Every year, erosion causes the loss of more than a billion tons of topsoil. For this reason, soil erosion is considered a major setback for the growth of agriculture. Besides negatively affecting agriculture, soil erosion also increases the danger of flooding. In addition, it also results in stream pollution, which is why erosion control is crucial.
Erosion control helps prevent wind and water erosion in the construction, land, agricultural, and coastal areas. When effectively applied, it can help prevent water pollution, soil loss, and the destruction of wildlife habitats by averting a surface runoff.
A soil retaining wall is one of the solutions used for erosion control in construction, architecture, and agriculture. What it does is that it holds back the ground and reduces the angle of a slope, allowing it to minimise erosion.
Here are 5 ways to control erosion.
TerracingUnlike the terracing used in the past, the modern terrace is an earthen embankment built over a slope to minimise erosion and manage water runoff. For a terrace to be functional, water flow must be stopped before it can move soil and become loose.
Contour farmingContour farming involves ploughing, cultivating, and seeding. Aside from that, it also includes harvesting across the slope instead of up and down the slope. Unlike traditional up and down farming, contour farming helps reduce the amount of soil erosion by as much as 50%. This method helps increase the amount of absorbed water, lessen runoff and sediment, and improve water quality.
Strip cropping
Another way to control erosion on sloping land is to plant crops on contour strips. The contour strip's width should vary following the length of the slope to achieve good results. This method should be used with crop rotation. In agriculture, strip cropping is also ideal for even terrains if a minimum of two species of crops are cultivated together.
Shelter belts
Shelter belts, also known as the 'green belts' of trees, help lessen or completely prevent loose topsoil from getting blown away. It does this by reducing the power of strong winds. Rows of trees may be helpful in regions where wind erosion is more prevalent to slow the wind's progress. Aside from this, shelter belts also bring colour to the environment and aid in managing desert expansion.
Gully reclamation
Gullies are warning signs that land is eroding quickly. Moreover, it could indicate the ground is becoming a wasteland, as seen in broad regions around Chambal and Yamuna rivers. So, while the gully is still small, plough it and plant crops that quickly grow. Choose plants like jowar, barley, wheat, and maise to prevent erosion.
When severe gullying appears, it might be helpful to construct straw at five-metre intervals and dams of manure. The straw will accumulate the damps while slowly filling up the waterway. Barriers may be built in the gully to hold back water runoff. After the dams are established, the soil in the gully will be stable.
Conclusion
These simple steps can be your starting point to bring your sites back in balance. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to control erosion, and these are only some of them.
