Common Soil and Water Conservation Practices
Paul W. Unger
Abstract
Conservation of the world’s soil and water resources is essential for sustaining food and fiber production for an ever-increasing human population and for preserving the environment. Practices for other lands that affect soil and water conservation on cropland will be discussed where appropriate. Practices that reduce runoff and, hence, reduce sediment transport and improve water conservation include conservation tillage, mulches, cover crops, and chemical additives. However, water storage in soil over an extended period such as a fallow period between crops may be similar or even greater with conservation tillage than with contouring or furrow diking. The objective of furrow diking is to capture and hold rainfall in place until it infiltrates into the soil; some may be lost by evaporation. Contour tillage and furrow diking involve only a relatively small amount of surface soil manipulation and are applicable to land with relatively slight slopes.