Soil conservation has been described as “the positive task of devising and implementing systems of land use and management so that there shall be no loss of stability, productivity, or usefulness for the chosen purpose.”
Through this process, soil resources are protected from being exposed to agents of erosion which result in soil degradation.
A good conservation measure enhances agricultural productivity and sustainability. Therefore, the concept, measures, benefits, and policies are discussed in the main content.
Meaning of Soil Conservation as Applied to Agricultural Land Use
It is the prevention and reduction of the amount of soil lost through erosion. It seeks to increase the amount of water seeping into the soil while reducing the speed and amount of water running off.
Conservation is a concept that has been broadly defined as “prolonging the useful life of resources.” Unless there is a commitment by people to look after their natural resources, not only for themselves but for future generations as well, the concept becomes meaningless.
Applied to land, the objective of conservation is to determine how to satisfy people’s aesthetic and physical needs from the land without harming or destroying its capacity to continue meeting those needs in the future.
Soil conservation has been described as “the positive task of devising and implementing systems of land use and management so that there shall be no loss of stability, productivity, or usefulness for the chosen purpose.”
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Control Measures of Soil Conservation in Agricultural Practice
This emphasizes the use of land according to its capability in order to keep it permanently productive. Therefore, any overall strategy for effective control measures should address the following:
The reduction of erosion** to a level where soil loss can be replenished by natural soil development
- The improvement of the physical structure of the soil
- To increase or maintain the level of organic matter
- To control and make the best use of available water
- To maintain the fertility level** by reducing nutrient loss or improving fertilization practices
Benefits of Soil and Water Conservation for Sustainable Agriculture
The benefit of soil and water conservation for agricultural sustainability includes:
- Conserving water makes it available for crops, livestock, and domestic use over a longer period
- Controlling soil erosion improves crop and pasture yields
- Conservation measures improve the supply of fuel and forest products
- They increase the value of the land**
- Terraces make cultivating steep slopes easier
- More and better livestock fodder is available
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Conservation Policies for Land and Soil in Agricultural Development
Policy instruments adopt land-use plans based on scientific research as their foundation, as well as local knowledge and experience, and capacity classifications of land use. In this context, agricultural policies and land reforms are essentially aimed at:
- Improving soil conservation, including the introduction of farming methods and sustainable forestry to ensure long-term land productivity
- Fighting against erosion caused by the misuse and mismanagement of land that can cause loss of soils and surface vegetation
- Fighting against pollution caused by agricultural activities, including aquaculture and animal husbandry
Conservation policies relating to non-agricultural forms of land use (relating to public works, mining, waste disposal, etc.) are not too dissimilar to policies that relate to agricultural uses in that they aim to establish standards and practices for preventing or mitigating erosion, pollution, and other forms of land degradation.
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