TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

938 Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City

College of Engineering and Architecture

Department of Civil Engineering

CE410
HYDROLOGY
ASSIGNMENT #01 – MIDTERM
DIFFERENT SOIL CONSERVATION STRATEGIES
Title

SATUR, NICO B.
Student

AUGUST 7, 2019
Date Submitted

ENGR. AMIR Y. PASCUAL

Instructor
 DIFFERENT SOIL CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

1) AFFORESTATION - The best way to conserve soil is to increase area under forests.

Indiscriminate felling of trees should be stopped and efforts should be made to plant

trees in new areas. A minimum area of forest land for the whole country that is

considered healthy for soil and water conservation is between 20 to 25 per cent but it

was raised to 33 per cent in the second five year plan; the proportion being 20 per cent

for the plains and 60 per cent for hilly and mountainous regions.

2) CHECKING OVER GRAZING - Overgrazing of forests and grass lands by animals,

especially by goats and sheep, should be properly checked. Separate grazing grounds

should be earmarked and fodder crops should be grown in larger quantities. Animals

freely move about in the fields for grazing and spoil the soil by their hoofs which leads

to soil erosion. This should be avoided.

3) CONSTRUCTING DAMS - Much of the soil erosion by river floods can be avoided by

constructing dams across the rivers. This checks the speed of water and saves soil from

erosion.

4) CHANGING AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES - We can save lot of our valuable soil by

bringing about certain changes in our agricultural practices.

5) PRACTICE CONTOUR FARMING - Contour farming replicates the effects of terrace

farming, but on a smaller scale. Rather than planting crops in straight vertical rows,

crops are planted following the contour of the landscape. Crops planted up and down

hillsides create pathways for water to flow. Crops planted parallel to the land slow the

flow of water that prevents soil erosion.

6) PLANT A RAIN GARDEN - A rain garden is a shallow depression in your yard which

will collect precipitation washing over impervious surfaces. It prevents soil erosion and

gives you an opportunity to grow wetland plants.

7) USE A RAIN BARREL - You can place a rain barrel underneath a downspout to collect

the water that runs off of your roof. Your roof, after all, is another impervious surface.

You can use the water you collect for your lawn and garden. In this way, you

can conserve water and soil.

8) PLANT WIND BREAKS - Windbreaks prevent soil erosion by slowing the force of the

wind over open ground. You can plant trees or shrubs in your windbreak. In addition to

preventing erosion, these plantings will prevent snow from drifting onto your driveway

or into the road. They can also protect your home from wind damage.

9) RESTORE WET LANDS - Wetlands are one of the most effective ways to prevent soil

erosion. Wetlands act as natural sponges, absorbing rainwater and preventing it from

carrying the soil away. They also provide a habitat for birds and other wildlife and help

prevent water pollution.

10) PLANT BUFFER STRIPS ALONG STREAM BANKS - Buffer strips help hold stream

banks intact during times of flooding. They also prevent runoff from entering waterways.

Buffer strips can include a mixture of grasses, shrubs, and trees.

11) RE-ESTABLISH FOREST COVER - The re-establishment of forest cover provides an

extensive tree-root network that offers a long-term solution to soil erosion associated

with deforestation. It can function both as a windbreak and a means to anchor soils in

place.