Soil conservation benefits crop production

By Julia Poehlman

 

When it comes to crop production, farmers are using soil conservation to help protect the soil.

Reduced crop production or erosion can be caused by clearing land for wood or farming. This can affect the quality of the soil and can cause it to become contaminated.

Experts say soil erosion can cause damage to water life and by planting cover crop it will help to prevent it.

“If the soil ends up in the streams or water the fertilizers in the soil can cause algae to grow which will destroy water life,” said Laura Van Arkel who is studying horticulture at the University of Guelph. “Some ways to stop erosion is planting cover crop during the fall and winter so you don’t lose as much soil during the winter and spring. The cover crops’ roots help to hold on to the soil.”

There are a number of different techniques farmers use to conserve soil. Some of them include windbreaks, which help protect soil from wind erosion, crop rotation and tillage free farming. Since the mid-1980s, Earl Elgie has been practicing soil conservation on his Dresden farm with his brother Bill, planting cover crops, a crop grown for soil protection and using tillage practices.

“We do not use a moldboard plow on our crop anymore. We want to keep some residue on the soil surface. We use corn stalks or wheat stubble or cover crop residue on the soil surface in order to protect it from wind erosion and water erosion,” said Elgie. “The big rains come along and start washing your soil off and it’s not very good.”

Both of the Elgie brothers have won awards for soil conservation. One was the Kent Soil and Crop Improvement Association Outstanding Farmers of The Year and the other was National Soil Champion for National Soil Conservation for Canada.

“We are very honoured to be recognized by our peers, but there are a lot more farmers out there who are very worthy,” said Elgie. “They are doing just as a good of job as we are but we are very honoured to be recognized.”

Soil conservation helps keep the air and water clean since soil acts as a filter. Soil recycles nutrients back to plants. Therefore, the soil works as a median which allows plants to become healthier and will be able to grow better, which is a significant reason why farmers are turning to soil conservation.