What is soil conservation, and why is it important in agriculture?

JAMB Agricultural Science 2023 183 views
Source: JAMB · 2023

What is soil conservation, and why is it important in agriculture?

  1. Soil conservation refers to the preservation and sustainable management of soil resources. ✓
  2. Soil conservation involves the removal of topsoil for agricultural purposes.
  3. Soil conservation focuses on increasing soil fertility through the use of chemical fertilizers.
  4. Soil conservation aims to maximize crop yields through intensive farming practices.
Explanation

Soil conservation protects soil from erosion and degradation. Methods include: cover crops, mulching, contour farming, terracing, windbreaks, and minimum tillage.

Why important: topsoil takes centuries to form but can erode in years. Lost soil reduces fertility, pollutes waterways, and cannot be replaced quickly.

Conservation maintains long-term productivity. Short-term gains from exploiting soil are offset by permanent losses when soil degrades beyond recovery.

Was this explanation helpful?

Something wrong or missing? Tell us — we read every report and fix issues fast.

pastQuestions.ng pastquestions.ng