Keep Your Farm Productive with Anti-Soil Erosion Measures

Keep Your Farm Productive with Anti-Soil Erosion Measures

One of the perils of owning a farm is soil erosion. The healthy topsoil that helps crops grow is essential for a farm. However, various things can potentially leech it away and result in an unproductive farm. Fortunately, there are several methods you can use to ensure that the topsoil stays on your property. Here are a few of them.

Placing proper cover

One of the main reasons for soil erosion is wind. Harsh winds and loose topsoil are a terrible mix. The result is the revelation of the hard layer of the soil, which is bad for farming. The simplest way to keep the ground on your fields is to cover the soil with mulch. It is a biodegradable organic material that adds another layer to the earth. Besides covering the topsoil, it acts as a natural fertilizer. When the wind tries to strip the land of its topsoil, the mulch is heavy enough to prevent it.

Install some walls

Another possible reason for soil erosion is water. Whether it is caused by a flood or some hard rain, the force of the water acts like a brush that scours the topsoil from the ground and moves it somewhere else. Fortunately, you can use walls to prevent this from happening. A good example is concrete retaining wall construction, which is a common sight on various farms. They are solid enough to act as barriers to stop floods from entering your fields. These walls can also act as channels for the water so that you do not lose the topsoil and it stays nearby.

Be smart with your crop choices

The right plants can provide some help with retaining topsoil. When your fields are empty, the topsoil is loose and gets easily eroded. With the right cover plants, their roots connect to become a solid net that helps keep the soil down. Clover is a favourite plant for this purpose. It is easy to grow and spreads fast. You can also use it for grazing livestock. Then, when it is time to plant again, you till it back into the soil to enrich it.

Use soil-friendly farming practices

There are also soil-friendly farming practices. Farming naturally churns the topsoil, making it looser and more vulnerable to erosion. You can use no-till farming methods. It allows only minimal disturbance to the soil, thanks to special equipment. It can be a bit more expensive, but the results can be impressive. You can also plant a few windbreaks at the edge of your fields. Strong trees prevent harsh winds. Their roots will also help retain the soil around that area. Fruit trees are perfect for this purpose since they have a dual purpose.

Final thoughts

Being a farmer is a hard enough job. Unproductive land will only make it more difficult. When you prevent soil erosion, you can ensure the fertility of your fields for a long time. Think of the methods above as investments for future productivity.