Question

explain about Some methods of soil conservation

Answer 1

Answer:

Mulching: The bare ground between plants is covered  with a layer of organic matter like straw. It helps to  retain soil moisture.

Contour barriers: Stones, grass, soil are used to build  barriers along contours. Trenches are made in front of  the barriers to collect water.

Rock dam: Rocks are piled up to slow down the flow of  water. This prevents gullies and further soil loss

Terrace farming: Broad flat steps or terraces are  made on the steep slopes so that flat surfaces are  available to grow crops. They reduce surface runoff and soil erosion

Intercropping: Different crops are grown in alternate  rows and are sown at different times to protect the  soil from rain wash.

Contour ploughing: Ploughing parallel to the  contours of a hill slope to form a natural barrier  for water to flow down the slope

Shelter belts: In the coastal and dry regions, rows  of trees are planted to check the wind movement to  protect soil cover

Answer 2

$\green{ \bold{SOIL \: CONSERVATION}}$

Soil conservation is the protection of soil against erosion, and the conservation of soil fertility.

Soil conservation can be done in the following ways.

• Afforestation or planting of trees can prevent soil erosion. Trees serve as windbreakers and as soil cover. They slow down the erosion of soil. Farmers should plant trees between their fields and on uncultivated land.

• Terrace farming is done by building steps or flat rows called terraces on hillsides to prevent the topsoil from being washed away.

• Preventing overgrazing by animals can help prevent erosion.

• Building check dams to control floods also helps in conserving soil.

• The fertility of the soil can be preserved by rotation of crops and by adding manure to it.

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$\huge \red{ \bold{LET'S \: EXPLORE \: MORE}}$

$\green{ \bold{WHAT \: IS \: SOIL?}}$

Soil is the thin, upper layer of material on the surface of the Earth in which plants take root and grow.

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$\green{ \bold{SOIL \: PROFILE}}$

The soil is divided into many layers. A layer of soil with specific properties is called a soil horizon. The arrangement of the soil horizons in the soil is known as the soil profile.

Let us learn about the main soil horizons.

• O-horizon: is the top layer of soil. It mainly contains partially decomposed plants and animals.

• Topsoil (A-horizon): is the uppermost layer of soil, nearest to the surface. It is a dark layer where the roots of plants hgrow and other organisms live. It is formed by weathering, it contains humus, Humus provides the organic nutrients necessary for plants to grow.

• Subsoil (B-horizon): is the layer below the topsoil. It is a lighter coloured layer of gravel, stones and clay particles, Roots of large trees may reach this level. It has very little humus and so is not suitable for plant growth.

• Parent material (C-horizon): consists mostly of weathered rock fragments and is infertile. It forms the framework of the soil. The A and B layers are formed from this soil layer.

• Bedrock (R-horizon): is the layer below the C-horizon and is made of solid unweathered rock. It is non-porous and rainwater collects above it to form the water table.

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