Soil conservation
Topic: Soils of India: Types, Degradation and Conservation · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 1 "The Story of Indian Farming"; Class 9, Ch 2 "Shaping of the Earth's Surface"
Meaning
Soil conservation means caring for soil so that it is not eroded or degraded and stays fertile. Soil forms very slowly, so lost topsoil cannot be replaced in a human lifetime. Methods differ by terrain:
- Hills: terracing, contour ploughing and trenches.
- Drylands: contour bunding, check dams and mulching, which means covering soil with leaves or crop waste.
- Deserts: shelter belts and grazing control.
- Canal areas: drainage, canal lining and gypsum.
Crop rotation, organic manure and afforestation also keep soil healthy.
Example
At Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra, villagers dug continuous contour trenches along the hill slopes. The trenches slow rainwater, hold it and let it soak in, so less soil washes away and the land holds more water.
Don't confuse with
- Soil erosion: this is the problem, where soil is removed by water, wind or glaciers. Soil conservation is the set of ways to prevent it.
Related concepts
- Contour ploughing
- Terrace farming
- Strip cropping
- Shelter belt
- Contour bunding
- Continuous contour trench