect groundwater quality by preventing nitrogen and other nutrients from leaching into groundwater. These times include before the crop emerges in spring, as well as after fall harvest. Cover crops are best suited to areas that have enough water for the cover crop as well as the main crop. There are several different uses of cover crops, as well as different uses for these names, including winter cover crop, a catch crop, or a smother crop.

Mulching – Mulching is simply applying organic material on exposed soil. Hay or straw are most effective for mulch. Mulch is usually applied after late season crops are harvested. Mulch can also be used in the form of hay, straw, or grass in home gardens, and can be very effective.

Conservation Tillage – There are different types of tillage that leaves previous crop residue on fields after planting the next crop. These different types of tillage fall under the area of conservation tillage. Leaving crop residue helps to reduce soil erosion by protecting the soil until the next crop produces a protective canopy over the soil. As the organic matter decomposes, it adds organic matter to the soil, as well as allowing greater soil structure and water storage. Conservation tillage also allows for fewer trips by the tractor, which reduces emissions and saves money.

No-Till – In no-till practices, farmers plant crops directly into residue that has not been tilled at all.Strip-Till – Strip-tilling is the practice of tilling in narrow strips, while leaving the rest of the field untilledRidge-Till – This practice involves creating ridges about 4-6 inches high. In between these ridges are furrows. The previous crop’s residue is cleared off the ridges into these furrows. To do this practice well, the ridges must be well maintained and modified or specialized equipment must be used.Mulch-Till – This is any other tillage system where at least one third of the surface of the soil covered with the previous crop’s residue

Contour Farming – In contour farming, farmers grow crops across or perpendicular to the slope, rather than up and down. Planting up and down creates easy pathways for water runoff to erode the soil. Planting across the slope creates a way to prevent water runoff. Terraces are very similar to contour farming. Terraces are built across the slope of a hill, with each terrace catching runoff water. Terraces can be designed to channel the runoff water into grass waterways or direct it underground into drainage tile.

Buffer Strips – Buffer strips are strips of grasses to reduce runoff and protect soil. Buffer strips can be used in contour farming to reduce soil erosion, or they can be used to separate a field from a river or stream. In this use, buffer strips establish strong root systems that prevent soil and contaminants from entering the water. These can be used for practical benefits as well, by straightening irregular boundaries for fields, as well as forming a natural wildlife habitat for smaller creatures.

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Grass Waterways – Farmers can plant grass waterways in natural depressions of fields, where water naturally flows. Waterways prevent soil erosion, while draining runoff water from the surrounding cropland. Grass waterways are many times used with terraces, and are best used in a field where erosion is controlled, which prevents sediments from gathering and filling the waterway. For this reason, grass waterways work well with many different conservation practices.

Wind Erosion Control – Several different practices can be used to prevent wind erosion, while helping other areas of soil conservation as well. One practice is planting a windbreak, which is a vegetation barrier made of trees and brush to slow wind velocity. Windbreaks are planted on the western boundaries of fields, and increase the aesthetics of the landscape, which could lead to higher land values. They also provide another wildlife habitat for birds and other animals. Another practice to reduce wind erosion is cross-wind stripcropping, where farmers plant strips of different crops perpendicular to the wind. Crops susceptible to wind erosion are alternated with crops that can protect from wind erosion.

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No-Till Farming Strip-Till Farming

Ridge-Till Farming Contour Farming

Any and all of these practices dramatically can help decrease soil erosion. Most of these are used by farmers with others. Many of these practices have to do with the increase of organic material in soil, which has benefits in several ways. Organic material increases nutrients, improves soil structure, and improves water holding capability. The water holding capability also

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Grass Waterway

Cross-Wind Stripcropping Windbreaks

Buffer Strip

leads to decreased runoff, which in turn decreases erosion, which leads to sustaining organic matter in soil.

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What Benefits Does Soil Conservation Have For Farmers?

All of these different practices may sound good, but are the benefits really enough to outweigh the drawbacks? Most farmers and scientists believe that they do. Most of these practices do little in actually increasing costs for farmers, and some actually lessen costs even before factoring in their effects on crops. Farmers may have to apply fewer nutrients, not have to irrigate as much, and can live knowing that they did something good for the environment. Soil conservation practices can greatly increase yields of a farmer’s crops, while being good for the environment. As concerns over the environment continue to grow, techniques that help the environment will continue to spread to more farmers, because those techniques might be needed.

What Is The Incentive For Soil Conservation?

In the state of Iowa, an addition to Code 161A was recently added, which would allow money to be used as an incentive for farmers to use practices for water and soil conservation. Different practices will earn different amounts of incentives. For instance, establishing a waterway or terraces will be an incentive of up to sixty percent of the cost to establish the practice. Meanwhile, establishing a permanent buffer zone between a field and a stream or river will have an incentive of up to one hundred percent of the establishment costs. In addition, Code 161A gives a commission the power to make a specific practice mandatory for all farmers. In this case, up to fifty percent of the costs will be the incentive for the establishment of any practice.

In my opinion, it is a good thing that Iowa is giving incentives to farmers for establishing practices that help with soil and water. This shows that those at the Capitol are trying to improve the environment, and know that soil conservation is important for the environment. Soil conservation, or lack thereof, affects not just the farmers who use the soil, but everyone in the state.

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Conclusion

Soil conservation may be one of the most important things that farmers can do both for themselves and for the environment. Farmers can benefit greatly from practicing good soil conservation. There are many different farmers who think for some reason that it isn’t necessary to have waterways or do anything else that may prevent erosion and keep soil healthy. Soil is probably the most important resource in agriculture, even more so than water. Soil is the basis of ecosystems, and everything that lives. Healthy soil means so much more than just higher crop yields for farmers. Healthy soil has trickle-down effects to affect every living thing in this world.

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Works Cited

"Conservation Practices." Mda.state.mn.us. Minnesota Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. <http://www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/conservation/practices.aspx>.

"Cropland." Nrcs.usda.gov. Natural Resources Conservation Service-United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. <http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/landuse/crops/>.

"Erosion." Nrcs.usda.gov. Natural Resources Conservation Service-United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. <http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/landuse/crops/erosion/>.

"Soil Conservation Practices." Perennia.ca. Nova Scotioa Environmental Farm Plan, n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. <http://www.perennia.ca/Fact%20Sheets/Other/Soils/Soil_conservation.pdf>.

"What Is Soil Conservation?" Johnstonnc.com. North Carolina Soil & Water, n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. <http://coolice.legis.iowa.gov/Cool-ICE/default.asp?category=billinfo&service=IowaCode&ga=83&input=161A#161A.73>.

"Why Soil Is Important." Sepa.org.uk. Scottish Environment Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 22 July 2014. <http://www.sepa.org.uk/land/soil/why_soil_is_important.aspx>.

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