Afforestation

1) Checking Overgrazing

2) Constructing Dams

3) Changing Agricultural Practices

We can save a lot of our valuable soil by bringing about certain changes in our agriculture practices.
MANYA SHRIVASTAVA

Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the top most layer of the soil from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility caused by over usage,salinization or other chemical process.

1 contour ploughing

 orients furrows fellows following the contour lines the farmed area. Furrows move left and right to maintain a constant altitude .Contour ploughing can increase crop yields from 10 to 50 percent, partially as a result of greater soil retention.

2Terrace farming

It is the practice of creating nearly level areas in a hillside area. The terraces form a series of steps, each at a higher level than the previous. Terraces are protected from erosion by other soil barriers. Terraced farming is more common on small farms

3Keyline design

Keyline design  is the enhancement of contour farming, where the total watershed properties are taken into account in forming the contour lines 

4 cover crops/crop rotation 

Cover crops such as legumes plant, white turnips, radishes and other species are rotated with cash crops to blanket the soil year-round and act as green manure that replenishes nitrogen and other critical nutrients. Cover crops also help suppress weeds.

5 soil-conservation farming

Soil-conservation farming involves no till farming , "green manures" and other soil-enhancing practices which make it hard for the soils to be equalized. Such farming methods attempt to mimic the biology of barren lands  They can revive damaged soil, minimize erosion, encourage plant growth, eliminate the use of nitrogen fertilizer or fungicide, produce above-average yields and protect crops during droughts or flooding. The result is less labor and lower costs that increase farmers’ profits. No-till farming and cover crops act as sinks for nitrogen and other nutrients. 
  - NIHARIKA NANGIA 

There are measures for the conservation of soil like strip cropping, where the crops are grown in strips parallel to each other. Some strips can remain empty and some strips are planted with tree crops, while some are planted with seasonal crops. The tree crops act as wind breakers or shelterbelts to the smaller crops. As various crops are harvested at various time of the year only a few strips of land are left for the soil erosion to harm.

Some other measures to control soil erosion are: construction of check dams, ban on shifting cultivation, controlled grazing, afforestation, mixed cropping and mixed farming etc. Planting species of plants that can restore the ecological balance of an eroded area is also necessary as rehabilitation of the damaged soil is as much important as its prevention from getting eroded.

soil structure and rooting depth. This is accomplished by growing secondary crops which enhance soil health.

Root crops are particularly destructive to soil structure because of the extensive shattering of soil aggregates during seedbed preparation and harvest. For this reason, root crops should not be grown more than once every three years.

Cover Cropping and Mulching are effective at reducing soil erosion by leaving a

cover over the soil which reduces soil displacement associated with the impact of raindrops hitting soil particles. They also reduce the volume and velocity of runoff over the soil.

Cross-Slope Farming is the practice of conducting field operations perpendicular to the field slope

~Pratham Thakran

Some methods of soil conservation are :-
1. Conservation tillage consists of a variety of practices used in agriculture to reduce wind and water erosion. In conservation tillage, at least 20 to 30 percent of the soil surface is covered in the previous year's crop residue after planting. The residue reduces wind velocity at the soil surface and breaks the impact of raindrops. Root systems hold the soil in place. If practiced across a slope, rows of stubble act as small dams to slow water as it runs down hill.

2.Contour farming involves tilling and planting along the contour, rather than up and down the slope. The furrows and rows of plants act as dams which slow down the flow of water moving down the slope. Unless some type of contour farming is used, particularly on long slopes, serious field erosion can result. Contour farming also uses less fuel and power for tractors.

3. Strip cropping involves alternating strips of small grain (e.g. rye) or forage crops (e.g. clover) with row crops like corn. It is used to control erosion by reducing the velocity of wind and water. The forage and cereal grain rows tend to trap sediment that may otherwise end up in watercourses.

4.A windbreak or shelterbelt is a vegetation barrier designed to reduce or eliminate the velocity of the wind and hence reduce wind erosion. (Windbreaks are also used for snow control and to provide shelter for buildings and livestock).

Pragyaa Munshi

Contour tillage: Here the fields are ploughed along the contours and not along the hill slope. This type of plantation is very effective as it leads to the formation of ridges and furrows against the direction of flow and decreases the velocity of water. This type of farming is also profitable as it increases the infiltration of water in the soil, and the plants thus, absorb more water.

Contour bunding: Here first the plants and bushes in the plot of shifting cultivation is cut down. Leaves are slashed down and left on the surface of the soil to get dry. After the decomposition of the leaves and various other plant parts, the dry materials are bundled and arranged in contour lines. The contour line is anchored with pegs, stones, thin branches etc. creating the contour bunds. Once created, the farmers incorporate the remaining decomposed matter in the soil between the bunds and the crop planted. Time takes its course and soil gradually deposits above each bund and is eroded below which leads to formation of rough terraces below. This type of farming is useful for protecting the farmlands which are marginally sloping, hilly and low on productivity.

There are other measures for the conservation of soil like strip cropping, where the crops are grown in strips parallel to each other. Some strips can remain empty and some strips are planted with tree crops, while some are planted with seasonal crops. The tree crops act as wind breakers or shelterbelts to the smaller crops. As various crops are harvested at various time of the year only a few strips of land are left for the soil erosion to harm.

Some other measures to control soil erosion are: construction of check dams, ban on shifting cultivation, controlled grazing, afforestation, mixed cropping and mixed farming etc. Planting species of plants that can restore the ecological balance of an eroded area is also necessary as rehabilitation of the damaged soil is as much important as its prevention from getting eroded.