Soil Erosion

Issues&

Management

By: Nathan Lenig

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Table of ContentsSoil Erosion

Click “WHY CARE” to start the

program, or start up where you left off by clicking any

of the others

-Why care?-Issues

-Management

-Quiz!

Who ever thought “dirt”

could be such a big deal?

WHY CARE?• Why is soil erosion such a big

deal today?–World food production requires good soil quality to maintain a growing human population–Soil and water quality–Soil Productivity

Soil Erosion

-Why Care?

-Issues

-Management

-Quiz!

ISSUES

SOIL EROSION:

Issues: Erosion Statistics

Current Erosion Statistics

• Soil loss at a rate of 5 tons/acre/year results in 1” of soil being lost every 33 years– (1” per generation)

• Tolerable loss (T)=4-5 tons/acre/year• 25% cropland eroding above T• 10% of land has erosion more than

2xT

On average, 1” of soil loss per generation (33 years)

Issues: Impact of Erosion

Impact of Erosion

• Reduction in soil depth–Decreases potential root growth–Decreases water holding capacity

• Removes top soil (organic matter)–Decrease in fertility–Lowers the nutrient holding capacity

Impact of Erosion Contd.

• Erosion exposes subsoil which will in effect, increase clay

• Stoniness of surface can increase

Exposed subsoil form soil erosion

Soybeans with erosion effects

This soybean field was planted on a soil with a deep topsoil layer around 30 inches

Soybeans Continued

These are the same soybeans planted on a soil with a top soil around 8 inches due to soil erosion effects

Practice ?

• Click on the multiple choice answer that best sums up the impact of erosion on soil?

a. Erosion impacts depth of soil

b. Erosion impacts the material grown in the soil

c. Erosion affects the amount of rain for that area

GREAT JOB!

The impact of erosion on soil most greatly affects the soil depth.

Sorry…

• Erosion could in fact effect the material grown on the soil, but this does not best sum up the impact of erosion on soil.

• Hint: A few slides ago we talked about the impact of erosion and mentioned the reduction in soil depth

Click here to go back and

try again

Sorry…

• Erosion will have no effect on the amount of rain for an area.

• Hint: A few slides ago we talked about the impact of erosion and mentioned the reduction in soil depth

Click here to go back and

try again

ISSUES: Mechanics of Erosion

2 Mechanics of Erosion

1.Detachment- a) Soil particles must separate themselves

before transportation can take place

2. Transportation-a. For erosion to take place the

transportation of the soil particles must occur

Detachment• Soil particles

must be separated in order for the particles to move

Transportation• Water

• Wind

Must have enough force to keep particles suspended for transportation

Water Transportation

Wind Transportation

Practice ?

Which main mechanic do you think this picture is?

a. Detachment

b. Transportation

AWESOME! YOU KNOW YOUR MATERIAL!

Try again…

• Hint: Remember back to the pictures where the soil particles are being blown by the wind? Wind is a form of TRANSPORTATION.

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ISSUES: Farming Contributions

Farming• When a farmer

tills the ground after harvest, erosion may take place much quicker.

ISSUES: Soil Texture and

Erosion

Textures of Soils• Silts: – Most easily eroded of all the soil textures– Easily detached from one another– Fine particles that are easily transported

• Sands:– Easily detached– Large particle size making transport difficult

• Clays:– Difficult to detach– Easily transported because of finer particle size

SILTS

SANDS

CLAYS

Practice ?

What texture of soil is the most easily eroded?

a. Clay

b. Sand

c. Silt

Sorry…

• Clay is easily transported but is difficult to detach the clay soil particles from one another

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try again

Sorry…

• Sand is opposite of clay. It is easily separated but is hard to transport because of its large particle size

Click here to go back and

try again

Congratulations!

• As discussed earlier, silt textured soils are easily detached and easily transported!

Soil Erosion

-Why Care?

-Issues

-Management

-Quiz!

SOIL EROSION:

MANAGEMENT

Management: Erosion in Agriculture

Tillage• Conservation tillage instead of

conventional–NO TILL–Minimum tillage

NO TILL

NO TILL Benefits• Planting NO TILL

diminishes erosion greatly.

• It causes the most natural way of soil formation

Watch this video!

Practice ?

• What is a great agriculture practice for limiting soil erosion?

a. Tilling

b. No till

Oops…

• Tilling is the opposite of soil erosion conservation.

• Try again

Click here to go back and

try again

Congratulations!

No till farming practices is a great way of limiting soil erosion.

Management: Principles of

Erosion Control

1st Principle• Keep soil covered

2nd principle• Start

erosion control at top of slope, not at bottom

3rd principle• Decrease runoff

velocity– WASCOB (water

and sediment control basin)

WASCOB

4th principle• Diversion– Divert runoff from eroding to erodible areas

Practice ?

• What does the Acronym WASCOB stand for?

a. Walrus And Sands Carve Beaches

b. Water And Sediment Control Basin

c. Water Always Stays Close By

Oops…

• Walrus’ have nothing to do with soil erosion in this activity.

• Hint: Try one of the Answers that incorporates water in its answer.

Click here to go back and

try again

Oops…

• This answer is incorrect.

• Hint: the first 3 words are, Water And Sediment

Click here to go back and

try again

GREAT JOB!

• WASCOB does stand for Water and Sediment Control Basin

Management:Conservation

of Soil

Conservation Practices

1.Contour2.Contour strip

cropping3.Terracing

Conservation examples

• Contour:– Plowing across

the slope

Conservation Examples

• Contour strip cropping– Multiple crops

planted against the slope of the land

Conservation examples

• Terracing– Gradual steps

Practice ?

• Choose which picture looks like terracing.

Good try…

• That picture is incorrect.

• Hint: Terracing is the kind of conservation practice that is done in “Gradual steps.”

Click here to go back and

try again

Awesome job!

• As discussed earlier, terracing is done in “gradual steps” giving it a stair step type pattern.

• GET READY FOR THE QUIZ!

Soil Erosion

-Why Care?

-Issues

-Management

-Quiz!

Quiz

Quiz ?

• Why is soil erosion a popular topic all across the world?

a. Disease

b. The world will eventually erode

c. World food production

That choice is incorrect

Click here to go back and

try again

Correct

Quiz ?

• What is the most erodible soil structure?

a. Sand

b. Silt

c. Clay

That choice is incorrect

Click here to go back and

try again

Correct

Quiz ?

• Identify this conservation practice.

a. Contour

b. Contour strip cropping

c. Terracing

That choice is incorrect

Click here to go back and

try again

Correct

Quiz ?

• Transportation is a “main mechanic” for soil erosion?

a. True

b. False

That choice is incorrect

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try again

Correct

Quiz ?

• Which 2 of these are the main mechanics of soil erosion

a. farming & ranching

b. detachment & transportation

c. plowing & tilling

That choice is incorrect

Click here to go back and

try again

Correct

You have finished!

• Now that you have completed the program feel free to roam and review any information.

Works Cited/References

• http://www.capitalpress.com/content/gp-soil-contest-w-art-revised

• http://www.berryinsurance.com/contact-us/our-blog/Are_you_on_the_same_page_when_it_comes_to_your_Life_Insurance_Massachusetts

• http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/practices/tillage/conventional/erosion.html

• http://www.bouldercolorado.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13690&Itemid=5055

Works Cited/References Cont.

• http://soilerosion.net/doc/water_erosion.html• http://ecomerge.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-

is-wind-erosion.html• http://www.wix.com/hunjay/uncharted3• http://projects.cbe.ab.ca/ict/2learn/

mmspeight/wishyouwerehere/classpages/logan/logan.htm

Works Cited/References Cont.• http://nogmoseedbank.wordpress.com/

2011/03/10/planning-for-spring-planting-season-part-5-conducting-a-soil-test/

• http://chiotsrun.com/2009/04/28/the-balance-of-nature-growing-soil/

• http://www.motherearthsfarm.com/MotherEarthsNotes/2010/07/28/lighten-up-clay-soil/clay-soil-impressions/

• http://www.ehow.com/how_7642285_add-leaves-garden-soil.html

Works Cited/References Cont.

• http://www.freewebs.com/randolphswcd/apps/photos/photo?photoid=19957684

• http://www.raised-garden-beds.com/Photo%20gallery-2.htm

• http://plantandsoil.unl.edu/croptechnology2005/pages/index.jsp?what=topicsD&informationModuleId=1088801071&topicOrder=11&max=16&min=0&

• http://www.uwec.edu/geography/ivogeler/w111/agr5.htm

Works Cited/References Cont.

• http://www.travelblog.org/Photos/759215• http://www.islandpeopleunited.com/island-

times/taste-the-caribbean/eating-green-corn-by-blue-waters-in-yellow-sunshine

• http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/nvswcd/newsletter/notill.htm

Works Cited/References Cont.

• Van Scoyc, George. Soil Erosion. Lily Hall, West Lafayette. Lecture.

• Van Scoyc, George. Soil Erosion. Geaorge Van Scoyc. PPT.

• Van Scoyc, George. Soybean Field. Digital image. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.