Soil Conservation Erath Science grade-9

Soil ConservationErath Science grade-9 Prepared by Teacher: Ronak Ahmed International school 2012-2013

Could you imagine that Soil are also in danger just like plants & animals!! Because soil takes a thousands of years to form, it is not easy to replace. • If we do not take care of our soils, we can ruin them through overusing its nutrients. • Soil is a source that must be conserved. Soil Conservation: Is a method to maintain the fertility of the soil by protecting the soil from erosion and nutrient loss.

The importance of Soil • Soil provides minerals & other nutrients for plants. • If the soil losses these nutrients……. Plants will not be able to grow Unhealthy, because they are not getting enough nutrients. Healthy, because the soil is rich in nutrients. There is enough soil to support the plant’s roots, but the soil not providing them with the food they need. How animals get their energy? All animals get their energy either by eating the plants or by eating animals that have eaten plants. So, if plants can’t get their nutrients from the soil, animals can’t get their nutrients from plants.

Housing • Another importance of soil is : it also provide a place for animals to live. • The region where a plant or animal live is called …Habitat. All of them live in soil. • What will happen to these habitat if the soil is disappear? • It will also be disappear.

Water storage • Soil also extremely important to plants for water storage. • Without soil to hold water, plants would not get the moisture and the nutrients they need. • Soil also keeps water from running off, flowing elsewhere, and possibly causing flooding.

Soil Damage & Loss How soil can be damaged? From overuse by poor farming techniques or by overgrazing. Soil damage will lead to soil loss. And this is a serious problem around the world. What is the disadvantage of the overused soil? Overused soil can lose its nutrients and become infertile. Plants can’t grow in soil that is infertile. Without plants to hold & help cycle water. The area can become a desert. This process is known as desertification.

Some photos for desertification Without plants and moisture, the soil can be blown or washed

Soil Erosion What is the meaning of Erosion? How can soil be exposed to erosion? ((When soil is left unprotected)) Is the process by which rocks are abraded and the fragments are transported from one location to another. This canyon was formed from the erosion of soil Soil erosion will occur if trees are cut to clear land for farming.

What is the importance of roots & trees to soil? • Roots from plants & trees are like anchors to the soil. • Roots keep topsoil from being eroded. Therefore, plants and trees protect the soil. By taking care of the vegetation, you also take care of the soil.

Contour plowing and Terracing If farmers plowed rows so that they ran up & down hills, what might happen during a heavy rain? The row would act as river valleys & channel the rainwater down the hill, which would erode the soil. How to prevent that? To prevent erosion in this way, a farmer could plow across the slope of the hills. This is called ((contour plowing)). In contour plowing: the rows act as a series of dams instead of a series of rivers.

Contour plowing

Soil conservation techniques • Contour plowing: helps prevent erosion from heavy rains. • Terracing: prevents erosion from heavy rains on steep hills. • No-till farming: prevents erosion by providing cover that reduces water runoff. • Soybeans are a cover crop which restores nutrients to soil.

When the farmers can use terracing? If the hill are really steep. Terracing changes one steep field into a series of smaller, flatter fields. It the practice of leaving old stalks, provides cover from rain. The cover reduces water runoff & slows soil erosion. How No-till farming reduce erosion? In Iraq: Large area were cultivated with local plants such as palms & other plants adapted to local environment. This pioneering experience is protecting the soil from erosion and desertification.

Cover Crop and Crop Rotation If the same crop is grown for a sequence of seasons (the same kind yearly), what will happen to the soil? The soil will become poor of some nutrients. For example In areas where cotton is cultivated continuously as the case In Egypt & Syria, Expert suggest to plant soybeans & peanuts between seasons of planting cotton. As they help to restore important nutrients to the soil. These plants are called…. Cover crop.

Cover crops: Are crops that are planted between harvests to replace certain nutrients and prevent erosion. • How Cover crops could prevent erosion? By providing cover from wind and rain. Is there another way to slow down nutrient depletion? Yes, through crop rotation. because A farmer can plant different crops. A different crop will use up less nutrients or different nutrients from the soil. If the same crop is grown year after year in the same field, Certain nutrients become depleted. To slow this process

Soil Conservation movie

Soil Conservation Erath Science grade-9