CONSERVATION PRACTICES

The term environment refers to the natural elements that make up the
earth and surround living organisms, making life processes possible. Soil,
water, air, light and temperature are the physical aspects of environment
and are known as its 'abiotic' components. All plants and animals collectively
make up the biological aspects of environment and are referred to as its
'biotic' components. Quite obviously, the environment has a great influence
in the lives all living organisms on the planet.

All our natural resources which we manipulate to satisfy human needs

come from the environment. These are air, water, soil, minerals, coal,
petroleum, animals and plants. They can be divided into two types:

Inexhaustible Natural Resources

Resources that are unlimited in nature and are not likely to be

exhausted by human activities fall under this category. Solar radiation, air,
water, precipitation (rainfall, snow fall, etc.,) and atomic power are some
instances of such resources. Some of them may undergo temporary
imbalances due to human activity e.g. the quality of atmosphere due to air
pollution.1

Exhaustible Natural Resources

Natural resources that are limited in nature and are liable to be

degraded in quantity and quality by human activities are exhaustible natural
resources. Examples are forests, soil, wild animals, minerals, fossil fuels etc.2

The understanding of the environment and its proper conservation, has

gained enormous importance since the last quarter of the 20 th century. The
terms environmental pollution, global warming, climate change, and

1 http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/standards/nhcp.html
2 Ibid.
destruction of rainforests, are all issues of global concern that are already
affecting our lifestyles and sense of well being. 3

One must be aware that governments are cutting across boundaries to

reach global agreements on such matters. They are enacting laws to cut
down the emission of green house gases, taking common measures to arrest
climate change, and setting up international bodies to monitor measures to
reduce air, water, soil pollution and deforestation in number of countries. For
instance, car manufacturers in all countries have now to conform to
international standards of vehicle exhaust emissions; agricultural produce
having pesticide and fertilizer traces beyond acceptable levels are banned in
major world markets. Every country now has in place a ministry dealing with
the environment, complete with regulating bodies, air water and soil
pollution laws. Also a host of local, national and international non-
governmental organizations act as safe keepers of the environment.4

In the last 10- to 15 years has one noticed the effects of environment
change being felt by our families? Ask yourselves as well as your elders if
they have noticed any of the following happening. Water sources in cities, in
rivers, lakes, or underground sources, rapidly disappearing and becoming
contaminated. The quality of air becoming polluted in urban areas to levels
that are causing serious health lung and heart diseases; our soil is also being
contaminated by improper disposal of urban waste and by chemicals found
in agricultural inputs. Unfavorable changes in local climates and extensive
soil degradation caused by disappearance of a 'green habitat' and
destruction of trees.

May be its time to think about how one ought to be using our resources
and to know more about how ones choices affect the environment. One
needs to link the choices one makes in ones every day life towards utilizing
resources in a proper manner - which sustains rather than depletes them,
and by which our environment is conserved. One has to be open to change
3 Ibid.
4 Ibid.
ones perceptions of the socio-economic and environmental conditions that
surround us, and be ready to alter the present way in which one uses natural
resources.

WATER CONSERVATION

Water conservation is important for both water suppliers and water

users. Water shortages may occur because of a drought, contaminated water
sources or damage to water pipes. Residential water users can increase
water efficiency and decrease utility bills through short-term and long-term
conservation measures.

Short-term water conservation measures are actions that may be taken in

response to a water shortage, while long-term water conservation often
involves a change in behavior or installation of newer appliances or
home/yard modifications. Consumers may wish to incorporate short-term
actions into their long-term behavior to minimize the impact of future
shortages on everyday life and to reduce water and electric utility bills. 5

WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES

Many water conservation methods can be accomplished by modifying just a

few everyday habits and using inexpensive upgrades to fixtures in your
home.

Indoor Water Conservation

Kitchen:

• Install aerators in all home faucets, by doing this, you will be able to
increase spray velocity while reducing splash, water and energy use.

• If you wash dishes by hand, do not let the water run while you rinse.
Fill one sink with soapy water and the other with clean rinsing water.

5 http://www.tutorvista.com/content/science/science-ii/management-natural-resources/introduction.php
 • Soak your pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you
scrap and scrub.

• Instead of using the garbage disposal, try composting your organic

material instead.

• Scrap food off of dirty dishes instead of rinsing them. Newer models of
dishwashers are able to handle some leftovers and pre-rinsing is not
necessary.

• Only run your dishwasher when it has a full load in it.

• Do not use running water to thaw meat or other frozen foods. This not
only is a waste of water, but it can increase the potential for a food
borne illnesses. Instead, defrost them in the refrigerator overnight.

• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap

every time you want a drink.

• Wash your produce in a partially filled pan instead of running the

faucet and use the left over water to water your household plants.

Bathroom:

• Like aerators, by installing low flow showerheads, you will be able to

conserve water and energy.

• Try and limit your showers time to 5 minutes.

• Baths use more water than showers so try not to fill the tub more than
halfway, and plug the bathtub before turning the water on and then
adjust for temperature.

• Turn the faucet off while you shave and brush your teeth.

• If your home has older toilets, replace them with newer more water
efficient models, or consider using a toilet water displacement device.

• Do not use your toilet as a trash can.

• Check your faucets and toilets for leaks.

Laundry:

• If possible, replace older units with newer, high efficient models.

• By only washing full loads of laundry, you will conserve both water and
energy.

• Use the water level setting if you washer is equipped with one.

• Rinse with cold water and only use hot water when necessary.

Other:

• When you clean your fish tank, use the water you have drained to
water your indoor plants.

Outdoor Water Conservation

Landscape Watering:

• Water your landscape early in the morning (before 10:00am) or late in

the evening (after 6:00pm). If you water in the heat of the day, most of
your water will be lost to evaporation.

• Do not over water your lawn. During the summer months, only apply
one inch of water on your lawn every 7 days. Doing this, will encourage
a deep root system and a healthier lawn. Also, during the winter
months reduce your watering frequency to once every 15 to 20 days.

• Remember, rain water counts. If it rains, you do not have to water your
lawn. To better track rainfall, buy a rain gauge.

• Water your landscape by hand or run sprinklers in manual mode.

• If you have an automatic sprinkler system, adjust the heads to water

the landscape and not the pavement, and be sure to check your
system regularly for leaks or misdirected spray heads.

• Install and maintain rain and freeze sensors.

• If possible, replace overhead sprayers with soaker hoses or drip tubes.

 • Do not water on windy days.

Landscaping:

• Use native and adapted plants that are more suited to the climate in
which we live. They tend be lower water use plants.

• To water shrub beds, ground cover gardens and trees use a drip
irrigation system and soaker hoses that apply water to the roots where
it does the most good.

• To hold in moisture and limit weed growth, keep a 3 to 4 inch layer of

organic mulch on flower beds, around trees, shrubs and ground covers.

• Plant during the fall or early spring when water requirements are
lowest.

• Taller grass blades holds moisture and slows down evaporation so cut
your grass at a higher setting and leave the clippings on the ground, as
they will return nutrients to the soil.

• Before fertilizing your lawn, conduct a soil test. The wrong amount and
type of fertilizer can increase water usage.

Pool:

• Install a pool cover to reduce evaporation.

• Fill your pool manually.

Cleaning:

• Sweep your sidewalk or driveway, do not hose it down.

• Wash your car on the lawn and use a bucket instead of a hose, or
better yet, use a commercial car wash that uses recycled water.

• Bathe your pets outdoors in an area that needs to be watered.

SOIL CONSERVATION

Soil Conservation is the process by

which the loss of soil is checked,
reducing the velocity of run-off through
erosion control measures for maximum
sustained crop production and for
protection of human lift. So
conservation of soil is essential for
sustenance of human life on the earth.

DEFINITION

Soil conservation is set of management strategies for prevention of soil being

eroded from the earth’s surface or becoming chemically altered by overuse,
salinisation, acidification, or other chemical soil contamination.

OBJECTIVE OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION

✔ Enhancing and sustaining productivity of available land stock for primary

production systems of crop cultivation livestock rising and forest
management.
✔ Generating additional employment opportunities and income through
secured livelihood in rural areas.
✔ Maintaining beneficial relationship between land and water cycles and
deter / moderate hazards of droughts and flood.
✔ Retarding Watershed degradation caused by deforestation, soil erosion,
sedimentation, land degradation and hydrologic deterioration of the
watersheds.
✔ Locating, reclaiming and developing culturable wastelands, fallows other
than current fallows and degraded lands to meet increasing and
competing demands for additional land stock for various sectors.
IMPORTANCE OF SOIL CONSERVATION

Most people know that they need clean air and clean water to stay healthy.
Fewer people realize that their well-being also depends on the health of the
soil. Soil supports the growth of most of our food and fibre, so its productivity
is a major factor in the economies of Canada and other nations.
But soil also has a much broader, global role. Soil acts as a filter, cleaning air
and water. It exchanges gases with the atmosphere and thus influences the
global climate. Soil receives organic wastes and recycles their nutrients back
to plants; it also holds and breaks down some toxic wastes. Because soil
plays such a key role in world health, economics and environmental stability,
we must conserve it and use it in a sustainable manner.

DIFFERENT MEASURES FOR SOIL CONSERVATION

Mechanical Soil Conservation measures
Mechanical measures include various engineering techniques and structure.
This practices aim at some objective as follows:
✔ To divide a long slope of land into a series of shorter ones in order to
reduce the velocity of run off water.
✔ To retain the water in the land for long period so as to allow maximum
water to be absorbed and held in the soil and less water flows down the
slope of the land at non-erosive velocity.
✔ To protect the soil against erosion by water.

The important mechanical soil conservation measures are as follows:

Contour bunding
Contour bunding consists of building earthen
embankment at intervals across the slope
and along the contour line of the field. A
series of such bund divide the area into strips
and act as barrier to the flow of water. As a
result, the amount and velocity of run-off are
reduced, resulting reducing the soil erosion.
Contour bunding is made on land where the slope is not very steep and the
soil is fairly permeable. Contour bunds are also called level terraces,
absorbtion type terraces or ridge type teracces. Contour bunding works are
carried out over wide areas in many parts of India, notably in Andhra
Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Terracing
A terrace is an embankment of ridge of
earth constructed across the slope to
control run off and to minimize soil erosion. A
terrace reduces the length of the hill side
slope, thereby reducing sheet and rill erosion and prevents formation of
gullies.

There are different types of terraces as follows:

✔ Bench terracing: It consists of transforming relatively steeps land into a

series of level or nearly level strips or steeps running across the slope.
The soil materials that are excavated from the upper part of the terrace is
used in filling the lower part and a small bund is also raised along the
outer edge of the terrace to check the downward flow of rainwater and
also soil erosion.
✔ Channel terrace: It consists of making of wide but shallow channels
across the slope of the land either exactly on contour line or with a slight
grade (0.1 to 0.2 per cent). In this process, the excavated soil is placed
along the lower edge of the channel in the form of low ridge.
✔ Narrow based terrace: It consists of making a number of narrow based
ridges or bunds at a distance of 1m to 2m across the slope of the land at
suitable intervals in high rainfall areas.
✔ Broad based ridge terrace: It consists of making wide but low bunds on
the contour lines by excavating soils from both sides of terrace. This is
practiced in areas where the rainfall is relatively low.
✔ Contour trenching: It consist of making a series of deep pit (i.e. 2ft.
wide and 1ft. deep) or trenches across the slope at convenient distance.
The soil excavated from the trenches is deposited on the lower edge of
the trenches where forest trees are planted.

Land Development
Land development consists of leveling and bunding to enable control of soil
erosion and production of more remunerative crops.
Diversion Bund
The uncontrolled discharge from the hillocks
cause heavy soil erosion in uplands down
below. So a diversion bund is put along the foot
hill zone along the contour with proper safe
disposal system to protect the land from soil
erosion.

Gully control
The gullies are formed due to soil erosion in all
types of lands. A gully control measure
consists of construction of series of check
dams across the gully. There may be brush
wook, check dams, rock fill check dams and
masonry check dams according to the
severity of the problem. These are supported by
vegetative measures. The gullies threaten to engulf adjoining valuable lands
and at times damage the roads and buildings. By gully control measures, the
land is protected and in most cases reclaimed for cultivation.

Watershed Development
The watershed is the geohydrological unit discharging the run-off to a
particular point. The soil conservation measures on watershed basis have
proved to be more effective. Hence treatment measures on watershed basis
from top to bottom down to the drainage line are taken up under watershed
development programme with active participation of the people of the
locality. It consists of basic activities like nursery, training, research etc and
conservation and production system in arable and non-arable land, drainage
line treatment and live stock management.

Agronomic soil conservation measures:

Use of Vegetation
Crops and vegetables which cover the ground surface well and have
extensive root system reduce soil
erosion. Plant canopy protect the
soil from the adverse effect of
rainfall. The grasses and legumes produce dense sod which helps in reducing
soil erosion. The vegetation provides organic matter to the soil. As a result,
the fertility of soil increases and the physical condition of soil is improved.
Following cropping systems help in controlling soil erosion.

Crop rotation
Crop rotation is planned sequence of
cropping. Rotation of crop is an important
method for checking erosion and
maintaining productivity of soil. A good
rotation should include densely planted
small grain crops, spreading legume crop
etc. which may check soil erosion.

Strip Cropping
It consists of growing erosion permitting crop (e.g. Jowar, Bajra, Maize etc.) in
alternate strips with erosion checking
close growing crops (e.g. grasses, pulses
etc.). Strip cropping employs several
good farming practices including crop
rotation, contour cultivation, proper
tillage, stubbles mulching, cover
cropping etc. It is very effective and
practical means for controlling soil erosion, specially for gently slopping land.

It may be of different types as follows:

✔ Contour strip Cropping: Contour strip cropping is the growing of
erosion permitting and erosion resisting crops alternately in strips across
the slope and on the contour line. This practice is useful because it checks
the fast flow of run-off water increases the infiltration of water in the soil
and prevents soil erosion.
✔ Field Strip Cropping: Strips of crop are parallel to the general slope of
the land.
✔ Wind Strip Cropping: Strips of crop are across the direction of wind
regardless of contour.
✔ Buffer Strip Cropping: In this, the severally eroded portion of land is
permanently kept under grass and contour strip cropping is practices in
the rest of the area.

Cultivation of proper crops

Cultivation of row crop in sloppy lands permits soil
erosion. In this filed, the crops particularly cereals,
fodder crop etc. should be broadcasted and the plants
remain haphazardly in field. As a result, the movement
of water gets obstacle and more water is absorbed in
the soil, thus reducing soil erosion.Mixed and
intercropping (Cowpea-Vigna catjang, with cotton –
Gossipum Sp, maize – Zea mays with soyabean –
Glycine max etc.) practice checks the soil erosion and
avoids the risks of the crop failure.
The land should not be kept without crop
There is very scope of soil erosion if there are no crops on the land. The soil
erosion decreases in different way of cropped land.

Afforestation
Afforestation means growing of
forests where there were no
forests before owing to lack of
seed trees or due to adverse
factors such as unstable soil,
aridity or swampiness. Along
with afforestation,
reforestation should be
undertaken which means
replanting of forests at places
where they have been
destroyed by uncontrolled forest fires, excessive felling and lopping.
Afforestation is the best means to check the soil erosion. Lutz and Chandler
(1946) cited the following points in support of vegetational check erosion as
follows:
✔ Infiltration of water is favoured due to high porosity of soil under
vegetation. Percolation of water helps in preventing the soil moisture
which accelerates further growth of the vegetation.
✔ Surface accumulation of organic matter increases the water holding
capacity of the underground soil.
✔ Root system of vegetation holds the soil mechanically and provides
stability of the underground soil.
✔ It gives the protection against wind. The forest vegetation shields the soil
from direct effect of drought, snow and rain.
Mulching: Mulches of different kinds
such a leaves, straws, paper, stubbles, etc.
minimize evaporation and increase the
absorption of moisture and protect the
surface of the land against the beating
action of rain drops. Later on they decay to
form humus which improves the physical
condition of soil. Natural mulching also
helps in the infiltration of water and the
reduction of evaporation.

Organic manure: Organic manures

improve the soil structure. The crumb and
granular structure increases the infiltration
and permeability in the soil and conserve
the soil water. Consequently soil erosion
decreases.

Control of grazing
Grazing increases the soil erosion. But
the grazing cannot be completely
stopped in all areas. So the restricted
and rotational grazing may be helpful in
checking soil erosion to some extent.
The area open to grazing for sometimes
should be closed for the following year to facilitate regeneration of forests
and to maintain thick ground vegetation.

Good tillage
Tillage is the mechanical manipulation of
soil by different kinds of implements.
Tillage makes the soil loose and friable which helps in retention of water. The
special method of tillage practices should be followed for the conservation
purposes. Tillage may consist of several types of soil manipulation such as
ploughing, harrowing, cultivation etc.

SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES

Soil conservation practices are commonly used in forestry during harvesting

and replanting operations. The quality of agricultural soils can also be
maintained (conserved) or even improved by using soil conservation
practices. Examples of these include adding organic material (e.g., manure)
and inorganic amendments (e.g., limestone), using conservation tillage
(reduced tillage or no-tillage systems), reducing the amount and frequency
of use of summer fallow, rotating CROPS and growing legumes (e.g., clover).
The type of farming activity that takes place on an area of land, be it pasture
or cultivation of forage or fiber crops, cereals, oilseeds, berry fruits or
vegetables, depends on the type of soil, the climate and whether crops are
grown under natural rainfall or irrigation. The more any land use disturbs the
land's natural ecology, the greater its effect on soil quality.
On pasture lands, agricultural management practices include restricting the
density of animal stocking, using rotational grazing (resting fields after they
have been grazed), controlling weeds, and protecting vegetation and banks
along water courses. On cultivated lands, soil management practices include
crop selection and rotation, choice of tillage methods (leaving crop residues
on the surface or plowing them into the soil), controlling the traffic patterns
of tractors and machinery, determining rates of fertilizers and other soil
amendments to apply, controlling pests and managing water.
Crops that provide high-density and year-round ground cover offer greater
protection against soil erosion than row-cropping or cropping systems that
include extensive use of cultivated fallow. Minimizing the amount of tillage
used for weed control or seedbed preparation reduces the breakdown of soil
structure (the arrangement of soil particles into granules or clods), and
keeps more plant residues on the soil surface compared to more intensive
tillage. This helps maintain soil tilth and control soil erosion.
Reducing the rate of oxidation of soil organic matter can contribute to
increasing the amount of carbon stored in the soil, which is an important
factor in reducing the greenhouse gas effect (the accumulation of carbon
dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere). Soil management that returns
plant nutrients to the soil at the rate of their removal by crops will help
maintain soil fertility. Reduced use of pesticides on erosion-prone soils, or
use of pesticides accompanied with effective soil conservation measures,
reduces the risk of contaminated sediments getting into surface water. 6

AIR CONSERVATION

Air pollution solutions pose quite an interesting debate among

environmentalists and entrepreneurs. The greatest causes of air pollution are
the byproducts of progress. The industrial impacts on air pollution are
compound and multifaceted.

In order to completely stop the production of all manufactured

materials, stop the use of cars, air conditioners, heat sources, and basically
deconstruct the basic staples of our society. This is not exactly practical, so
we have to look at other air pollution solutions that can put a serious dent on
our current situation.

Governmental plans to help cut down on air pollution are slow to take
effect. Many industrial businesses have (under the current legislation) the
next 50 years to cut down on their emissions by 80%. A lot of damage can be
done in 50 years. Yet the immediate changes would be a very high financial
burden on most companies and simply can not be completed without the
introduction of environmentally friendly alternatives. These alternatives are
well known but are not widely available.

6 http://www.scribd.com/doc/23964080/Soil-Conservation
 Fuels derived from alternative resources could cut down on our
pollution statistics and become a cornerstone of air pollution solutions. Wind
energy, landfill gas energy, and other green methods of powering many of
our industrial businesses are a good start, but the practical application is still
years away at our current rate of progress.

We cannot force people to buy new cars. However, several

documentaries have shown that it was the United States car companies and
the oil companies that shot down the production and use of cars that run
solely on electricity. The production of electric cars that were highly effective
and family friendly was underway.

In fact, several cities in California were starting the strategic

implementation of charging stations when the project was interrupted. The
project was then scrapped and the remaining cars were either shipped
overseas for use or destroyed. A society that doesn’t use oil or petrol for
their daily commute is a society that is no longer dependant on the oil
resources of other countries. Interesting.

Cars are not just a major contributor to the air pollution problems and
are a major oil dependency culprit in the US. Why the destruction of the
electric car was kept so secret is really not a mystery. How far we could have
come with the acceptance of this one invention. For more information on this
topic, one should watch the well documented and the very accurate
documentary, Who Killed the Electric Car?

Public education only goes so far when the government does not help
the educated follow through on ecological choices. While our basic economy
requires a standard of status quo for the development of our own resources,
we still need to look harder at air pollution solutions that address our
problems now rather than in 50 years.

Recycling communities need to become more aware of what happens

to their recyclables. Many cities, including Norfolk, VA and the three major
cities of California, burn the recyclables rather than recycling in the usual
fashion. Those cities that participate fully in recycling efforts are still
releasing gases into the atmosphere that are destroying the ozone.

The everyday people of many communities are coming together to

improve our options for air pollution solutions. Hybrid cars, choosing fabric
grocery bags over plastics or paper, and finding ways to reuse and recycle
one’s own products are helping too cut down on the overload of air
pollutants we are experience.

Placing ecological concerns higher on the list of priorities at the polls

will help as well. Right now we have sent a very strong message to
Washington that the economy and war are our top priorities.

Green jobs have the ability to offer more economic stability while
addressing some of the air pollution solutions that are available to us.

We can not ignore the effects of deforestation and our need to get out
into the world and plant trees. While individuals can take on tree planting
projects of their own, which is very helpful, companies that destroy trees
need to be forced to replace what they destroy. It won’t do us much good to
start limiting the pollutants that enter the air while we continue to deplete
the world of it main source of breathable oxygen.
 Moreover, alternative heating and cooling methods, the replacement of
old furnaces and air conditioners, and finding ways around driving to the
corner store are all imperative to finding air pollution solutions.

It’s going to take the government and the individuals working together
with the plan of immediate results as the primary goal. By now the industrial
companies should see the writing on the wall and should be taking the
initiative to start curbing their own emissions before the government starts a
crackdown on emissions.

Most industrial companies only do what they are forced to do by

regulation. It’s a rather sad state of affairs that is forcing the solution into the
hands of a government over loaded by too many issues to deal with. We
need to only build green cars, green companies, and green industries in
order to start dealing realistically with the potential air pollution solutions.7

7 http://scipeeps.com/air-pollution-solutions/
References:
http://www.fao.org/docrep/T0321E/T0321E00.htm

http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1901I.pdf

http://www.swcs.org/
http://www.tutorvista.com/content/science/science-ii/management-natural-
resources/introduction.php
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23964080/Soil-Conservation
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/standards/nhcp.html
Cunningham, William B. and Cunningham , Mary Ann. Environmental
Science: A Global Concern Mc Graw Hill Higher Education.