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Grassed waterwaysA grassed waterway is a broad, shallow, and permanently vegetated channel designed to safely convey concentrated surface run-off from fields to a stable drainage outlet. The vegetative cover reduces water speed and retains soil sediments as a filtration agent.Benefits of grassed waterways
WetlandsConstructed wetlands are used for several types of waste water treatment. They have the ability of removing most types of organic pollutants which is really useful in rural areas. They can treat water waste from barnyard run-off, milkhouse wash water and also household sewage treatment.Wetland soils have particular characteristics such as being water-saturated with fine texture particles due to being under water for an extended period of time. These conditions favor hydrophilic or water tolerant plants. Plants frequently found in constructed wetlands are cattails, soft wishes, marsh marigolds, burr reeds, water iris, horsetail and arrowhead.
Role of plants in wetlands
Other benefits of wetlands
(Best Management Practices; Water Management)
Sources of wetland damage
Windbreaks and shelterbeltsThe primary purpose of a windbreak or shelterbelt is to create a barrier that reduces the speed of the wind, and lowers its ability to carry soil away from fields. A shelterbelt is essentially a wider windbreak, with six or more rows. The advantages of windbreaks extend beyond erosion control. Livestock benefit from protection from winter storms and summer sun, crop yields increase in sheltered fields, energy requirements decrease in sheltered buildings and neighbours enjoy a reduction in dust and noise levels from adjacent activity.
Interesting facts about windbreaks
(Vers des choix durables, leaflets 6 and 7) The above techniques are used to prevent soil degradation and water contamination. But restoring soil that has already deteriorated represents a much harder task. Deforested areas can certainly be reforested, especially on steep slopes, with fast-growing species such as the ipil-ipil tree. In the gullies and along stream banks, trees can also be planted to stop further erosion, but it is unlikely that the crops could be grown again at these places for some time, especially if erosion has been heavy. Sometimes, to give an undisturbed start to vegetation, temporary gully dams made of brushwood or timber may be necessary. Pasture land which has been damaged can be repaired more easily. Often, resting the land for a year or two may be enough. Restoring cropland can be done in a similar fashion. The important thing is to build up fertility to a point where vegetation can flourish again, and then introducing deep-rooting plants so they break up the compacted soil.
Water protection managementWatercourses have many uses within an agricultural milieu. Beside providing aquatic habitat for fish and shelter for other wildlife, watercourses and lakes are recipients for ground and surface water. Good management methods protect watercourse soil erosion and water contamination by reducing the amount of sediment and nutrients reaching waterways. Checking the condition of stream banks and tile outlets regularly for soil erosion damage is the first management practice for further improvements.
Water quality management at the watershed scaleWater is one of the most important resources. The quality of water is relative to the uses made of it. The same water may be polluted for human consumption but can still be of good quality for fishing. Point sources of pollution refers to the actual location of the pollution, while non-point pollution cannot easily be targeted and is considered the accumulation of pollution from unidentified yet common sources. Unidentifiable sources are present along the length of waterways, from upstream to estuary discharge. To be effective, water quality management must take into account the entire watershed, which includes the designated river as well as the related waterways draining into it. Grouping together producers from the same watershed creates a positive dynamic for awareness and information exchange on agricultural pollution and enhances the prospects for positive changes. The evaluation of the overall health of the river and the identification of contaminants and sources of degradation leads to the promotion of good management practices which also benefit soil and water conservation.
ProfileCreated in 1993 under the new "Entente Auxiliaire Canada-Québec" for sustainable development, the water management project of the Corporation du bassin versant ruisseau St-Esprit has reached its objective after only 3 years of work. Producers with land draining into the upper portions of St-Esprit River were grouped together to establish adequate cultivation practices for improving water quality. Twelve kilometers along the stream were stabilized and protected. In collaboration with McGill University and supervised by an agronomist-advisor, producers have adopted environmental practices in their farming operations. The surface area seeded to green manures has been increased by 80%, the moldboard plow has been substituted with a chisel plow on 80% of the fields sown to cereals, soybeans or early vegetables, N, P and K inputs have been reduced by 21%, 42% and 37% respectively, and a pest scouting program has been established for vegetable producers. Watercourse protection and stabilization, conservation tillage, fall cover crops, and fertility management were some of the most widely adopted conservation practices. The secret of this success has been the direct link with producer awareness, training, agronomic trials and stabilizing factors. In comparison, based on other watershed intervention projects, significant changes in river water quality normally takes 5 to 10 years. Measurements of water velocity and depth combine with water sample analysis taken over years, days and even minutes give a general but fair picture of the annual loads of total nitrogen, phosphorus, sediments and pesticides from fields and carried in the river. (Courtesy of Peter Enright, McGill University) (I could get good pictures from Prof. Enright or Prof Madramootoo)
Establishing a new philosophy towards soil conservation:Following are some guidelines for action that might be followed to ensure changes in society's approach to the issue.
Inform and educateEducation is the key to long term changes. Farmers need to have a better understanding of soils and water resources to conserve them. Organizations such as FAO help a lot but there is still a lot of education to be done at the stakeholder and the government levels.
Conflict resolutionConflicts over natural resources are intensifying around the world. Land uses and the demand for redistribution are no longer the exception. Stakeholders are often in conflict since they do not have the same aims and activities. Proper conflict resolution strategies must be adopted so people can start to work together instead of individually, and obtain changes that bring benefits to everybody.
PoliciesElaborate policies and regulations for soil conservation, ones that make clear the national goals for soil conservation. Once these are formulated, proper legislation may be prepared to help in implementation. Punitive legislation, according to FAO, is unsuccessful: instead, offering rewards and incentives works way better.
Help for the farmer:The farmer, without whom very little can be accomplished in soil conservation, must be given financial and technical support to be able to attach a higher priority to soil conservation. Training people, encouraging the formation of land user associations and allocating funds to solve the farmers immediate problems are certainly a good investment for efficient soil conservation program. |
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Agromedia : English : Soil and Water Conservation : Soil and Water Conservation Part 2 |