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Soil conservation policies and activities are instrumental in reducing soil erosion from wind and water, maintaining soil productivity, and preventing pollution of water and air from sediment and windblown dust. ERS examines the adoption, costs, and benefits of soil conservation measures and the evolution and effectiveness of soil conservation programs.
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Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators: Soil Managment and ConservationCrop production depends largely on soil and is affected greatly by the quality of that soil. Soil quality also plays a role in the environmental effects of crop production. Traditional measures of soil quality include land capability and suitability, prime land, productivity, erodibility, and vulnerability to leach pesticides and nitrates. More comprehensive measures are needed that consider physical, chemical, and biological properties, and also economic factors. Soil management involves actions by land managers that affect soil quality and productivity and alter soil's effects on environmental quality. Examples of these actions include land use or cropping pattern, type and extent of tillage, amount of cover or residue left on the soil, and use of conservation buffers and structures.
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updated: October 28, 2004
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