Soil is the major medium for plant growth. It is a mixture of organic materials, minerals, gases, liquids and organisms that together support life. These are all critical to crop production and thus the soil quality must be conserved.
However, erosion caused by water and wind, total crop removal, continuous cropping, indiscriminate use of inorganic fertilizers as well as other synthetic chemicals are practices that reduce soil organic matter content and thereby compromise the soil quality.
The importance of conserving the soil and what can be done to conserve the soil will be seen in this unit and subsequent ones.
Soil conservation is the preservation of soil quality by adopting practices that stop the decline in soil quality and overtime improve soil quality.
Soil quality deterioration is basically due to erosion (water and wind), practices that reduce soil organic matter content e.g. total crop removal, continuous cropping, indiscriminate use of inorganic fertilizers as well as other synthetic chemicals etc.
Soil conservation practices in organic cropping systems include: maintaining soil cover, crop residues, limiting soil disturbance, incorporation of manures etc. help to maintain soil quality.
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Importance of Soil Conservation in Organic Crop System
1. Biodiversity conservation.
2. Maintenance of soil quality (structure, texture, water holding capacity, nutrient status).
3. Prevents soil erosion.
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Practices that Adversely Affect the Soil in Organic Crop System
1. Total crop removal.
2. Continuous cropping.
3. Indiscriminate use of inorganic fertilizers as well as other synthetic chemicals.
In conclusion, soil conservation preserves soil quality which consequently guarantees food security. Soil is the major medium for plant growth. It is a mixture of organic materials, minerals, gases, liquids and organisms that together support life.
Total crop removal, continuous cropping, indiscriminate use of inorganic fertilizers as well as other synthetic chemicals adversely affect soil quality. Biodiversity, soil characteristics and soil erosion is prevented when soil conservation is done.
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