‣ Importance of Soil Conservation

Overview ‣ Soil Erosion and Mechanisms

Involved
‣ General and Specific Types of
Soil Erosion
‣ Factors that Affect the Degree of
Soil Erosion
‣ How Vegetation Control Erosion
‣ How is Soil Loss by Erosion
Estimated
‣ Soil Conservation Practices
01- Importance of Soil
Conservation
 Soil
Conservation - - Soil conservation is a set of
farming techniques and practices
to avoid degradation, erosion and
depletion.

- - Soil conservation methods target

long-term use with a thought of
the future. By taking proper and
timely actions, farmers boost the
performance of their fields for the
years to come.
 Importance of
Soil Conservation
- The importance of soil
conservation also relates to water
supply, and earth layers function
as natural filters to improve
water quality. In its turn, water is
necessary to dissolve nutrients
for plants. Wise usage of land
resources ensures its availability
for the next generations, and thus
affordable prices for food in the
future.
02- Soil Erosion and the
Mechanisms Involved
Soil Erosion
- Soil erosion is the process of
removal or detachment of soil
particles from the parent body and
transportation of such particles by
wind and/or water.

- Soil erosion is caused by several

erosive agents like water, air, snow,
plants, animal and humans.
Therefore depending on the agents
of erosion, soil erosion is classified
mainly as water erosion & wind
erosion.
In the process of soil erosion three
distinct actions are involved
• Detachment of particles,
• Movement and
• Deposition of detached particles.
 WATER EROSION

The characteristic soil losses due to water erosion are as follows:

1. Sheet Erosion- This is first step of erosion in which top thin layer of soil is
removed from land along with runoff water .

Sheet erosion from heavy rain

Major Causes of Sheet Erosion:

* Annual flood has been on top causes of soil erosion every year. The areas that experience heavy
rainfall and fall under flood-prone areas are more susceptible to sheet erosion.
* The thickness of the raindrops and wind force also plays a major role in sheet erosion. The pressure
applied on the ground due to the falling raindrops, causes the thin layers of soil to wash away easily
with the rain.
2. Rill Erosion– This is second step where particles are detached by
surface flow into series of rills which are small, parallel channels.
Rill erosion is a type of erosion that results in small, yet well
defined streams. It happens when water from rainfall does not
soak into the soil, but runs across it instead. The rills or small
channels (often only 30cm deep) are caused when water running
across the surface of the ground gathers in a natural depression
in the soil, and erosion is concentrated as the water flows
through the depression.
3. Gully Erosion- Gullies are formed due to increased channelization of
runoff. It is transformation of unchecked rills into gullies and leads
cultivation difficult if unchecked.

Gully erosion is the removal of soil along drainage lines by surface water
runoff. Unless steps are taken to stabilize the disturbance, gullies will
continue to move by headward erosion or by slumping of the side walls.
4. Ravines- These are deep and wide gullies formed due to prolonged
process of gully erosion.

Ravine erosion is one of the severe forms of land

degradation in semi arid India, where the loss of top soil
has major physical and economic implications. The most
affected area in India is Chambal valley, in particular, has been
severely affected by ravine erosion for last few decades.
●
Factors of Water Erosion:
Rainfall- The amount, intensity, duration and distribution of rainfall influence runoff
and thus influence erosion. Higher the intensity or amount or duration of rainfall or
all together causes severe erosion.

● Vegetation- The vegetative cover of soil is very important that affects the erosion.
that’s why soil erosion is less under vegetative protection. Type of vegetation, canopy
and heights influence the interception of rainfall and thus extent of erosion. The
impact of raindrops is absorbed by vegetation and as a result there is no breakdown
of soil aggregates. Besides plant roots also bind the soil particles.

● Soil– Soil characteristics such as topography and physical, chemical, biological

properties of soil greatly influence the soil erodibility. Soil topography is most
important character that influences runoff and transportation of sediments. Besides
degree and length of slope also determine the amount of runoff and extent of
erosion. Soil structure and soil texture affects detachability and transportation of soil
particles. Type of soil like sandy soil, sandy loam detach easily but due to heavy
weight transport slowly while with higher clay content of heavy soils, detachment is
difficult , but transport is easily due to light weight.
WIND ERSION

● The movement of soil particles due to wind blow can

occur anywhere and anytime where soil is not compact.
This is serious problem on flat land in dry or sandy areas
where land is bare and devoid of vegetation.
WIND ERSION
Mechanism of Wind Erosion– The movement of soil particles due to wind
blow takes place in three stages:
 Saltation- The fine sand (0.1-0.5 mm in diameter) jumped into the
air due to effect of wind and fall through the air. It is first step of
movement of particles and about 50-70% of soil weight is lost by
wind erosion carried in saltation.

 Surface Creep- Sand grains larger than 0.5-3 mm in diameter are

moved along the ground surface is called surface creep.

 Suspension- The fine particles smaller than 0.1 mm in diameter are

floated through the air. They floated in the air, stay in suspension
and carry very long distance. About 3-4% of soil weight is lost by
wind erosion carried in suspension.
Factors of Wind Erosion:

● Climate– Wind velocity is the main agent of wind erosion.

Temperature and rainfall are other agents.

● Soil- Soil structure, soil texture, cohesiveness, bulk density,

moisture content, organic matter etc. influences wind
erosion. In addition soil roughness has considerable effect
on wind erosivity of soil.

● Vegetation- Type of vegetation, their height and density affects wind

velocity. Bare land devoid of vegetation is susceptible to wind erosion.
Wind erosion badly affects the standing crops.
 FAST FACT
Solar Erosion

The sun itself is actually an

instrument of erosion! As rocks heat
up, they expand. Expanding rocks
can sometimes crack and crumble
away.
03- General and Specific Types
of Soil Erosion
Soil Erosion
• The geological process in which earthen
materials are worn away and transported
by natural forces such as wind or water.

• Soil erosion is the process by which soil is

removed from the Earth's surface by
exogenetic processes such as wind or water
flow and then transported and deposited in
other locations.

• A similar process, weathering, breaks down

or dissolves the rock, but does not involve
movement. Erosion is the opposite of
deposition, the geological process in which
earthen materials are deposited, or built up,
on a landform.
Weathering, Erosion, and Deposition

 Weathering - the BREAKING

DOWN of rocks.

 Erosion - the MOVEMENT of

sediment from broken rocks.

 Deposition - the DROPPING of

sediment in a NEW place.
 Physical Erosion
 The process of rocks changing their physical properties without
changing their basic chemical composition.

 Physical erosion often causes rocks to get smaller, thinner, or

smoother.
 Types of Physical Erosion
 Landslides and Mass  Bio-erosion  Ice and Liquid
wasting water
A down-slope movement of soil The process in which a living Their movement forces rocks
and rock under the direct organism wears away at rock or to crash together or crack
influence of gravity. another hard substance. apart.
 Water Erosion
 In water erosion, the water acts as an agent to dislodge and transport
the eroded soil particle from one location to another.

 Rainfall produces four types of soil erosion: splash erosion, sheet

erosion, rill erosion, and gully erosion.
Types of Water Erosion
 Splash Erosion
The impact of a falling
raindrop, which can scatter tiny
soil particles as far as .6 meters
(2 feet).
Rill Erosion
Erosion that takes place as
runoff develops into discrete
streams (rills).
 Sheet Erosion
Erosion caused by runoff.
Sheet erosion is the uniform
removal of soil in thin layers by
the forces of raindrops and
overland flow.
Gully Erosion
The stage in which soil
particles are transported
through large channels.
 Wind Erosion
 A natural process that moves soil from one location to another by wind power.
It can cause significant economic and environmental damage.

 Caused by a light wind that rolls soil particles along the surface through to a
strong wind that lifts a large volume of soil particles into the air to create dust
storms.
 Types of Wind Erosion
Suspension Saltation Creep
Fine particles move parallel to the Movement of particles by a series
surface and upward into the The rolling and sliding of larger
of short bounces along the surface soil particles along the ground
atmosphere by strong winds. of the ground, and dislodging
Suspended particles can travel surface.
additional particles with each
hundreds of miles. impact.
 CREEP
vs
SALTATION
vs
SUSPENSION
 Ice Erosion
Glacial erosion includes the loosening of rock, sediment, or soil by glacial
processes, and the entrainment and subsequent transportation of this material by
ice or meltwater.

Glaciers are massive bodies of slowly moving ice. Glaciers form on land, and they
are made up of fallen snow that gets compressed into ice over many centuries.
They move slowly downward from the pull of gravity.
 Types of Ice Erosion
Abrasion
When rock frozen to the base and
the back of the glacier scrapes the
bed rock.
Freeze Thaw Plucking
Melt water from a glacier freezes
around lumps of cracked and broken
Melt water or rain gets into cracks
rock.
in the bed rock, usually the back
wall.
When the ice moves downhill, rock is
plucked from the back wall.
 FAST FACT
Eroding Animals

Burrowing animals, such as beetles

and worms, contribute to erosion by
displacing soil.
04- Factors that Affect the
Degree of Soil Erosion
Factors Affecting Soil Erosion
Factors such as rainfall, runoff, wind soil, slope, plant cover and presence or
absence of conservation measures are responsible for soil erosion. But mainly three
following factors affect the erosion.

1. Energy:
It include The potential ability of rainfall, runoff and wind to course erosion and
other factor which affects the power of erosive agents such as reduction in length
of runoff or wind blow through construction of terrace, bunds etc. in case of water
erosion and wind breaks or shelter belts incase of wind erosion.
Factors Affecting Soil Erosion
2. Resistance:
It is referred to that factors which affect soil erodibility and soil erosion. Mechanical and
chemical properties of soil are responsible for infiltration rate of soil which reduces runoff and
decreases soil erodibility. Cultivation decreases the erodibility of clay but increases erodibility
of sandy soils.

[Erodibility—susceptibility of soil to get erosion]

[Erosivity—Ability of rain to cause erosion]

3. Protection:
It refers to plant covers which intercept the raindrop falling on ground surface reducing their
impact on soil. Plant cover also reduces the runoff and wind velocity, there by soil erosion.
Different plant cover offers different protection so suitable cover can be developed to control
erosion.
Climate
• This includes rainfall characteristics, atmospheric temperature and wind velocity

• Raindrop impacts break soil aggregates at the soil surface, and small soil
particles are released

• High soil moisture content and low intake capacity of the soil increases runoff
and erosion

• High wind speeds affect raindrop velocity by increasing it therefore increasing

the impact when it hits the ground. Wind also puts soil particles into motion
increasing abrasion and erosion.
Vegetation Cover
Vegetation: Trees and small plants shields the soil from the impact of the falling
rain while grass maintains the soil's capacity to absorb water by slowing down the
velocity of the flowing runoff.

Deep roots holds soil particles in place, stabilize the bank materials and ties soil
layers together. It also removes subsurface water between rainfalls through the
process of evapo-transpiration.

Aside from shielding the soil from raindrop impact, trees also act as a windbreaker
that serves to stop or slow wind velocity below minimum threshold for soil
movement preventing serious erosion from happening.
Soil Characteristics
Soil characteristics influencing erosion by rainfall and runoff are those properties
which affect the infiltration capacity of soil and those which affect the resistance of
the soil to detachment and transport by falling or flowing water. The following four
characteristics are important in determining soil erodibility:

Soil Texture (particle size and gradation): soils containing high percentages of fine
sands and silt are normally the most erodible. As the clay and organic matter content
of these soils increase, the erodibility decreases. Clay acts as a binder for soil
particles, thus reducing erodibility.

Soil Permeability: Permeability is the soil’s ability to transmit air and water. Soils
that are least subject to erosion from rainfall and surface runoff are those with high
permeability.
Soil Characteristics
Organic Matter Content: Organic material is the “glue” that binds the soil particles
together and plays an important part in preventing soil erosion. Organic matter is the
main source of energy for soil organisms, both plant and animal. It also influences the
infiltration capacity of the soil. As shown in Fig. 4.2, lesser soil organic matter causes
deterioration of soil structure and soil permeability.

Soil Structure: The way soil particles are held together, affects the soil's friability, the
ease with which soil particles are detached by raindrops and runoff, and the resistance
of the soil to the growth of roots and shoots.
 Topography

• Slope length influences volume and speed of the runoff, longer length results
in increased capacity of the runoff to disaggregate and transport sediments

• For soil erosion intiation, a critical slope length is needed

The lower the critical inclination the larger the critical slope length is needed
The "plan" is a term used to describe the distribution of water across the slope, that is,
whether water flow is evenly distributed across the slope (linear); water flow is
concentrated in one area (concave); or water flow is moved away from the slope
(convex).
05- How Vegetation Control
Erosion
06- How Is Soil Loss by
Erosion Estimated
 What is
Vegetaion  Vegetation is defined
as growing plants, or a life
without physical, mental or
social activity. All the plants
in the rain forest are an
example of vegetation. A
person who is brain dead is an
example of someone who
lives in a state of vegetation.
 What is
Vegetaion  Importance of vegetation
provides source of energy to
all living beings through food.
Converts carbon dioxide into
oxygen necessary for survival.
Provides habitat or source to
built habitat for all animals.
Prevents soil erosion, brings
rains, recharges vatertable to
be used as drinking water all
through the year.
 How Vegetation Helps

- The probability of soil erosion increases if the soil has little or no vegetative cover
(plants, grasses, crop residue or trees). Plants and residue cover aid by protecting
the soil from the effects of raindrops and splash, slowing down the movement of
runoff and allowing any excess surface water to infiltrate the soil. Plants have
extensive root systems assist to “grab onto” soil and keep it bound together,
reducing displacement. These roots also help to stabilise embankments and slopes,
limiting the risk of landslides. You can see this when you pulled plants such as
weeds, vegetables or even grass out of the ground as the soil clumps to the roots.
Vegetation that completely covers the soil and intercepts all falling raindrops on or
close to the surface are the most effective in controlling soil erosion.
 How Vegetation Helps
- Mulch adds further assists in protection from erosion, especially in newly seeded
areas. Mulch protects the ground from rain and wind while seeds germinate. It
reduces the loss of soil moisture during extended dry periods leaving the soil
susceptible to wind erosion. In areas exposed to severe conditions, mulching is
necessary to establish vegetation and stop erosion. In these, hydromulching is the
preferred method.

- A lack of wind breakers, such as trees, shrubs, crop residue, allows the wind to
further displace soil particles for longer distances, increasing abrasion and erosion.
It is important to make note that the type of grass or plant species will alter
effectiveness.
Understanding Erosion
Control
Erosion is a natural process where soil and its nutrients get displaced. There are
three major causes of erosion, which are:
• Strong winds
• Heavy water flow
• Human activity
Strong winds and massive water flows, like heavy rains or landslides, cause soil
erosion by removing the topsoil. Intensive agriculture, deforestation, road building,
climate change, and urban development are substantial human activities that cause
or contribute to erosion.
Plants for Erosion Control

Plants often bind soil

together with their root
systems, which means
they’re able to serve as a
protective layer that can
help prevent soil erosion in
several ways.
The following pants are:
1. GROUNDCOVERS
. “Grondcovers” is an
umbrella term for plants
that are low-lying,
spreading, and leafy. They
spread across the ground
very quickly, and are also
commonly known as
“creeping” plants.
The following pants are:
2. GRASS
. Grass is found almost everywhere.
It’s used on lawns, golf courses,
athletic fields, gardens, and even
for erosion control. Although it
might not seem obvious, grass is
one of the best choices for erosion
control because its fibrous roots
spread deep and quickly, holding
soil very well.
 The importance of plants and grass with soil
erosion
Grass is important because it helps slow down the flow of water allowing it to soak
into the ground rather than ranoff. The roots from the washed away. Grass also
deplants help hold the soil together to prevent it from beicreases the impact of
raindrops hitting the soil. This is important because the top layer of the soil is
removed first which happens to be a nutrient rich layer.
Some methods that can help prevent soil erosion
• Encourage rich soil with organic matter that works as a glue for the soil
• Block water paths with stone or wooden retaining walls.
• Plan and encourage proper drainage.
• Follow lawn and garden care guidelines to promote healthy plants.
 Mulching
Mulching trees and shrubs is a good method to reduce landscapes maintenance and
keep plants healthy. Mulch helps conserve moisture--- 10 to 25 percent reduction in
soil moisture loss from evaporation. Mulches help keep the soil well aerated by
reducing soil compaction that results when raindrops hit the soil.
 Mulching
Mulches prevent loss of water from the soil by evaporation
*Mulches reduce the growth of weeds, when the mulch material itself is weed-free
and applied deeply enough to prevent weed germination or to smother existing weeds.
*Mulches keep the soil cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, thus
maintaining a more even soil temperature.
*Mulches prevent soil splashing, which not only stops erosion but keeps soil-borne
diseases from splashing up onto the plants.
*Mulches Prevent crusting of the soil surface, thus improving the absorption and
movement of water into the soil.
 Mulching
*Mulches help prevent soil compaction.
*mulched plant have more roots than plants that are not mulched, because mulched
plants will produce additional roots in the mulch that surrounds them.
07- Soil Conservation Practices
What is Soil
Conservation  It is important and needed
today to protect the loss of this
Practices natural resource and improve
agricultural production

 These are farming operations

and management strategies
conducted with the goal to
control soil erosion by
preventing or limiting soil
particle detachment and
transport in water or air.
 Factors of Soil Conservation

Crop Reduced Mulching

rotation tillage

Cover Cross-slope Buffer

cropping farming strips
Crop Rotation
Practice of planting different
crops sequentially on the
same plot of land to improve
soil health, omptimize
nutrients in the soil, and
combat pest and weed
pressure
Mulching

Practice of covering the

soil/ground to make more
favorable conditions for plant
growth, development and
efficient crop production.
Reduced Tillage
Practice of minimising soil
disturbance and allowing crop
residue or stubble to remain
on the ground instead of
being thrown away or
incorporated into the soil
Cover Cropping

A practice that helps to

prevent soil erosion, regulate
moisture, attract pollinators,
assist in weed and pest
management.
Cross-slope Farming

A conservation practice
that involves establishing a
row pattern that is not up
and down hill and as
nearly on the contour as
possible.
Buffer Strips
An area of land maintained in
permanent vegetation that
helps to control air quality,
soil quality, and water quality,
along with other
environmental problems,
dealing primarily on land that
is used in agriculture
How does vegetation helps in
preventing erosion
Plants also help absorb some of
the water in the soil. These effects
make it harder for water to wash
the soil away. Plants also help
reduce erosion in other ways,
such as breaking the wind that
might blow dry topsoil away.
The End