ESC265: Erosion Control

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Questions and Answers

What causes soil erosion?

  • The type of plants growing in the soil
  • Flowing water or wind versus gravity (correct)
  • The color of the soil
  • The amount of fertilizer used

What is the role of soil organic matter?

  • Make the soil more colorful
  • Keep soil from getting too hot
  • Bind soil together and keep it anchored (correct)
  • Help plants grow taller

Increasing organic matter in soil can reduce erosion by what percentage?

  • 75 to 80 percent
  • 5 to 10 percent
  • 20 to 33 percent (correct)
  • 50 to 60 percent

How do plants help in erosion control?

<p>By blocking corrosive wind and binding soil to roots (D)</p>
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What is another name for erosion control matting?

<p>Erosion control blanket (D)</p>
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What is a key benefit of no-till farming?

<p>Reduces erosion and runoff (B)</p>
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Which of the following is true about no-till practices?

<p>Helps to reduce the loss of nitrogen (C)</p>
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What does rotational grazing help minimize?

<p>Soil compaction and erosion (B)</p>
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What is one of the benefits of installing fencing and stream crossings?

<p>Reducing erosion and keeping pastures safe (C)</p>
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What is the primary purpose of a cover crop?

<p>To protect the soil when it would otherwise be bare (D)</p>
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Besides protecting soil from erosion, what other benefit do cover crops provide?

<p>Provide nutrients to the soil (D)</p>
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What is carbon sequestration?

<p>The process of plants taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (D)</p>
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What are some common types of cover crops?

<p>Legumes, grasses, and brassicas (D)</p>
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What is the current percentage of cropland in the United States using cover crops?

<p>Less than 5 percent (C)</p>
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What is 'regenerative agriculture'?

<p>A philosophy involving various strategies for effective erosion control. (D)</p>
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For what type of locations is erosion control matting often effective?

<p>Solar farms and construction sites where large areas are left barren. (A)</p>
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What is the primary function of a planted cover crop?

<p>To protect the soil by keeping it on the ground and maintaining living roots. (D)</p>
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Using grazing practices can reduce what?

<p>Soil compaction and erosion (C)</p>
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What are two forces that soil erosion is a battle between?

<p>Flowing Water/Wind vs. Gravity (C)</p>
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Besides adding nutrients to the soil and reducing erosion, what benefits occur from cover crops?

<p>Improve biodiversity (B)</p>
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Flashcards

Soil Erosion

The constant battle between wind/water erosion and gravity's ability to hold soil in place.

Build soil organic matter

Enhancing soil health by incorporating decomposed plant and animal matter, which binds soil and boosts its water-holding capacity.

Planting vegetation

Using trees, shrubs, and ground cover to act as a barrier against corrosive wind and to bind soil with their roots.

Erosion control matting

Using open-weave, biodegradable ground coverings to shield soil and support plant growth, ideal for barren sites.

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No-till/minimal tillage

Farming without disturbing the soil, reducing erosion, runoff, and preserving vital soil nutrients.

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Rotational grazing

Rotating livestock between pastures, allowing each paddock to rest and regrow, reducing soil compaction and erosion.

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Cover cropping

Crops planted to protect soil when it would otherwise be bare, boosting soil health and preventing erosion.

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Carbon sequestration

The process where plants remove carbon dioxide, storing the carbon in the soil, acting as a carbon reservoir.

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Study Notes

  • Soil erosion involves flowing water or wind against gravity
  • Soil stability is optimized by reducing erosive forces

Erosion Control Methods

  • Effective erosion control aligns with regenerative agriculture principles
  • Appropriate treatments depend on understanding erosion processes

Building Soil Organic Matter

  • Healthy soil requires water, air, minerals, and organic matter
  • Soil organic matter (decomposed plant and animal material) binds and anchors soil
  • Increasing organic matter from 1-3% can reduce erosion by 20-33% by improving water retention.

Plant Vegetation

  • Trees, shrubs, hedgerows, and ground plants block wind
  • Ground cover, like cover crops, helps bind soil to roots

Erosion Control Matting/Blanket

  • Ground covering made of open-weave, biodegradable materials
  • Shields soil and supports vegetation growth on bare ground
  • Effective for barren areas like solar farms and construction sites

No-Till/Minimal Tillage

  • Agriculture scientists have proved no-tillage approaches offer benefits.
  • Benefits include reduced erosion and runoff, improved crop productivity/quality, and decreased nitrogen loss

Grazing Practices

  • Rotational grazing moves livestock between pasture paddocks
  • Each paddock gets a rest period, which reduces soil compaction/erosion
  • Install fencing and stream crossings to keep pastures safe

Cover Cropping

  • Boosts soil health and protects against erosion
  • Planted when soil would otherwise be bare, after cash crop harvested
  • Primary function is to protect soil and maintain living roots

Additional Cover Crop Benefits

  • Provides nutrients, reducing need for artificial inputs
  • Increases biodiversity and reduces soil diseases
  • Fights climate change through carbon sequestration by serving as carbon sinks
  • Cover crop types include legumes, grasses, buckwheat, brassicas, and rye
  • Cover crops account for less than 5% of US cropland
  • December 5 is World Soil Day

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