Podcast
Questions and Answers
What causes soil erosion?
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?
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?
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?
How do plants help in erosion control?
What is another name for erosion control matting?
What is another name for erosion control matting?
What is a key benefit of no-till farming?
What is a key benefit of no-till farming?
Which of the following is true about no-till practices?
Which of the following is true about no-till practices?
What does rotational grazing help minimize?
What does rotational grazing help minimize?
What is one of the benefits of installing fencing and stream crossings?
What is one of the benefits of installing fencing and stream crossings?
What is the primary purpose of a cover crop?
What is the primary purpose of a cover crop?
Besides protecting soil from erosion, what other benefit do cover crops provide?
Besides protecting soil from erosion, what other benefit do cover crops provide?
What is carbon sequestration?
What is carbon sequestration?
What are some common types of cover crops?
What are some common types of cover crops?
What is the current percentage of cropland in the United States using cover crops?
What is the current percentage of cropland in the United States using cover crops?
What is 'regenerative agriculture'?
What is 'regenerative agriculture'?
For what type of locations is erosion control matting often effective?
For what type of locations is erosion control matting often effective?
What is the primary function of a planted cover crop?
What is the primary function of a planted cover crop?
Using grazing practices can reduce what?
Using grazing practices can reduce what?
What are two forces that soil erosion is a battle between?
What are two forces that soil erosion is a battle between?
Besides adding nutrients to the soil and reducing erosion, what benefits occur from cover crops?
Besides adding nutrients to the soil and reducing erosion, what benefits occur from cover crops?
Flashcards
Soil Erosion
Soil Erosion
The constant battle between wind/water erosion and gravity's ability to hold soil in place.
Build soil organic matter
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
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
Erosion control matting
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No-till/minimal tillage
No-till/minimal tillage
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Rotational grazing
Rotational grazing
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Cover cropping
Cover cropping
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Carbon sequestration
Carbon sequestration
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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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