ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : NATURAL RESOURCES 101
(6) To reduce the wind velocity near the ground by growing vegetation cover, ridging
the land etc.,
(7) To grow the strips of stubble or the vegetation cover which might catch and hold
the moving particles of soil.
Keeping in view the above said principles an individual may adopt several methods to
prevent the loss of soil during its erosion.
Methods of Conservation
Various methods of soil conservation may be broadly arranged into the following types:(1) Biological Methods
Conservation achieved by the use of plan vegetation cover the following:
(i) Agronomic Practices: In areas with normal farming, where vegetation itself is used
for soil protection.
(ii) Dry Farming: In areas with low and moderate rainfall, where normal farming is
not possible.
(iii) Agrostological Methods : In areas which are suitable for successful growth of grasses
used as soil binders to check soil erosion.(2) Mechanical Methods
Conservation achieved by supplementing the biological methods with a view to increase
the time of concentration of water, to reduce the velocity of water, or afford protection
against damage due to run off:
(i) Basin Listing: To construct small basins along the contours.
(ii) Contour Terracing: To construct small basins along the slope to intercept and
divert the runoff water.(3) Other Methods
Conservation achieved by purely mechanical method including construction as under:-
(i) Gully Control: Formation or widening of gullies.
(ii) Stream Bank Protection : To grow vegetation alongside construction of drains stone
pitching etc.
(iii) Afforestation: To check the velocity of wind by tree plantation (windbreads).- Less exploitation of Resources
We must bear in mind that resource exploitation and pollution are two faces of the
same coin since exploitation of resources in one place can become environmental degradation
either in the same place or in a remote area. We are aware of the adverse effects on the
ocean harvest, which are often caused by man’s activities on land. Thus, biocides and persistent
inorganic pesticdes, which are used to increase crop yields on land, lead to decrease the
yields of fish and other proteins from the oceans. Increasing use of biocides for boosting
carbohydrate yields on land is likely to lead to such high increase in their concentration in
the oceans as to significantly reduce its productivity.