Soil erodes naturally, but human activities can greatly speed the rate of soil erosion, leading to diverse ecological effects and to potentially severe impacts on agricultural production. Fortunately, farmers, scientists, and policy makers have devised a number of ways to conserve soil and prevent or mitigate erosion.

Methods of soil conservation are listed below.

Explanation:

The major sources of soil erosion include water, wind and tillage. In order to mitigate or prevent soil erosion, some of the following techniques can be implemented:

Contour Farming: Planting in row patterns that run level around a hill - as opposed to the up and down the slope pattern. This reduces runoffs and consequently water erosion. Crop Rotation: This involves planting crops with high residue (e. g corn, small grains, e. t. c) in rotation, as the layer of residue would protect the topsoil. Built in structural diversion : Used often for gully control, to regulate flow of water away from the field and through designated desired paths. Conservation Tillage: This involves methods such as no-till planting, strip rotary tillage, etc, which do not allow the soil surface to be smooth and bare, but instead covered with crop residue that protects the soil from eroding forces.