Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
3 Soil
degradation and
Conservation
Learning Objectives
1 Outline the processes and consequences of soil
degradation
2 Outline soil conservation measures.
World
soil
conditions
Soils are becoming degraded in many regions.
Figure 8.1a
Figure 8.1b
Set Induction
Soil counts - Preserve it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLZVfz7ej78
Task
Figure 8.2
Activity
caused
by
humans
Causes of Degradation
USLE: Universal Soil Loss Equation is use to predict the amount of erosion that
takes place in an area on the basis of certain factors which increase
susceptibility to erosion.
A=RKLSCP
1. A: the predicted soil loss
2. R: rainfall erosivity index depends on rainfall totals, intensity, seasonal distribution
3. K: soil erodibility depends on infilteration capacity and structural stability
4. L: slope length influence the movement and speed of the water down slope
5. S: slope gradient influence the movement and speed of the water down slope
6. C: cover and management includes type of crop and cultivation practice
7. P: erosion control practice includes soil conservation measures
Solutions
Sustainable Agriculture
Increase
Decrease
High-yield polyculture
Soil erosion
Organic fertilizers
Soil salinization
Aquifer depletion
Integrated pest
management
Overgrazing
Irrigation efficiency
Perennial crops
Overfishing
Loss of
biodiversity
Crop rotation
Loss of prime
cropland
Food waste
Soil conservation
Population growth
Poverty
Sheet erosion
Sheet erosion refers to the
uniform movement of a thin layer
of soil across an expanse of land
devoid of vegetative cover.
Raindrops detach soil particles, which
go into solution as runoff occurs and
are transported downstream to a
point of deposition.
Tilled agricultural fields and
Types of Erosions
Rill erosion
Gully erosion
Figure 8.14
Learning Objectives
1. Explain the relationship between soil ecosystem
succession and soil fertility.
2. Discuss the influences of human activities on soil
fertility and soil erosion.
3. Outline soil conservation measures
4. Evaluate soil management strategies in a named
commercial farming system
5. Evaluate soil management strategies in a named
subsistence farming system
Task
1. Create a Soil food web
2. Write a paragraph on the relationship between soil
food web, plants, organic matter, birds and mammals
3. Explain the relationship between soil ecosystem
succession and soil fertility.
News link
'Slow, insidious' soil erosion threatens human health
and welfare as well as the environment, Cornell
study asserts
http://news.cornell.edu/stories/2006/03/slow-insidi
ous-soil-erosion-threatens-human-health-and-welfare
Brazil says Amazon deforestation rose 28% in a year
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-24950487
Trees 'boost African crop yields and food security'
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-15305271
Our Good Earth
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/soil/mann-text
/1
Source of info
http://www.mrgscience.com/ess-topic-53-soildegradation-and-conservation.html