SOIL AND WATER QUALITY AND CONSERVATION – Week 11

creation of stair step ridges that run across slopes – water ponds up and has more time to percolate – erosion control can be difficult in hard rains.

farmed rows of crops are planted (or alternated with water slowing crops strips) on the contour lines of hills to slow runoff.

– protecting soil from erosion during hard rains by growing dense grass in all water channels and low areas.

long ditches for water retention – especially used in dry regions

Keeping water and soil from running off into streams by catchment basins. Used in mine reclamation, golf courses, subdivisions, etc. Beavers were the original impounders.

creating drainageways that are on the higher points of a slope rather than in the main valleys so as to give the runoff more options instead of charging full steam into the main channels.

deep ripping soil to break up the plowpan that compaction has caused allows water to penetrate more deeply.

punching or coring holes in the soil with a large spined roller – often used on sports fields.

keeps soil from crusting and slows evaporation from soil.

planting through crop residues or spray killed cover crops.

used especially on flat lands where winds can dry soil faster – slows the effect of winds