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Soil Erosion Problems and Solutions

Soil Moisture

Soil Moisture and Soil Erosion: What You Need to Know

Soil is formed partly from the effects of wind and rain. Throughout soil’s lifetime, it continues to be affected by the same elements. The effects of moisture on soil are determined by the moisture content for a given region and by taking into account the topography of the land. Current climate conditions have a significant impact on soil as land and sea temperatures continue to rise.

Erosion is a natural occurrence, yet when human-related activities (agriculture and development) change the structure of the land and therefore the soil, consequences take place. Determining whether an area is experiencing a drought or will experience one is measured by the soil’s moisture content. If the moisture content is too high, the risk of soil compaction rises. Soil that is dry or in arid climates may experience drought although that may change as climate does.

What Is Soil Moisture?

The level of moisture in the soil is often determined by variables in climate systems. Surface temperatures affect moisture levels through precipitation and evaporation. Drought and floods have severe impacts on soil moisture content in addition to the effects of climate change. As these conditions affect moisture content, they also indicate vulnerability to runoff and erosion.

Jamali Baruti, in a recent study of soil moisture in relation to soil erosion, explains: “Available water capacity (AWC) is the amount of water that the soil can store. It is the amount of water that is available for use by plants and is normally expressed as volume fractions or percentage.’ People have an adverse effect on soil’s AWC. Activities such as compacting soil with heavy equipment will decrease the amount of water soil can hold. Lower AWC makes soil more prone to drought.

Climate Change and Soil Moisture

The moisture content of soil has increased over the last 30 years: a trend that has coincided with rising temperatures due to climate change. As temperatures rise and rainfall increases, there is less chance for evaporation or for the soil to dry enough to lessen its water content.

Changes to the climate drive the global hydrologic cycle and intensify it. This cycle starts with oceanic evaporation that is lifted and cooled, then condensed into water vapor to forms clouds. Moisture is carried until it is deposited back to earth in the form of precipitation. As this cycle is disrupted, it opens the door for increases in ET or evapotranspiration which is the process of moisture up — then down — in the hydrologic cycle.

What Is Soil Erosion?

Soil erosion takes place when one or more contributing factors are in place, water not being the least. Soil erosion from water can be devastating as it strips the top layer of soil while diminishing the integrity of underlying soils. Debris and sediment are carried away and can change the soil’s composition resulting in loss of fertility or new plantings.

Soil Moisture and Erosion Combined

A combination of soil moisture and soil erosion can work to create a superlative amount of damage to an area. Erosion accounts for economic, environmental, and human health risks.

”Soil erosion rates vary widely over the landscapes, over a field and even along a slope profile within the field. To understand soil erosion over a particular area it is necessary to assess erosion at different landscapes for which various techniques are available,” says Mr. Baruti. 

Understanding moisture content is imperative to know what the health of the soil is at any given time and if steps can be taken to avoid drought or erosion. Testing soil for its moisture content with various soil moisture testing devices or techniques is recommended to minimize the impacts of erosion and moisture imbalances.

How to Test Soil Moisture

Gravimetric

By far the oldest method to measure soil moisture, the gravimetric process is lengthy and time-consuming. Soil samples are collected and weighed, then dried in an oven and weighed again, and compared for differences to estimated water content. The gravimetric method may prove difficult to apply if samples need to be taken from greater depths. Disruptions in the soil might also account for soil compromise as numerous samples might need to be collected for analysis.

Hand auger

These devices come with shaft extensions and are commonly used for deeper samples. Augers can be applied to depths up to 55 feet. The auger is turned by its handle which pushes its cylinder into the soil. The auger is then raised, and the cylinder’s barrel is emptied by striking it to free the sample. The gravimetric method can then be applied to the deeper sample.

Tensiometer

This device determines how much force a growing plant needs to absorb moisture from the soil. A tensiometer consists of a ceramic cup (porous point) connected to a measuring device. The cup is filled with water, and the water in the cup finds its balance with the soil. As the soil dries, water flows out of the cup to indicate greater tension. As soil becomes wet and its tension reduces, water flows back into the cup. Changes in these tensions are indicated on the instrument’s measuring device. Temperature can affect tensiometers as the gradients between the device’s porous point and the soil might cause variations in its measurements.

Moisture sensors or probes

Soil moisture sensors test for moisture volume through electrical resistance, dielectric constant, or through interactions with soil neutrons. These instruments run the spectrum from a low-end do-it-yourself type up to more sophisticated devices that can also measure soil pH and determine soil temperature. Simply insert the probe into the soil, and the instrument does the rest.

Soil erosion is a serious consequence of agriculture and development. A warming planet is disrupting its cycles to create balance in soil’s moisture content. As these imbalances increase or fail to stabilize, drought, runoff, or erosion might result.

Testing soil for its moisture volume is one way to find out what’s coming. Take measures to increase soil’s ability to infiltrate or drain to avoid conditions that contribute to adverse consequences. Working to prevent problems now can positively affect two important factors — agriculture and development.

What Does Soil Need to Stay Healthy?

The key to any beautiful yard or garden is healthy soil. Essential for providing nutrients and support, healthy soil can make or break your landscaping or gardening efforts. For some homeowners, the soil around the house isn’t ideal for growing the plants they want, which can make it almost impossible to create the yard of their dreams. Indoor or patio container gardens can struggle with the same issue. 

Luckily, there are several ways you can improve the health of your soil, whether in your yard or in a container garden. We’ve created this guide to provide information about what makes healthy soil and ways you can improve it. 

What Makes Healthy Soil

Gardeners have many opinions on what makes soil healthy. Often, soil health depends on the region, its soil type, and the plant life it supports. Some attributes of soil that are important to be aware of include:

  • Texture: Soil comes in many types, typically categorized as sand, silt, or clay. Many regions have soil that is a mix of these three types. Sand is the loosest, while clay is the most tightly packed.
  • Organic Matter: Organic matter can affect your soil in a number of ways, ranging from soil adhesion to absorption to food for the organisms that live below ground.
  • Air Retention: Ideally, soil should have about 25% air retention. This gets oxygen to the roots without allowing so much air that the plant rots.
  • Water Retention: Soil should also have about 25% water retention to allow for the formation of both large and small soil particles. This helps support plant movement and the presence of soil life.
  • Soil Life: Everything from mites to earthworms make their home in the soil, and their presence provides plants with much-needed nutrients. In addition, their movement in the ground keeps soil from getting too packed. 
  • pH Balance: pH level is one of the trickiest components to balance but is very important to your soil’s health. Some plants need more basic soil while others thrive on acidity. Being aware of and manipulating your soil’s pH balance can make a huge impact on the success of any garden or landscaping.

These factors all contribute to healthy soil. Knowing how to improve them can help plant life thrive. To tell what type of soil you have and whether you need to make any changes, fill one-third of a jar with water. Add soil, and shake the jar until everything is mixed. Leave it overnight; it should stratify into different levels as it settles, with the organic matter on top. Mark the different levels so you know your ratio of soil types. Make sure there’s organic matter on top. If not, you need to add some into your soil. 

Improving Potting Mix

Potting mix is a difficult substrate to get right. Container gardens are less flexible than yard gardens because they’re self-contained. One of the best ways to improve a potting mix is to add another substrate to enhance both the texture and the nutrients. Coir is a great organic soil additive to help your potted plants thrive. Thanks to its porous nature, coir keeps oxygen in the soil while still providing the needed nutrients. Because it’s so absorbent, it is also easy to re-wet. This helps your plants stay healthy if you’re dealing with dry conditions. 

To use coir as a potting mix, start with your favorite potting soil. Place a coir brick in a large container with plenty of water. It’s important to use a container that’s big enough: Coir expands significantly when soaking. After you’ve soaked the substrate fully, mix it in with your soil. We recommend a 40% coir to 60% soil mixture. It’s important to note that because coir is so absorbent, you have to be very careful about salt buildup. 

Another popular alternative is homemade compost. Start with a compost bin in your kitchen or outside and only add items that will compost properly. A good rule of thumb is to think of things that rot easily. Common composting items include eggshells, fruit and vegetable scraps, grass and plant clippings, coffee grounds, and shredded newspaper. 

Once these items begin to rot and mix together, simply combine them with a little soil and use the resulting compost as a nutrient-rich additive for your container garden. Add a few inches to the garden once a year, as the nutrients will seep into the soil over time.

Soil Amendment

You can improve the soil in your yard, as well. Start by determining your main soil makeup, based on the trick mentioned previously. Depending on what you find, you can figure out what additives to use to improve the overall health. It’s important to consider what sort of plants you want before you dive into soil amendment. For example, coir has a more balanced pH balance, making it good for plants such as ferns and asparagus. Peat moss is more acidic, which is perfect for acid-loving plants such as azaleas, blueberries, and camellias. 

Soil amendment also includes changing up the texture. Hard-packed clay is nearly impossible to grow many plants in, as they have a hard time pushing roots through the tight particles. Mixing in coir is a good choice in these situations, as the coconut fiber-based additive improves porosity and encourages healthy water flow. 

For sandy, loose soil, adding organic matter is key to getting a good consistency and texture. Whether you choose peat moss, coir, compost, or a store-bought blend, till it into the soil carefully and add more every year to ensure there are enough nutrients to support plant life. 

Having healthy soil can make all the difference in your garden, whether it’s in your yard or in a container. While it might take a little extra work, increasing the health of your soil will help benefit your gardening and landscaping projects in the long run.