Apr 21, 2017 in a part of the province where average soil organic matter levels are around 3. The potential for soil erosion increases if the soil has no or very little vegetative cover of plants andor crop residues. Soil is most subject to compaction when the soil moisture content is. Runoff and erosion can have an immediate deleterious effect on yields of standing crops, but can also progressively modify the physical, chemical and biological nature of the soil through selective erosion of the most fertile components and reduce the longterm potential of certain soils, especially thin soils with poor water and fertilizer. Increased demand for agriculture commodities generates incentives to convert forests and grasslands to farm fields and pastures. Soil erosion may be a slow process that continues relatively unnoticed, or it may occur at an alarming rate causing a serious loss of topsoil. Agricultural management practices such as fertiliser and pesticide addition, crop rotation, and grazing animals can lead to different microbial communities in the associated agricultural soils. Understanding soil erosion in irrigated agriculture. One third of the worlds agricultural soils, or roughly 2 billion hectares of land, was reported as being affected by soil.
Poor decisions can easily result in serious damage to soil. The primary seat of fertility of many soils is the topsoil. But did you know that soil erosion also can seriously impair crop productivity. The paper estimates the effect of soil degradation on crop yields for dominant cereals in ethiopia at a nationwide level and analyses its relation with population density and fertiliser use. Pdf effects of soil erosion on agricultural productivity in semiarid. Effect of grazing doublecropped annual forages on soil. Pollution and poor water quality the gradual erosion of soil creates sedimentation, a process by which rocks and minerals in the soil separate from the soil and deposit elsewhere, often. Soil erosion results from a complex interaction of soil plantatmospheric forces.
Fertilizer generally has a positive effect on soil microorganisms by providing nutrients and increasing crop residues. Department of agriculture, agricultural research service, crr40, 68 pp. Effects of soil erosion parameters, stand establishment and crop production will be measured. The loss of soil from farmland may be reflected in reduced crop production potential, lower surface water quality and damaged drainage networks. Little or no mixing of the subsoil with the plow layer.
Soil compaction can be a serious form of soil degradation resulting in decreased crop production and increased risk of soil erosion. Edaphic factors soil plants grown in land completely depend on soil on which they grow. In this publication, we focus our attention on concepts surrounding waterinduced soil erosion. The onsite costs can include loss in production potential due to deterioration in soil physical and chemical properties such as infiltration rate, water holding capacity, loss of nutrients needed for crop production, and. A soil degradation index is derived from an ordered qualitative classification on the degree of soil degradation and the area extension. The transition to agriculture from natural vegetation often. It is comprised of countless species that create a dynamic and complex ecosystem and is among the most precious resources to humans. Erosion vegetative cover has a major effect on erosion.
The on site costs can include loss in production potential due to deterioration in soil physical and chemical properties such as infiltration rate, water holding capacity, loss of nutrients needed for crop production, and loss of soil carbon. In this paper we quantify the relationship between crop yields and soil water available to plants, the most important yielddetermining factor affected by erosion, at the european scale. The effect of bare, compacted soil is seriously to impede the soils ability to absorb and hold moisture. Soil erosion and crop productivity european commission europa. For most areas of iowa, the loss of 1 inch per acre of. The annotated citations are found in the second part. This type of erosion threatens our ability as humans to sustain our global population with food and fiber, and is closely linked to economic vitality. Factors affecting crop production climatic edaphic. Nevertheless, soil degradation is accelerating, with negative effects on human health, natural ecosystems and climate change, as well as on the. Soil productivity an overview sciencedirect topics. Practices that focus on increasing plant biomass production and cover such as planting time, crop and variety selection and crop rotation will provide further opportunities for mitigating soil loss. Drewnoski, extension beef systems specialist humberto blanco, associate professor of soil management incorporating grazing of doublecrop annual forages is a way for producers to increase revenue from crop acres while capturing the soil benefits of cover crops. The gully land consolidation project glcp was launched to create more arable land by excavating soil from the slopes on both sides of gullies, combined with simultaneous comprehensive gully prevention and control measures. Pdf effects of soil erosion on agricultural productivity.
Soil productivity factors that are usually diminished by soil erosion include direct loss of soil fertility, loss of soil organic matter, deterioration of soil structure, and decreased watersupplying capacity capacity to provide water to growing plants. Soil is the earths fragile skin that anchors all life on earth. Reduced soil erosion and improved water quality 38 6. This information is then used to estimate the production and economic losses due to soil erosion for four crops that have been the subject of most.
It is also recognised as the most useful single indicator of soil quality soil carbon initiative 2011. Cropping systems with a higher frequency of sod will reduce erosion. The effect of soil degradation on agricultural productivity. The root tips are deformed and brittle figure 1 and root growth and branching is reduced figure 2. The accumulation of soil and crop debris at the lower end of this field is an indicator of sheet erosion. Lyles 1975 suggested that effects of wind erosion on crop production might be determined by relating topsoil thickness or topsoil removal excluding fertilizer effects to crop yield table 1, then computing the potential average annual soil loss using a wind erosion. In the procedure, a wind erosion equation is used to predict potential annual loss, which is converted to crop yield reduction per centimeter of erosion for wheat, grain sorghum, and corn. Retention of crop residue protects the soil from direct impact of raindrops and sunlight while the minimal soil disturbance enhances soil biological activities as well as soil air and water movement. The impact of climate change on soil erosion agriculture. Tillage for seedbed preparation, row crop cultivation and tillage following harvest to conserve residue cover and present erosion will be evaluated on various soil types. What are the causes of erosion induced decline in soil productivity. The underlying principle of soil erosion control therefore is to limit these factors from occurring. Toxic levels of aluminium in the soil solution affect root cell division and the ability of the root to elongate. Possible effects of wind erosion on soil productivity.
In this study, a modelling approach is used to estimate effects of soil erosion on productivity for a wheat cropping system at three locations in. Drewnoski, extension beef systems specialist humberto blanco, associate professor of soil management incorporating grazing of double crop annual forages is a way for producers to increase revenue from crop acres while capturing the soil benefits of cover crops. Effect of grazing doublecropped annual forages on soil and. When soil erosion is severe, soil erodes faster than it can be renewed. Most agriculture activities, especially on sloping landscapes, increase the potential for soil erosion. The effect of the gully land consolidation project on soil. Sep 14, 2007 soil erosion negatively affects crop yields and may have contributed to the collapse of ancient civilizations. Effects of soil erosion on soil properties as related to. The effect of tillage and crop rotation on soybean and. Impact of soil erosion on production in cropping systems. Effect of crop residue burning once every two years on soil carbon stock 48 25. Soil erosion depletes soil productivity, but the relationship between erosion and productivity is not well defined 63, 67,80, 83, 99, 100. Soil erosion negatively affects crop yields and may have contributed to the collapse of ancient civilizations.
A soil degradation index is derived from an ordered qualitative classification on the degree of. Effect of grazing doublecropped annual forages on soil and crop yields mary e. We had a mild winter this year in southwestern ontario, with little snow cover, and had some very windy days. Poor crop and pasture growth, crop yield reduction and smaller grain size occur as a result of inadequate water and nutrition. The importance of soil organic matter key to droughtresistant soil and sustained food production. Residue management to reduce erosion and improve soil quality. The purpose of the glcp is to increase crop production and reduce soil erosion to achieve ecological and agricultural sustainability. Soil dilution plates, mostprobablenumber mpn, community level physiological profiling clpp, and buried. Plant and residue cover protects the soil from raindrop impact and splash, tends to slow down the movement of runoff water and allows excess surface water to infiltrate. Cover crops to improve soil health and reduce soil erosion.
Soil compaction can reduce water infiltration into soil, crop emergence, root penetration, crop nutrient uptake and water uptake all of. This type of erosion depletes organic matter in soil, making it less suitable for planting and harvesting crops or for the natural production of vegetation. Soil compaction can reduce water infiltration into soil, crop emergence, root penetration, crop nutrient uptake and water uptake all of which can reduce crop yields. Pdf effects of soil erosion on agricultural productivity in. Soil erosion effects on soil productivity southwest watershed. The soil is often too wet and damaged, and the maize harvested so late in the season, that sowing a winter cover crop is impossible and the soil is left exposed until the following spring. Where applied in the oklahoma panhandle in 2 14 counties, the procedure. Different plants are known to have different soil microbial communities associated with them. Whether erosion may have such an impact on modern societies as well, is subject to debate. Research shows that fourth year corn, conventionally tilled at high fertility level, had erosion rates 125 times that of highly productive grasslegume sod. Accelerated erosion affects productivity both directly and indirectly. Effects of soil erosion parameters, stand establishment and. Understanding the various ways that climate can impact soils and landscapes offers us an. Estimation of emission and sequestration of co2 total over 8.
First, such experiments are costly and timeconsuming. Impacts of soil erosion soil erosion is caused by the erosive forces of wind or water. Soil erosion and the effects of soil erosion on crop productivity have become emotional issues and have attracted the attention of agriculturists, environmentalists, and the public in general. The effect of soil erosion can be partitioned into costs to the actual site where erosion takes place and costs off site where sediment contributes to water quality problems. A proven old practice to improve soil productivity pdf, 350kb crop residue removal for biomass energy production pdf, 385kb managing cool, wet soils pdf, 400kb soil quality urban technical notes. This article focuses on the effect of soil erosion on productivity, particularly on yield. Most obvious is the greatly reduced erosion from wind. With soil erosion, soil particles are detached, transported and finally deposited at a new location. Soil erosion results from a complex interaction of soilplantatmospheric forces. Thus, modeling soil erosion requires a multidisciplinary approach among soil scientists, crop scientists. Soil erosion is a major environmental issue because it can lead to water pollution.
Effects of soil degradation on crop productivity in east. Assessing soil erosion although soil erosion has been taking place very slowly in natural ecosystems throughout geologic time, its cumulative impacts on soil quality over billions of years has been signi. Conservation tillage impacts on soil, crop and the. Years of data are needed to evaluate the effects of the generally slow process.
Crop responses and soil property changes will be determined. Soil physical degradation can affect crop growth and yield by decreasing root depth and available water and nutrient reserves and soil erosion can lead to yield loss by affecting soil organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents and soil ph. A case study in the denku microwatershed oromia region by kassu kebede beyene submitted in accordance with the requirement for the degree of masters in human ecology at the university of south africa supervisor. In the procedure, a winderosion equation is used to predict potential annual loss, which is converted to cropyield reduction per centimeter of erosion for wheat, grain sorghum, and corn. The importance of soil organic matter key to droughtresistant soil and sustained food production fao soils bulletin fao soils bulletin 80 8 0 f a o t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f s o i l o r g a n i c m a t t e r k e t o d r o u g h tr e s i s t a n t s o i l a n d s u s t a i n e d f o o d p r o d u c t i o n 80 i s s n 0 2 5 32 0 5 0. Soil erosion, crop production, conservation, natural resources isbn 0891180877 printed in the united states of america. The crop yieldsoil loss regression equations provided information fo. Impact and factors on soil quality, crop production. Effects of soil erosion on soil properties as related to crop.
Soil organic carbon soc and its importance for soil quality soil organic carbon is the major component approximately 58% of soil organic matter and plays a vital role in agricultural production and in a range of other soil functions. Soil degradation is a global environmental problem which started since the innovation of agriculture by human kind. Soil erosion and land degradation have been a severe problem in the ethiopian highlands due to dense population, high livestock density and intensive crop production in the area. Erosion and sedimentation on construction sites pdf, 45kb urban soil compaction pdf, 45kb. It is national soil conservation week this week, so i thought it would be a good opportunity to look at the impact of erosion on soils in ontario over the past few months throughout the middle of april weve had some intense rain events. Cereal rye cover crop effect on soil quality in a corn silagesoybean system after 10 years a rye cover crop increased total soil organic matter som in the top 4 inches 10 cm from 4. The transition to agriculture from natural vegetation often cannot. Soils, soil characteristics and factors affecting management. Nevertheless, soil degradation is accelerating, with negative effects on human health, natural ecosystems and climate change, as well as on the economy. Although erosion is generally associated wtih yield reductions, there are examples of where soil erosion has had no effect or has had a positive effect on crop production. Research to determine the effects of soil erosion on crop production is limited. In spite of heavy investments in research and development, the global rates of accelerated erosion are now presumbly higher than ever before. Assessing soil erosion although soil erosion has been taking place very slowly in natural ecosystems throughout geologic time, its cumulative impacts on soil quality over billions of years have been significant.
Leaving crop residue on the soil surface during cropping has a number of clear advantages over tillage that leaves the soil surface bare. Pdf soil erosion is a worldwide challenge for sustainability of agriculture especially in the tropical region. In the iowa cooperative soil survey program, erosion classes are defined quantitatively. The sensitivity of soil erosion to climate change will affect future farm management practices. Human activities have increased by 1050 times the rate at which erosion is occurring globally. Crops that provide a full protective cover for a major portion of the year e.