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Soil Erosion Problems and Solutions

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Soil Conservation: Everything You Need to Know

Soil conservation is a key topic in agriculture. When it comes to farming, the importance of soil conservation cannot be ignored. Various threats from unsustainable farming practices can lead to loss of soil. Fortunately, there are many methods of soil conservation.

What Is Soil Conservation?

What is soil conservation, and what are the measures of soil conservation? Soil conservation aims to prevent erosion as well as prevent loss of fertility of the soil. There are a variety of measures you can take to conserve soil and prevent these detrimental effects.

Soil erosion is a problem because when topsoil is lost, nutrients that are necessary for plants to survive are also lost. Topsoil lost from agricultural areas generally holds pesticides and fertilizers, and when these enter water systems, they can destroy the systems’ delicate ecologies.

Soil conservation encompasses a variety of techniques. These techniques and methods all work to preserve the soil’s fertility and prevent erosion.

What Are the Threats to Soil Conservation?

Though soil protection may not receive as much attention in the media as the conservation of oceans, forests, or energy, it is essential for agriculture. Most of the threats to soil conservation come from unsustainable farming practices. A few common threats to soil conservation include chemical contamination, slash and burn farming, and land overuse.

Chemical Contamination

Chemical fertilizers can harm soil when used in excess. A plant uses only a small amount of fertilizer. If it is using only a fraction of the fertilizer that’s applied, the residual chemicals then alter the healthy balance of the soil, making it unable to sustain life.

Pesticides also create problems in the soil. While they do kill off harmful insects, pesticides also harm beneficial organisms the soil needs to remain healthy.

Additionally, fertilizers and pesticides contaminate runoff. The contaminated runoff can then cause damage to surrounding water ecosystems.

Slash and Burn Farming

Slash and burn is a common agricultural technique to modify wildlands so that they are suitable for farming. When farmers use this technique, they cut down huge swaths of trees. Then, they burn the residual vegetation. This practice creates a layer of ash that makes the area of land fertile for agriculture, but the effect is temporary. After farming depletes the nutrients from the soil, that area is abandoned. Farmers then repeat the process.

The practice of slash and burn farming negatively impacts soil conservation. When people remove trees and vegetation from an area, the act also removes the root structures that hold topsoil in its place. Further, once there are no longer nutrients from ash, the soil cannot sustain life.

Land Overuse

If crops are repeatedly cultivated in an area, the soil eventually becomes infertile. Tilling, one of the cultivation processes, takes out essential micronutrients that are essential for life, including nitrogen, iron, and phosphorous. The land becomes unhealthy and unbalanced after repetitive cultivation depletes the area’s topsoil.

What Are Some Methods and Techniques for Soil Conservation?

Unsustainable farming can lead to soil loss and a decrease in soil fertility. Throughout history, people have developed a variety of soil conservation methods that seek to preserve the level of nutrients in the soil and prevent erosion. Learning how to conserve soil is important for anyone who farms.

Terrace Farming

The terracing method involves carving many flat-leveled areas into a hill. The terraces then form steps, and a mud wall prevents runoff and keeps soil nutrients in the beds. Less-developed places often use this method because it is difficult to use mechanized farming equipment in the terraces.

Perimeter Runoff Control

Soil conservationists can turn to planting to protect their soil. With perimeter runoff control, you plant trees, shrubs, and ground cover around the farmland’s perimeter. This impedes surface flows, and it holds nutrients in the farmed soil. Using grass is a specialized method of handling perimeter runoff that utilizes surface friction to channel and then dissipate runoff.

Windbreaks

Other soil conservation practices rely on trees. Rows of tall trees arranged in dense patterns around farmland are called windbreaks. This technique prevents wind erosion. You may choose evergreen trees for protection throughout the year. Deciduous trees can also work as long as they have foliage when the soil is bare.

Cover Crops and Crop Rotation

Cover crops, like radishes and turnips, prevent soil erosion. Farmers can rotate the cover crops with cash crops to keep their soil blanketed throughout the year. This method suppresses weeds and creates green manure, which replenishes critical nutrients like nitrogen.

Agrostological Measures

Plant grass in areas that are heavily eroded to increase the soil’s nutrient levels. Ley farming cultivates grass in rotation with regular crops. If soil is heavily eroded, you should allow grass to grow for years so that the soil can naturally repair itself.

Contour Plowing

The contour plowing farming method originated in ancient Phoenicia and is an effective way of farming on slopes. It calls for plowing grooves into the land you want to farm. Then, plant the crop furrows in these grooves, following the contours.

Keyline Design

Keyline design is an enhanced version of contour plowing. Keylines are the topographic feature that is linked to water flow. The method allows for maximum water retention by considering watershed properties when creating contour lines. Water runs off right into an existing water channel, which stops soil erosion that the water would otherwise cause.

No-Till Farming

Instead of changing the topography of soil with contouring or tilling, you can use no-till farming. This farming technique increases the amount of water that penetrates the soil. It can increase the amount of organic matter that’s in the soil, which results in larger yields.

Soil Conservation Farming

Soil conservation farming is a combination of farming methods. It tries to mimic the biology of the land before it is farmed. Farmers can eliminate nitrogen fertilizer and fungicides to increase their yields and to shield crops from flooding or drought. These practices can prevent the erosion of soil, restore soil that has been damaged, and encourage the growth of plants.

Understanding the threats to soil as well as the ways to preserve nutrients in the soil and prevent erosion is key to maintaining an area. There are many methods farmers can employ to conserve soil.

The Ultimate Guide to Soil Horizons

Have you ever thought about the ground that’s beneath your feet and what is it composed of? We might think it’s just plain dirt, but scientists have determined that six different soil horizons make up the different soil profiles of the ground. Learn more about these soil horizons and what impact they can have on your gardening efforts.

What is a Soil Horizon?

Simply put, a soil horizon is a distinct layer in the ground. These six layers are made up of different substances that either look different, have different chemical makeups, or are physically different from the other layers. 

Soil horizons act as the history of the soil in a particular area. The layers are formed in a specific way due to the original composition of the land, the weather, the vegetation of the area, and other factors. Think of this as the biography of the soil.  

What are the Six Soil Horizons?

The six soil horizons are labeled with a letter denotation and are O, A, E, B, C, and R. Each of these soil horizon layers are unique. O is the soil horizon that is made up of organic materials. Soil horizon A is the layer that is made up of minerals. E is the soil horizon that’s comprised of eluviated soil, or soil layers that have gained materials from other layers by water movement. Soil horizon B is made up of subsoil. C is the soil horizon that contains parent material. Finally, R is the soil horizon that’s bedrock.

Soil Horizon O

Soil horizon O is made up of the organic matter or humus that falls on the soil. This organic matter has decomposed down and created a layer of soil. The O soil horizon can vary when it comes to the size of the segment.

Soil Horizon A

When you think of dirt, you probably imagine soil horizon A. It is the topsoil. It has a combination of organic matter and minerals located in it. Soil horizon A is the best for growing plants. It is always at the surface of the soil, as that is where it forms; however, it can show up again deeper in the layers. If there is a natural event, such as flooding or a landslide, that moves the ground, this layer can go deeper into the soil profile. This layer is often dark in color. 

Soil Horizon E

Soil horizon E is a complex layer that is mostly sand, quartz silt particles, and other material that can’t be leached away. It is formed by the organic materials, clay, and any minerals being leached out of the soil. Anything that can’t be leached out of the soil is left behind and makes up this layer. Soil horizon E is often found in forests and areas with old soil that hasn’t been disturbed in a long time. This layer is often lighter in color than other layers because much of it has leached into lower layers.

Soil Horizon B

Soil horizon B is the subsoil layer. All of the materials, such as minerals that are leached from the soil horizon A and E, make up this layer in the soil profile. Often, it has iron, soluble salts, and clay accumulated in it. Erosion can sometimes expose this layer to the surface, in addition to some manmade causes. Bulldozers and landscaping can also result in erosion that exposes it.

Soil Horizon C

Soil Horizon C is the parent material layer. The Earth’s surface deposits created this layer. It could have been produced by glaciers moving across the earth, lake sediment, or the exposure of bedrock. 

Soil Horizon R

Soil horizon R is made up of bedrock. The rocks typically found in this layer include limestone, quartzite, sandstone, basalt, and granite. In areas where the bedrock is exposed at the surface of the ground, these materials will weather. The materials that weather off of the bedrock become the soil horizon C. This horizon is technically not soil and is usually found under soil horizon C. 

Does All Soil Have All Six Soil Horizons?

There is no specific reason for soil horizons. Some soil profiles will have every single one of the six soil horizons in it. Other areas will have fewer soil horizons in their soil compositions. An example would be some may have just O, or O, E, and B, or A and C. In some spots, there may be soil horizons that repeat in different layers. An example here would be A, B, E, and B. Keep in mind that the majority of soil profiles will have A, B, and C horizons in them. Also, some may also include an O horizon in addition to these three major soil horizons. 

Not only can soil profiles have all six soil horizons, fewer than six soil horizons, or have repeating profiles, they can be found in any order. Soil horizons don’t have a set order for how the horizons appear in the soil profile. It all depends on how the soil was formed over time and the surrounding conditions.

Gardeners and Soil Horizons

Gardeners may not think too much about the soil horizons in their garden plots or the history of their soil, but it can help them to make informed decisions. Examining the soil horizons in the area you plan on planting can give you an idea of whether or not you may need to add some soil amendments to make the soil more fertile or to add loosen up soil that has a high clay content. Knowing your soil horizons can help you to determine what’s necessary to get your garden growing healthy and strong.

The soil horizons that make up your backyard may be exactly what you need to have a bountiful garden that doesn’t need much help. That scenario isn’t always what happens, so learning about soil horizons can be applied to your gardening efforts. Your garden soil will thank you with beautiful blooms and a nice harvest.    

Ways to Control River Bank Erosion

Rivers and streams are dynamic waterways that are always changing. Part of this change occurs during river bank erosion. While river bank erosion can sometimes deliver favorable results, more often it can have harmful outcomes. Learn more about how and why river bank erosion occurs and methods you can use to stop bank erosion from happening.

What Is River Bank Erosion?

River bank erosion occurs when water wears away at the banks of a river or stream. While river erosion is a naturally occurring process, human impact can increase its rate. Common contributing factors to river and stream bank erosion include:

  • Clearing vegetation away from the river bank.
  • Flooding.
  • Intense rainfall.
  • River bank saturation from nonriver water.
  • Stream and land use management.
  • River straightening.
  • River redirection around infrastructure or debris in the channel.
  • Characteristics of the river bank soil.

The Impact of River Bank Erosion

While almost all rivers will have some amount of healthy river bank erosion, unstable rivers that have large amounts of erosion are cause for concern. At the site of the erosion, issues can include loss of businesses and farmland, which can bring economic hardship to the area. Additionally, erosion can lead to homelessness and migration if people are forced to move. The most significant problem with river bank erosion is mass failure, which occurs when an entire section of the river bank collapses into the river.

Not only does river bank erosion impact the area where the erosion is happening but it can also affect life down the river. Erosion sends extra sediment downstream, which can change the river’s course and disrupt shipping channels.

How to Stop River Bank Erosion

While river bank erosion is an ongoing issue, there are certain river bank control methods available that can slow down or even stop the process. Because erosion occurs in a natural environment on the water, most people prefer to use natural materials to control river bank erosion. When you’re exploring river bank erosion control options, you’ll find everything from temporary and biodegradable materials to permanent solutions.

Natural Vegetation

Vegetation has a major impact on bank erosion. For the most part, river banks that have vegetation erode slower than those without. This is because the roots of the vegetation generally increase the soil’s strength around the river bank, which makes the bank less prone to mass failure. Additionally, plants can act as shock absorbers during heavy rainfall, which also slows the rate of erosion.

While trees and plants that are native to the area are always the best choices when selecting natural vegetation to control river bank erosion, you can also opt for plants known for their expansive root systems and ability to grow near water. The willow tree is one of the best choices for stopping erosion on the river bank because it grows large and durable root systems rapidly.

Soil Erosion Mats

Another common option for erosion control is a soil erosion mat. While these mats are sometimes made with wood fiber or straw, one of the top materials used is coir coconut fiber. This is because coir is strong yet natural. Plus, unlike straw or wood, coir can last in the water anywhere from two to five years.

It’s good for areas that need temporary reinforcement because it offers a period of increased stabilization before eventually biodegrading into the surrounding area. Additionally, coir soil erosion mats won’t harm fish or other wildlife in the water, and it can help vegetation establish along the shoreline for long-term erosion control.

Coir Logs

Coir logs are another river bank erosion repair method made using coconut fiber. Coir logs are large in diameter, which makes them ideal for supporting river banks or being used for erosion control on hills, shorelines, and other areas prone to erosion. Even though they’re big, coir logs are easy to place. Once they’re in position, they can help establish vegetation growth. They’ve been effectively used in construction sites, restoration projects, and stabilization areas. Most coir logs will last two to five years before biodegrading.

Geotextiles

You can get geotextiles in different materials for a variety of applications. One option you’ll find is woven or nonwoven synthetic fiber geotextiles. Woven geotextiles are incredibly strong, which makes them well-equipped to handle large drainage and erosion control areas. Nonwoven geotextiles are permeable, so they’re ideal for areas where you need drainage and sediment control. Because both woven and nonwoven geotextiles are made with synthetic fibers, they’re UV- and rot-resistant.

You can also find geotextiles made with coir fabric. The fabric comes on rolls that flatten out on the embankment. Unlike synthetic fabric geotextiles, coir geotextiles are biodegradable and won’t harm the environment. Additionally, the roots of vegetation can potentially grow through the fibers and establish plants over the geotextiles.

Tree Revetment 

Tree revetment is a river bank erosion control system that uses small fallen trees anchored horizontally in place along the river bank to prevent erosion. The trees slow the flow of water, which cuts back on the rate of erosion. They also catch sediment in the tree branches and prevent it from flowing down the river. This sediment then creates an effective soil bed to let natural vegetation take root.

Gabions

For a river bank that needs a strong and permanent erosion control method, gabions might be the best choice. Gabions are large metal baskets filled with stone or concrete rubble. They’re an ideal solution for areas in which a large amount of soil erosion is likely to occur. Although they’re not particularly attractive, you can sink the gabions below the water line at the river. Not only does this make them nearly invisible but it also helps slow the velocity of water flow and train the river to flow in the desired path.

Although river bank erosion has serious consequences, you have several option to control it. When you need to stop river bank erosion, consider implementing one of these effective methods.

Ways to Control Coastal Erosion

Our coasts are precious resources, home to an abundance of wildlife and popular destinations for rest and relaxation. However, with climate change, human involvement, and normal natural processes, our coastlines are in danger of eroding. When natural barriers such as mangrove trees get removed from coasts due to storms or development, the water begins to dissolve the coastline, dragging away sand and wearing down the limestone.

There are, however, ways to control this process. Coir is a natural, eco-friendly material that can slow coastal erosion and minimize damage. As a byproduct of coconut trees, coir is one of our best resources for keeping coastlines safe from erosion. Naturally produced and ecologically safe, this product is revolutionizing how we deal with coastal erosion. Here we’ll describe how to prevent coastal erosion and how coir can help. 

What Is Coastal Erosion?

Simply put, coastal erosion is the act of a water source degrading a nearby coastline. Each coastline is different, ranging from rocky outcroppings to smooth expanses of sand. Regardless of the geological makeup, erosion affects each of the various ecosystems similarly.

Many places around the world are experiencing incredible amounts of coastal erosion. Louisiana is widely regarded as the main problem area in the United States for coastal erosion, losing as much as 50 feet of beach per year. According to Stephen Leatherman of the National Healthy Beaches Campaign, upward of 80 to 90% of the country’s coasts are experiencing erosion, many at unprecedented rates.

What Causes Coastal Erosion?

Coastal erosion has many causes. Often, erosion is a one-way process, with damage being nearly impossible to counteract once it has occurred. Erosion can happen naturally, as it has been for thousands of years: Wonders like the Grand Canyon, for instance, are testaments to the power of water eating away at rock. 

Most often, natural erosion is a slow process. However, with the increasingly volatile weather and rising sea levels, natural erosion has sped up significantly. According to the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit, the federal government spends approximately $150 million each year on beach nourishment and other erosion prevention measures.

Natural phenomena aren’t the only reasons our coasts are eroding more rapidly. Human intervention is another major player in coastal erosion. Beachfront properties have always been desirable, and in the rush to create more, natural barriers such as mangrove forests have been removed. Without these barriers, the erosion process speeds up significantly.

Other human-created issues include storm barriers and cement blockades. While these can help reduce the damage from storm surges, the reflected wave energy can lead to accelerated erosion as soil and rock get sucked away from the coastline and sent out to sea. 

To best preserve our coasts, we must explore alternative methods for reducing erosion and protect our climate by reducing harmful practices. 

What Is Coir?

Pronounced COY-er, coir is one of the best natural solutions for erosion. Derived from coconut fibers, coir is eco-friendly to harvest and manufacture. It comes from the inner husks of a coconut shell and is a fibrous, coarse material with multiple unique properties. It’s rot-resistant, extremely strong, flexible, and buoyant.  

The most common use of coir, and where you’ve probably seen it before, is in household products such as doormats. It’s also commonly used as a lining for hanging baskets because it easily allows for soil drainage without leading to rot. Coir is also used as an eco-friendly stuffing, as sack material, and as gardening material.

Coir isn’t the easiest product to produce, although it doesn’t take excessive processing or require harmful chemicals like many synthetic products do. The process begins with soaking the coconuts’ outer husks until the fibers can be pried apart and separated. Often, manufacturers separate the fibers by color and size. This grading process makes it easier to designate batches for particular uses. The dark brown coir, which comes from mature coconuts, is what people use most often for erosion prevention, as it’s one of the hardiest grades available. 

Once it’s been processed and graded, coir gets bound together into whatever form it’ll be used for, including logs, wattles, bricks, and mats. 

How Does Coir Prevent Coastal Erosion? 

Coir is a particularly effective material for helping prevent coastal erosion, especially for beaches that are in danger of washing away or have been nourished with new deposits of sand recently. 

Coir used to control coastal beach erosion in populated areas is typically bound into logs. These are placed as breakwaters or are set beneath sand dunes. They provide an excellent substrate for roots to take hold of, allowing for protective plants such as sea oats to take root and keep the sand in place. This helps prevent further erosion while also encouraging the return of native plants to beach areas where they had once been. 

Coir mats can help prevent erosion in areas where aesthetics are less of a concern. These mats are placed along areas that are in danger of eroding and help prevent the water from dragging the soil or sand away. Logs and wattles are also used for this purpose and are typically placed in rows to provide additional support along the coastline. 

Thanks to coir’s rot-resistant properties, these measures can stay in place for a long time, outliving many synthetic products. In addition, they don’t release chemicals or damaging byproducts into the water or ground where they’re placed, another attractive feature of these coastal-erosion-prevention products. 

In instances in which a sea wall must be built, either to protect the real estate nearby or because the area is too far gone for more natural erosion prevention, coir can provide an effective fabric underlay and is quickly becoming a popular choice among builders.

Coir is a practical choice for coastal erosion prevention thanks to its eco-friendly nature and efficacy. Whether used on a riverside or beachfront property, coir has the potential to become the most widely used geotextile in the industry. 

Can Plants Mitigate Soil Erosion?

When it comes to controlling soil erosion, adding plants to the landscape is a natural and beautiful way to protect soil while adding dimension and blooms of color. Many plant varieties work well in hardy areas, are resistant to drought, or require very little maintenance. Choose from ground covers, shrubs, or trees to get the best results. Locate plants and trees where they will best offset soil erosion from both wind and water.

Natives are the best erosion control plants because they are primed to the area where they grow. Grasses are also useful, although you must take land topography into consideration in regard to maintenance. Take the time to think about what purpose the plant will serve, its type of root system, and its rate of growth. If planting ground cover or trees on a hill, know the grade of the slope. Choose low-maintenance, deep-rooting trees and shrubs that dig in and take hold on sloped land.

Effects of Soil Erosion

Soil’s delicate balance of microbes, pH, and moisture all contribute to its health and vitality. Healthy soil is productive, fertile, and able to recycle and regenerate. As land is stripped of vegetation for farming or harvesting practices, the uppermost layer, referred to as topsoil, is subject to degradation. It can get washed away during sheet erosion or carried into the air during saltation.

As wind or water wear away at exposed topsoil, its ability to provide nutrients to seeds and saplings degrades. Soil’s structure begins to weaken, and pests can take over, leading to chemical use to restore balance.

Protecting Soil

Soil usually does an adequate job of keeping its balance of microbes, pH, moisture, and nutrients when left undisturbed for periods of time. Tilling soil or planting a new crop before the soil has had a chance to rebound from the last planting season degrades that soil and robs its nutrients. As exposed, bare land leaves soil vulnerable, wind and water events have no forces to stop their destructive flow and contribute to pollutants in the air and surrounding soils.

When considering how to prevent erosion, replacing vegetation is a relatively simple way to aid nature in her cycles of regeneration and renewal. Soil can bounce back and recover faster when vegetation is added back into the equation.

Best Plants for Erosion Control

Choosing the right plants to offset erosion and help soils recover depends on where they will grow. Temperate climates might welcome varieties that like moisture while drier climates might require hardy ground cover that mitigates wind erosion. Some regions might benefit from taller vegetation, such as shrubs or trees, to create windbreaks and deep roots that hold soil in place. Slopes might fare well with plants that grow weblike roots to reinforce the grade and give soil holding power.

Ground Cover

Ground cover serves to create a low-lying layer of vegetation to hold soil in place. Ground cover helps soil retain moisture and provides protection against both wind and water erosion. Most varieties do well in full sun and don’t require much water. 

Creeping varieties might spread fast to cover an area without blocking the view of the overall land. Ground cover discourages foot traffic and is visually appealing. As ground cover dies off and recycles, it provides nutrients and microbial activity to decompose matter and return it to the soil.

Commonly used erosion control ground cover plants include:

  • Creeping phlox
  • Autumn sage
  • Common yarrow
  • Rye and clover
  • Creeping juniper 
  • Creeping myrtle

Shrubs

Shrubs grow taller than ground cover and might be used in windbreaks or to create visual dimension. Evergreen shrub varieties such as juniper are cold-hardy and offer soil protection year-round. Other varieties, such as buckwheat, prefer drier climates and only grow to about 18 inches tall.

Commonly used shrubs include:

  • Juniper
  • Forsythia
  • Japanese spurge
  • Spotted nettle
  • Buckwheat
  • Apache plume

Grasses

Native grasses work best for their resilience and adaptation to climate. Grasses aren’t recommended for erosion control on steep slopes because of the maintenance and possible dangers of mowing on a hill. Most grasses have moderate to fast growth and usually do well in both sun and shade.

Commonly used grasses include:

  • Black mondo grass
  • Blue fescue
  • Yellow foxtail

Trees

Trees boast deep or extensive root systems. Their height creates a windbreak to offset erosion while their roots hold soil in place during both water and wind events. Trees provide shade — an added measure in soil moisture loss prevention and retention.

Ideal tree varieties for wind and water erosion control include:

  • Oak
  • Holly
  • Dogwoods
  • Alder
  • Willows

What to Plant on a Hillside to Control Erosion

Growing on a hillside or slope can pose challenges. The grade of the slope must be considered when deciding how to stop erosion on a hill. Choose deep-rooting plants that stabilize soil or fibrous root systems to create a web and reinforce slopes.

If a slope has a 10% or greater grade, consider terracing to aid plants in erosion control. Avoid planting grasses or high-maintenance plants on grades of 20% or more.

Depending on slope conditions, consider planting trees such as cotoneaster, whose thick roots hold soil in place. Willows thrive in full sun, grow best in moist soil, and do well in regions with harsh winters. Firs and pines like sunlight but do well in dry soil and are hardy enough to withstand subzero temperatures.

Ground covers such as the evergreen creeping juniper and flowering bougainvillea are low-maintenance plants with fibrous root systems. For color on a hillside, try violets or honeysuckle.

Planting vegetation that enriches and nurtures soil to combat erosion is one way to save nature with nature. Other all-natural methods might include coir products made from coconut coir fibers. Trees, shrubs, and ground cover offer protections from erosion while supplying the soil with essential nutrients, regulating its pH, and providing a home to beneficial and crucial soil bacteria. These plants also give the landscape visual appeal and dimension and serve as a reminder of their importance in maintaining soil health and vitality.