Soil Conservation (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Strip cultivation

Water

Planting crops in alternating strips or bands, leaving natural vegetation between the strips

Reduces soil erosion by trapping water, slowing down runoff and increasing infiltration while still allowing for crop production in the cultivated strips

Increases biodiversity

Terracing

Water

Creating levelled steps on sloped lands

Reduces soil erosion by slowing down water movement and increasing infiltration

Minimises soil loss on steep slopes

Contour ploughing

Water

Ploughing parallel to the contour lines of the land instead of up and down slopes

Minimises soil erosion by reducing length and speed of water flow downhill

Prevents gully formation and increases infiltration

Bunding

Water

Building embankments or barriers along fields

Controls water flow

Prevents soil erosion and waterlogging

Drainage systems

Water

Installing systems to manage excess water

Prevents waterlogging

Reduces erosion and nutrient loss

Cover crops

Water

Planting crops that cover the soil

Reduces water erosion

Improves soil structure

Windbreaks

Wind

Planting trees or hedges to block and reduce wind speed

Provides physical barrier to wind

Reduces wind erosion

Protects topsoil

Protects crops from wind damage

Cover crops

Wind

Planting crops to cover soil

Reduces wind erosion

Adds organic matter to soil

Lime

Adding lime to soil

Improves soil pH, reducing soil acidity

Enhances nutrient availability

Promotes beneficial microbial activity

Compost

Using decomposed organic matter

Enriches soil with nutrients

Improves soil structure

Increases water-holding capacity

Promotes beneficial microbial activity

Green manure

Growing plants (e.g. cover crops) specifically to be ploughed into the soil

Increases organic matter

Enhances soil fertility

Avoid marginal land

Not farming on land that is vulnerable to erosion or poor in nutrients

Protects fragile ecosystems

Prevents soil degradation

Maintains soil health

Avoid overgrazing / overcropping

Managing livestock and crop levels to prevent depletion

Maintains soil cover

Prevents soil erosion and compaction

Mixed cropping

Growing different types of crops together

Improves soil health

Reduces pest and disease issues

Crop rotation

Rotating different crops on the same land

Maintains soil nutrients

Reduces disease and pest buildup

Reduced tillage

Minimising ploughing and soil disturbance

Preserves soil structure

Maintains moisture levels

Agroforestry

Integrating trees and shrubs into farming systems

Enhances soil structure

Provides shade and wind protection

Reduced use of heavy machinery

Minimising the use of heavy equipment on fields

Prevents soil compaction

Maintains soil structure