Soil Conservation: Methods, Practices, and Human Impacts | Study notes Earth science

FIRST QUARTER

Week 6 Module

Soil Conservation

Soil Conservation Methods and Practices

Soil as one of the most important natural resources needs personal and societal actions devising

and implementing ways of how to conserve and protect it. Analyzing the food pyramid, plants

(plant foods) are at the base signifying that they are fundamental to the existence of life. Most

organisms are dependent on the food produced by plants as being autotrophic (self-feeder). Plants

require soil for survival as their roots get the necessary nutrients to grow and to bear fruits. Soil is

one of the three primary factors for plant growth, together with sunlight and water. Saying such, it

is an important element of the ecological system and, therefore, its conservation is essential for

the upcoming generations.

Reviewing the previous lessons, you learned that there are activities primarily induced by humans

that affect greatly the quality of soil threatening the food security of future generations. Realizing

the responsibility to view the current soil usage in a sustainable frame, everyone should take their

part in conserving and protecting the soil quality. Soil conservation is an effective blending of

strategies and practices used to protect the soil quality from degradation for future purposes. In

eying the process, conservation involves treating and caring for the soil as a living ecosystem that

necessitates basic requirements. This implies rehabilitation and restoration by returning organic

matter to the soil on a continual and sustainable basis.

Footprint on the Soil

Soil is threatened due to progressing degradation processes caused by climate change and other

factors. Thus, soil conservation and protection are in the limelight emphasizing the informational,

educational, and motivational impact of all the measures. The success of any program cannot be

attained without the active participation of every member of the community. It targets to elevate

public awareness and the farmers' traditional and professional knowledge about protecting the

landscapes by making real efforts to comply with mandated practices and technologies.

Activity 1

Seeing the Real Essence...

The success of any program targeting soil conservation is highly dependent on the strategy of

helping people understand soil's importance.

Study the Figure 1.1-1.4. Determine the importance of soil based on the given figures.

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Week 6 Module Soil Conservation Soil Conservation Methods and Practices Soil as one of the most important natural resources needs personal and societal actions devising and implementing ways of how to conserve and protect it. Analyzing the food pyramid, plants (plant foods) are at the base signifying that they are fundamental to the existence of life. Most organisms are dependent on the food produced by plants as being autotrophic (self-feeder). Plants require soil for survival as their roots get the necessary nutrients to grow and to bear fruits. Soil is one of the three primary factors for plant growth, together with sunlight and water. Saying such, it is an important element of the ecological system and, therefore, its conservation is essential for the upcoming generations. Reviewing the previous lessons, you learned that there are activities primarily induced by humans that affect greatly the quality of soil threatening the food security of future generations. Realizing the responsibility to view the current soil usage in a sustainable frame, everyone should take their part in conserving and protecting the soil quality. Soil conservation is an effective blending of strategies and practices used to protect the soil quality from degradation for future purposes. In eying the process, conservation involves treating and caring for the soil as a living ecosystem that necessitates basic requirements. This implies rehabilitation and restoration by returning organic matter to the soil on a continual and sustainable basis. Footprint on the Soil Soil is threatened due to progressing degradation processes caused by climate change and other factors. Thus, soil conservation and protection are in the limelight emphasizing the informational, educational, and motivational impact of all the measures. The success of any program cannot be attained without the active participation of every member of the community. It targets to elevate public awareness and the farmers' traditional and professional knowledge about protecting the landscapes by making real efforts to comply with mandated practices and technologies. Activity 1 Seeing the Real Essence... The success of any program targeting soil conservation is highly dependent on the strategy of helping people understand soil's importance. Study the Figure 1.1-1.4. Determine the importance of soil based on the given figures.

Based on the figures, what are the common methods of conserving and protecting the soil?

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Based on your observation in your community; what method is commonly applied? Cite an example scenario.

8. Salinity Management : The salinity of soil increases due to excessive accumulation of salts in the soil. This harms the metabolism of crops. The salinity of soil is detrimental to the vegetative life in it. The death of vegetation leads to soil erosion. Hence, salinity management is an indirect way of conserving soil. 9. Promote Helpful Soil Organisms : Nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying bacteria are important constituents of the nitrogen cycle. They live in soil. Bacteria and fungi help keep the soil healthy. Organisms like earthworms help decompose organic material in the soil. They aid soil aeration and help it maintain porosity. Rodents too, help soil the same way. This increases the absorbing capacity of the soil. Earthworms, through the aeration of soil, enhance the availability of macronutrients. These helpful organisms boost soil fertility and help in soil conservation. 10. Grow Indigenous Crops : Planting native crops is beneficial for soil conservation. If non-native plants are grown, fields should be bordered by indigenous crops to prevent soil erosion, thus achieving soil conservation. HUMAN ACTIVITIES THAT AFFECT THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF SOIL The Philippines is an agricultural country with a land area of 30 million hectares, 47% of which is agricultural land (https://pinas.dlsu.edu.ph/2020). However, urban development activities contribute to conversion of agricultural land to other purposes in order to support the rapid growing population of 108.8 M (PSA, 2020). Urbanization also affects the quality and quantity of available soil for planting crops. Why is soil important? How is it affected by human activities? In our last lesson, you learned how various activities affect the quality and availability of water for human consumption. You also learned that it is not too late for us to promote and contribute to advocacies on conserving and protecting water resources. Like water, soil is an important abiotic factor that enables life on Earth. Let us try to find out how human activities affect the quality and quantity of soil by doing our next activity. List down all human activities that may affect the quality and quantity of soil. Round up the activity by filling in the gaps - identifying human activities that have not been mentioned. Use the guide list below. Guide List: Write it on your answer sheet.

Agricultural Depletion

Mining

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Deforestation

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How do human activities affect the soil? Let us try to find out what are human activities affect the quality and availability of soil by accomplishing the next activity. Activity 1.1 Arrange and Explore The amount of knowledge gained in biology is so large that it has many branches. The following table lists some of the major ones. Directions: Using a graphic organizer rearrange the word/s to identify the human activities that affect the quality and quantity of the soil. Write it on your answer sheet. Based on the previous activity, what are the human activities that affect the quality and quantity of the soil? What is soil? Why is it considered a necessary resource? Soil can be defined as the organic and inorganic materials on the surface of the earth that provide the medium for plant growth. Soil develops slowly over time and is composed of many different materials through the process of weathering Soli is a necessary resource because it helps sustain life on Earth including humans. animals and plants. Aside from sustaining roles, soil helps purify or clean water as it drains through the ground and into rivers, lakes, and oceans, In addition, decomposers in the soil also help recycle nutrients by breaking down the remains of plants and animals, releasing nutrients that plants use to grow. Soil also provides a home for a variety of living things, from tiny one-celled organisms to small mammals. Despite the mentioned importance of sustaining on earth, there are serious issues concerning the soil’s good qualities and availability. A review of soil degradation in the Philippines (Asio, V. 2009) revealed that soil degradation, the physical, chemical, and biological decline in soil quality is a major agricultural and environmental problem in the Philippines, due to erosion. Loss of nutrients, pollution, compaction, and subsidence are other soil degradation processes caused by erosion. Aside from natural causes of soil erosion, some other human activities contribute to the loss of good quality sol. We are going to limit our discussion to the three major human activities that cause soil degradation.

Soil Conservation: Methods, Practices, and Human Impacts, Study notes of Earth science

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