Soil Formation

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Soil Conservation
By W.Batke
Activity
Teacher Notes
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"A nation that destroys its soil destroys
itself." - President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1937
Why is soil conservation important?
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First let us look at the problem of soil erosion.
Sheet erosion is the removal of the thin layer of
topsoil by raindrop splash or water run-off.
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First let us look at the problem of soil erosion.
Wind erosion is the detachment and movement of
soil by wind.
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First let us look at the problem of soil erosion.
Gully erosion occurs when small streams unite and
create a stronger flow, cutting a channel down
which water flows during or just after rain
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Worldwide, an estimated 26 billion tons of
topsoil are washed or blown off cropland each
year. Every year 6 million hectares of productive
dryland become desert.
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The soils of our planet have formed over
thousands of years in conditions which have long
since changed. The destruction of soils through
man's misuse, however, can take place in just a
few years, and in most cases this process is
permanent or at best is difficult to correct.
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What can be done to save our soil?
The most critical factor in protecting soils from
erosion by water and wind is the maintenance of
cover (plant residues, pasture and forest litter)
in close contact with the soil surface.
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The importance of groundcover
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Improve soil management
Practice contour plowing reduced tillage or
no tillage, using windbreaks to reduce wind
speeds at the land surface, allowing soils to
rest promote humus production
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Good soil stewardship, means food and resources
for the future.
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Teacher notes
Slides that do not advance automatically must be
advanced manually by left clicking on the mouse
button. Back arrows on each slide move to
previous slide. Topics are intended to be
discussed in class and science journal notes or
records are encouraged. Programs may be viewed
in any sequence although they tend to build upon
one another. Soil Importance, Soil Formation
Pt.1, Soil Formation Pt.2 Soil Conservation,
Soil Problems
More
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Here are some additional resources on the
web http//www.hintze-online.com/sos/soils-online.
html http//nscss.org/ssource.html http//www.bsys
e.wsu.edu/saxton/soilwatr/ If you have
questions, comments, please send
to bbatke_at_worldnet.att.net
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