Post on 25-Dec-2015
Section: Plant & Soil Science Unit: Soil Conservation Lesson Title: Conservation Practices
Conservation tillageConservation tillage
30% Residue is desired
Lowest Cost per ton per acreof soil saved
Most popular conservationpractice
Grass waterwayGrass waterway
Used to funnel water away from fields
Spread over a large area to slow run-off
Especially helpful for reducinggullying
Contour tillageContour tillage
Tilling with contourslows run-off and breaks up wind drifting
Used on slopes of 3 to 12%
Contour StripsContour Strips
Used when erosion risk is too great for contourtilllage alone
Used on slopes of 6 to 12%
Wind stripsWind strips
Reduces legth of sweep of the wind across poor soil
Used perpendicular to prevailing winds
The surface is usuallyroughened to slow wind
Field StripsField Strips
Similar to contour strips
Strips are placed perpendicular to downhillslopes
Strips are usually equal widths apart
TerracesTerraces
Used to slow and hold water from running off of land
Used on lands with slopes of12 to 25%
Land DrainageLand Drainage
Used when soil won’t allow water to drain internally
Tile lines are laid out and used to help waterdrain internally
Land LevelingLand Leveling
Occurs on slopes of 1 to 3%
Level land improves water distribution
Occurs with a laser leveling system
Timely tillageTimely tillage
Tillage of soil is usually necessary
Timing is important, if soil is too wet, tillage will ruinsoil structure
Tilling when soil is too dry will make seedbed prep difficult
Organic matter Organic matter maintenancemaintenance
Ridge till, no till and minimum till are farming practices that leave residues on the surface and increase organic matter
Mow pastureMow pasture
Mowing is recommendedwhen grass and weeds are too tall to allow desirable grass species to grow
Establish coverEstablish cover
Planting cover grasses is important on land not suitable for cropping
Establishing cover is essential for pastures that have beenmistreated
Eradicate brush or weedsEradicate brush or weeds
Removing brush and weeds by physical or chemical meanson rangelands helps productive forages thrive
Proper grazing useProper grazing use
Managing grazing lands is important for the successful feeding of animals
Rotational grazing shown here is one intense management practice that is becoming more popular