Erosion and runoff pose a major problem for agricultural areas because of their association with the health of the soil, crop productivity, and sustainability of the environment outside the farm. Management is quite indispensable for sustainability and to prevent land degradation. The following are some practical tips for managing erosion and runoff on agricultural lands.
Use Cover Crops
Cover cropping in the off-season is one of the most efficient ways of managing erosion and runoff of the soil. The process of cover cropping protects the soil during that particular season when no crop production is on the field from wind and water erosion. Cover crops, especially clover, rye, and vetch, because of their rooting systems, protect the soil and reduce runoff through improvement in the structure of the soil.
In addition to preventing erosion, cover crops build soil fertility through the addition of organic matter and its accompanying nutrients. They also serve to repress weeds and promote more effective water infiltration. A proper choice of cover crops suitable for your soil type and climate will benefit you most.
Conservation Tillage
Conservation tillage-the methods of tillage in which there is a reduced amount of times the soil is plowed and/or tilled. The physical structure of the soil itself is very important with respect to preventing erosion and managing runoff. This conservation tillage leaves crop residue on the surface of the soil calming the raindrops down, reducing its potential to splash or wash away soil particles.
This can be effected by one or all of the following methods: no-tillage, minimum tillage, or strip tillage. Each has its own set of advantages and the ability to cater to different farm practices and soil types. It largely decreases the potential for erosion, increasing the water content in the soil.
Build Terraces and Contour Plowing
Some of the effective practices concern erosion management on sloped lands, including terraces and contour plowing. For instance, terraces are those step-like structures that are designed on hillsides to check water flow and reduce runoff. The flat created areas with terraces enable water to spread out and infiltrate into the soil so as to avoid washing the soil away.
Contour plowing refers to the farming practice of going across a slope rather than up and down the slope. Capture of water is enhanced as its flow rate is cut down to a minimum, hence reducing erosion. For further control of erosion on steep slopes, both terraces and contour plowing can be combined.
Compact tractors have the ability to provide precision and efficiency in accomplishing erosion control practices on smaller or oddly shaped fields. They are also very handy in maintaining farm infrastructure and performing various activities which prevent soil erosion and manage runoff in a very effective manner.
Image by Kubota
Install Buffer Strips and Riparian Zones
Buffer strips are vegetated areas planted along field edges, especially those around water bodies. The strips help in filtering sediment excesses and nutrient excesses before reaching the water body. The strips have root systems that support soil and prevent its erosion.
Riparian zones are just like buffer strips but define those along the stream banks and waterways. Added advantages of these areas include providing habitat for wildlife and better quality water. Establishment and maintenance of buffer strips and riparian zones can be very effective in reducing erosion and runoff.
Install Erosion Control Structures
Erosion control structures for runoff and sediment capture can be utilized before larger bodies of water are reached. These include sediment ponds, check dams, and silt fences. Sediment ponds are designed to capture and store runoff, allowing sediment to settle out. Check dams are small barriers placed in channels to slow down the flow of water and reduce erosion. Silt fences are temporary barriers used to trap sediment on construction sites or disturbed areas.
These should be well-designed and maintained to suit the purpose. Erosion control structures require regular inspection and maintenance for them to perform accordingly.
Encourage Addition of Organic Matter
Addition of organic matter into the structure of the soil improves its structure, water retention capacity, and health in general. Organic matter, through compost or well-rotted manure, glues the soil particles, hence reducing erosion as the infiltration of water becomes more effective.
In addition, adding organic matter into your soil management practices also promotes nutrient availability for crops as well as beneficial soil organisms. Regular application of organic matter will sustain the health and resistance of the soil to erosion.
Conclusion
Erosion and runoff management in farmland maintain healthy soil, prevent water pollution, and make farming more viable. Some of the efficient methods of erosion reduction and runoff management include practices like the use of cover crops, conservation tillage, terraces, buffer strips, irrigation best management practices, and putting on organic matter. Such management practices promote a more productive and sustainable agricultural operation.
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