Biological Conservation practices

Agronomy

 The science which deals with principles and practices

of field crop production and soil management.
OR
 The science of growing plants for creating on farm
opportunities for environmental protection and
ecosystem management.
 Conservation agronomy

 The branch of Agronomy that deals with study of

conserving soil and water.
 The study that shows how to use soil and water
resources effectively to attain maximum profit for
long time by maintaining soil and water losses to
minimum level.
 Concepts

 Soil & water are the main concerns of this subject

 Soil is important because
 It provides nutrients to the plants
 It provides mechanical support to the plants
 Water is important because it is the main requirement of life
 Why to Conserve?

1. Population increasing so the food requirements

also increasing.
2. Soil and water being polluted.
3. Soil is being depleted by erosion.
4. Water scarcity increasing.
 Conservation

SOIL CONSERVATION
 It is the act of using land within the limits of economic
capabilities and its needs to keep it permanently
productive.
WATER CONSERVATION
 The act of using water in such a way to attain
maximum production for maximum time.
Biological Soil Conservation Methods

 Cover Crop
 A Multiple Cropping
 Rotation
 Restorative crops
 Strip Cropping
 High Density Crop
 Inter cropping
 Rotational Grazing
 Conti…

 Reforestation/Aforestation
 Wind beaker
 Mixed cropping
 Mulching
 Stubble mulch farming
 Pasture
 Pair planting
 Cover Crops

 Protects surface from raindrops erosion by providing

ground cover
 Armors and reinforces the slope
 Reduces the runoff velocity
 Catches soil materials or debris
 Improves soil fertility (OM, physical, chemical and
biological activities) are improved.
 Conti..

• Forage/grass available fro the livestock

• Improves soil moisture
• Suppresses weeds
 Multiple cropping

• the aim of multiple cropping is to increase the

production from the land whilst providing protection of
the soil against erosion. It includes:
• Rotation: growing different crops consequently in
rotation reduces erosion as high rate of soil loss under
row crop is counteracted by low rates under other
crops.
• Strip cropping: row crops and protection effective
crops (legumes and grasses) are grown in alternate
strips aligned on the contour or perpendicular to the
wind.
 High density cropping &
Rotational grazing
 it is used to try to obtain the same effects for a monoculture
that multiple cropping achieves for two or more crops.
 for controlling erosion on grasslands, rotational grazing is
practiced. i.e. The stock is moved from one pasture to other,
to give time for the grass to recover.
Reforestation / afforestation & Wind
breaks

 Vegetation's play the major role in erosion control on

gullies areas and landslides. So forestation programs
should be prioritized.
 Windbreaks are usually used in plain areas where the
wind moves rapidly and forcibly which detaches soil
particles causing soil erosion. In this method tree
species of deep rooted and large crown are preferred
which are raised around the agricultural land
 Pair planting

This method is used to control gully erosion, for both

permanent and ephemeral streams. Willows or poplars
are planted about 2–3 meters apart on each side of the
gully floor. In time their roots create a damming effect
which slows the water flow, stabilises the gully sides,
and allows other plants to regrow.
 Mulching & Stubble mulch

• Reduces evaporation thus conserves soil moisture

• Protects soil from raindrop erosion, heat, frost and
wind
• Armors soil temporarily
• Plastic film materials increase soil temperature (av.
3 degrees)
• Controls weeds
• Increases organic matter, microbial activity
• Good for seed germination
Stubble mulch
Fallowing
Mulching
Green Manuring