Soil Conservation

Question 1

List the methods of soil conservation (6)

Answer 1

1) Reafforestation
2) Crop rotation
3) Terracing
4) Contour ploughing
5) Strip cropping
6) Using the correct crop for soil

Question 2

What is reafforestation? (2)

Answer 2

1) Immediate replanting of vegetation when soil is exposed

2) Never leave the ground uncovered

Question 3

What happens if reafforestation does not take place?

Answer 3

1) no roots to hold soil particles together

2) no dead leaves or branches to turn into hummus to hold the soil particles into crumbs.

Question 4

How should intercropping be done?

Answer 4

• If a crop had to be planted in rows and there is bare ground in between, another plant should be planted there
• eg. cassava which has deep roots can be planted amongst maize which has shallow roots

Question 5

Controlled thinning of forests

Answer 5

Desired since thickly afforested areas may prevent a large percentage of rainwater from infiltrating the soil

Question 6

LOOK AT THE CROP ROTATION DIAGRAM

Answer 6

PLEASE AND TY

Question 7

What is crop rotation?

Answer 7

A method whereby ground is covered with different crops every growing season
A mixture of different crops can be planted, eg tree crops, deep-rooted crops

Question 8

What does crop rotation allow? And what does it help to prevent?

Answer 8

• The method allows for maximum possible usage of land because fields are kept under constant cultivation
• Helps to prevent the establishment of a crop disease or insect pests which may occur on a single crop year after year

Question 9

What does terracing do?

Answer 9

Terracing converts sloping hillsides into a series of steps so that rainwater cannot rush rapidly downwards under the influence of gravity, eroding soil and taking all the nutrients with it.

Question 10

List what terracing does- (3)

Answer 10

(1) break up the steep downward rush of surface runoff
(2) slows down water flow and
(3) allows water to absorb more slowly into the soil

Question 11

What is contour ploughing? 💄

Answer 11

Ploughing at right angles to the slope ie along contours instead of up and down the hill

Question 12

What happens to the rainwater in contour ploughing?

Answer 12

As rainwater runs downhill, it is stopped by rows of plants.

Question 13

Strip cropping 💃👯‍♀️

Answer 13

WATCH THE DIAGRAMS FOR A SURPRISE

Question 14

What does strip cropping do?

Answer 14

By alternating grain crops and grass crops every year, the soil is allowed to rebuild its structure while under grass

Question 15

What is strip cropping effective against?

Answer 15

Also effective against wind erosion if the strips are placed at right angles in the direction of the prevailing winds

Question 16

Why does soil have to be made fertile in the appropriate way?

Answer 16

Different crops make different demands on soil, therefore soil has to be made fertile in the appropriate way

Question 17

What should be included in strip cropping and why?

Answer 17

Leguminous crops should be included in strip cropping, or crop rotation since they contribute to the fertility of the soil

Question 18

Planting roots of different depths…

Answer 18

allows for different levels of the soil to be accessed