scholarly journals Landscape Integrated Soil and Water Conservation (LISWC) System for Sloping Landscapes in Atlantic Canada

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 427
Author(s):  
Sheng Li
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Tile Drainage ◽  
Atlantic Canada ◽  
Landscape Restoration ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Soil Landscape ◽  
Soil And Water

Soil and water are fundamental and precious resources for agriculture. In Atlantic Canada (AC), intensive agricultural production systems have led to detrimental environmental effects such as soil erosion and the contamination of receiving waters, posing significant threats to the resilience and sustainability of the agro-ecosystem. Although many beneficial management practices (BMPs) have been developed, they all have their shortcomings and there are often trade-offs for each individual BMP. In this paper, a new paradigm is proposed for soil and water conservation—landscape integrated soil and water conservation (LISWC), a system designed to conserve and reuse soil and water within the landscape by integrating multiple BMPs based on an understanding of the landscape processes and knowledge about the BMPs. On a typical sloping field in AC, an LISWC system can be established by integrating BMPs such as diversion terraces and grassed waterways, tile drainage, water retention structures, supplemental irrigation, conservative tillage practices and soil–landscape restoration. Each individual BMP is designed to enhance one aspect of soil and water conservation but working on their own, they are all insufficient for the landscape as a whole and sometimes even have negative impacts. However, once integrated in the landscape, they complement each other: water erosion is reduced by diversion terraces and grassed waterway and conservative tillage, field drainage condition is enhanced by tile drainage, runoff and tile drained water is stored in the retention structure and reused for irrigation, and most eroded soil is returned to the soil loss area with soil–landscape restoration. This holistic landscape perspective can be used to develop LISWC systems for other landform types or applied at watershed or regional scales. Future studies are needed for the connections and interactions between individual BMPs, and analysis on the overall economic benefit of an LISWC system.

Soil and water conservation and improved crop management effects on watershed productivity in Andhra Pradesh, India

1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.P.R. Vittal ◽  
S.K. Das ◽  
J.C. Katyal ◽  
N. Munikrishnaiah ◽  
M. Rajender Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Andhra Pradesh ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Crop Management ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
The Government ◽  
Soil And Water

AbstractSoil and water conservation and improved crop management programs were initiated in 1983 to increase the productivity of a dryland vertisol watershed in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the semi-arid tropical region of India. This was one of 47 model watersheds developed by the Government of India. The integrated program consisted of measures to conserve soil and water, such as a percolation tank, grading, checks, and deep tillage, on which were superimposed improved crop management practices (e.g., cultivars, fertilizers, and timeliness in operations), carried out with the farmers' cooperation and partial payment. All participants were surveyed in 1983, before starting the program, and 1988, after completing the program. The equilibrium water levels in open wells increased about 50 cm, which allowed sugarcane to be introduced. About 10% additional area was reclaimed and cultivated after construction of a diversion dam. Fodder supply improved because of the growth of natural grasses on terraces formed by stone checks in waterways. Soil and water conservation efforts reduced runoff about 26%. Ground cover increased by 38% because of increased cropping intensity, and income per capita grew by 67% per year. Thus, the integrated approach conserved natural resources and improved productivity.

scholarly journals Improving soil and water conservation and ecosystem services by sustainable soil management practices: From a global to an Italian soil partnership

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-298
Author(s):  
Filiberto Altobelli ◽  
Ronald Vargas ◽  
Giuseppe Corti ◽  
Carmelo Dazzi ◽  
Luca Montanarella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Soil Management ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Water Infiltration ◽  
Sustainable Soil Management ◽  
Soil And Water

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identify the need to restore degraded soils in order to improve productivity and the provision of ecosystem services. The aim is to support food production, store and supply clean water, conserve biodiversity, sequester carbon, and improve soil resilience in a context of climate change. Within this framework, in order to achieve the SDGs and to correct land management in the long-term, soil management is considered mandatory. The reduction of land degradation should be based on various sustainable soil management practices that improve and maintain soil organic matter levels, increase water infiltration, and improve soil water management. This technical review - a policy paper - summarizes the sustainable and territorial impact of soil degradation, including soil water erosion, from the global level to the European and National levels. Furthermore, with the aim of sharing ongoing soil and water management actions, instruments, and initiatives, we provide information on soil and water conservation activities and prospects in Italy.

scholarly journals Geographic information system (GIS) based soil loss estimation using RUSLE model for soil and water conservation planning in anka_shashara watershed, southern Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-27
Author(s):  
Meseret Bekele
Keyword(s):  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Erosion Rate ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Rusle Model ◽  
Soil And Water

Water induced soil erosion has been continued to threaten the land resources in sub humid northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Human-induced land cover (LC) changes due to improper land management practices are contributing factors in deteriorating soil quality. Soil and water conservation measures have been implemented without site-specific scientifically quantified soil erosion data and priority bases in this regard; this study was conducted with a view to quantifying soil erosion in Anka-Shashara watershed. To do this, we have opted to use the RUSLE model based on geographic information systems. By collecting data on rainfall, soils, vegetation, slopes and conservation practices separately as a layer and determining the pixel values for each of these factors, a quantified assessment of erosion in the basin is obtained. The result reveals that the mean annual soil loss (15.22t/ha/yr) of the most parts of study area falls in tolerable levels and almost 66% (1594 ha), moderate level about 23% and 10% at high level of watershed. The soil loss of watershed is classified in to four main classes. None to Slight rates of soil erosion (0-10t/ha) is cover the almost 66% of watershed moderate about 23% and high about 10% of erosion rate as seen from the erosion rate distribution map. The upstream of catchment needs management and protection of those existing resources and the fundamental attention for SWC as recommended bases. Therefore, to reduce sedimentation problem and ensue sustainability of the watershed need to special attention for implementing recommended SWC intervention at the earlier.

scholarly journals Farmers’ Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Practices: the Case of Lege-lafto Watershed, Dessie Zuria District, South Wollo, Ethiopia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizachew Shewaye Yifru ◽  
Birhan Asmame Miheretu
Keyword(s):  
Water Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Soil And Water Conservation ◽  
Conservation Practices ◽  
Local Institutions ◽  
Binary Logistic Regression Model ◽  
Education Status ◽  
Soil And Water

Abstract This study was conducted to assess farmers’ adoption decisions of soil and water conservation practices in Lege-Lafto Watershed, Dessie Zuria District, South Wollo, Ethiopia. Data were collected from 304 farmers using household survey, and through focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observation. Binary Logistic regression model and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. The results indicated that about 64% of the farmers adopted soil and water conservation practices in their plot of land. The findings depict soil bund, stone bund, stone-faced soil bund, loose stone and brush-wood check dams, hillside terrace and bund stabilized with vegetation are the types of soil and water conservation technologies which are practiced in the study area. The analysis result revealed adoption of soil and water conservation practices in the study area is significantly and positively influenced by the perception of farmers on erosion problem and SWC practices, family labour, education level, and membership in local institutions. However, distance from residence to the nearest market and farmland, off-farm activities, and the ratio of cultivable land to family size influenced the adoption of SWC practices negatively. Therefore, improving farmers’ education status, strengthening local institutions, and empowering their members are vital for sustainable land management practices in the country.

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