Erosion is the removal of soil. Wind and water transport the fine particles and nutrients. Erosion is greatly influenced by poor agricultural practices (intensive tillage) and leads to loss of land productivity and environmental degradation through fertilizers and pesticides entering the air and waterways.

According to recent USDA estimates, approximately 12,000 lbs. of topsoil per acre is lost by wind and water erosion annually. 

Soil conservation practices that maintain soil cover, increase organic matter, reduce runoff and eliminate contamination of water and air by fertilizers and pesticide can reduce erosion learn more about water erosion control and wind erosion control Soil conservation practices that protect the soil with vegetative cover are the most effective way to control erosion. This can be accomplished by: 

Reduced or zero-tillage – Conservation tillage practices that cause little soil disturbance during seeding placement operations. In the Peace River region of Alberta, annual soil losses under reduced tillage (RT) and zero tillage were about 53% and 81% lower, respectively as compared to that of conventional tillage (CT).

 

Figure 1. Annual soil losses under conventional, reduced and zero-tillage systems.Source: Van Vliet et al. 1993. 

Maintenance of Crop Residue – Conservation tillage practices that leave the maximum amount of crop residue on the soil surface after harvest and before seeding operation. See Crop Residue Management 
 

Crop Rotations – continuous cropping sequences that include annual crop and perennial forages also protect the soil from wind and water erosion. See Crop Rotation.

Some of the other conservation techniques that can reduce erosion are: 

Contour Cropping – is most effective on gentler slopes. In this system, tillage is done at a right angle to the slope and each ridge acts as a catchment area. Contouring can reduce erosion losses up to 50 percent compared with up-and-down hill tillage on gentler slopes.

Strip Farming – Alternate strips of forages and annual crops are planted to slow wind velocity and water flow.
 

Windbreakers are also an effective technique in erosion control. They are effective in reducing the wind velocity, trapping snow, improving soil moisture and protecting soil from the freeze and thaw cycle.
 

Terraces – ridges and depressions are also effective in trapping sediment and improving infiltration.
 

Grassed Waterways – Grass waterways are natural or constructed outlets or waterways protected by grass cover. They are effective in preventing runoff containing fertilizer, sediments and pesticide from entering surface water channels.