Tag: soil erosion and conservation

The most appropriate method to verify soil erosion on steep slopes is terrace cultivation.Terrace farming is a method of farming whereby “steps” known as terraces are built onto the slopes of hills and mountains. When it rains, instead of rain carrying away the soil nutrients and plants down the slope, they flow to the next terrace. Every step has an outlet which channels water to the next step.

Over irrigation is main cause of land degradation in Punjab due to waterlogging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh are the states facing issue of land degradation.

 Ploughing in a wrong way i.e. up and down the slope. It forms channels for the quick flow of water leading to soil erosion. 

In the states of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, over irrigation is responsible for land degradation due to waterlogging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil. 

 Ploughing in a wrong way i.e. up and down the slope form channels for the quick flow of water leading to soil erosion. 

• Arid soils range from red to brown in colour. 
  
• They are generally sandy in texture and saline in nature. In some areas the salt content is very high and common salt is obtained by evaporating the water. 
  
• Due to the dry climate, high temperature, evaporation is faster and the soil lacks humus and moisture. 
  
• After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable as has been in the case of western Rajasthan.
  

• Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water down the slopes. This is called contour ploughing. 
• Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace cultivation restricts erosion. 
• Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. This method is known as strip cropping. Strip cropping method reduce the soil erosion