Preventing Soil Erosion
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00:00Hi kids, today we will learn what steps can be taken to prevent soil erosion.
00:10So let's start.
00:15Firstly we know soil erosion is removal of the top layer of soil that contains the minerals
00:24and nutrients and is responsible for the fertility of soil.
00:32And soil is eroded with the force of wind or water, or removing the top soil for construction
00:41purposes.
00:44First and foremost thing is that area with heavy plantation is less prone to soil erosion.
00:52As roots of the plants hold the soil firmly and does not let it wash away with flowing
00:58water or wind.
01:02Take out a small plant from soil and what you will see is that the soil too will come
01:11along with its roots and roots hold the soil very firmly.
01:18Here we have an activity that shows how roots prevent soil erosion.
01:27Here we have a container of soil with no plantation at all and if water is drained from over this
01:35soil a lot of soil is then washed away along with the water.
01:42Now this container has some minor grass plantation and is also covered with leaves and twigs.
01:53When water flows from above this soil lesser soil is washed away.
02:00As soil is held by some grass roots and leaves lessen the damage caused by rain water.
02:10As water does not come in direct contact with the soil.
02:16Here we have a third container of soil and here the soil is densely planted with grass.
02:24Now if you let the water flow above soil in this container very less or no soil is washed
02:31away with the water because roots of this dense grass holds all the soil so firmly that
02:38no soil is washed away.
02:42This shows that soil with a lot of plantation holds the soil firmly and prevents soil erosion.
02:51Let's have a look at more examples.
02:57These things show how roots hold the soil together and prevents it from being washed
03:04away or prevents soil erosion.
03:08So the first thing to prevent soil erosion is grow more and more plants and do not leave
03:16soil without any kind of plantation and prevent trees from being cut down.
03:25Now we know that plants prevent soil erosion.
03:30Now let's learn some points how we can practically reduce and prevent soil erosion.
03:38Ornamental grass and shrubs leaves no areas of soil and cover soil completely so they
03:46are best at preventing soil erosion in your garden.
03:52If any spaces on soil are left uncovered with plants we can use rocks, mulch, twigs to cover
04:01it as it too prevents the topsoil from being washed away.
04:09Covering soil like this also allows the seeds present in soil to grow and not be eaten away
04:17by birds and animals or washed away with water or blown away with wind.
04:26Next is do not over water your garden as it can also lead to soil erosion.
04:37We should walk on only pavements in the parks and not soil as it too compresses soil.
04:45That makes soil less porous.
04:49That is it does not soak water and water runs off from above this soil along with precious
04:59topsoil.
05:02Keep soil covered all around the year.
05:06Soil should be kept covered with plantation all around the year in farm areas as bare
05:13land is more prone to soil erosion.
05:19So instead of growing the same crops every time, crop rotation method can be really helpful
05:27in preventing erosion of soil.
05:30Crop rotation is alternately growing off the crops that have different requirements and
05:39after harvesting crops leave the crop residue on farmland as mulch.
05:46That is decaying leaves, twigs and bark which too prevents soil erosion as soil does not
05:54come in direct contact with water.
06:00Plant more and more trees in hilly areas.
06:04In hilly areas trees should not be cut as tree roots hold the soil firmly and prevent
06:12soil erosion and landslides.
06:17Hilly areas are more prone to soil erosion as steep land allows the water to wash away
06:23topsoil with it and deposit in lower areas.
06:28So more and more trees should be planted in hilly areas.
06:33It's afforestation means planting more and more trees and deforestation means cutting
06:44down trees.
06:46Now let's learn another method to prevent soil erosion.
06:52It is reduced tillage.
06:56Tilling is a practice where soil is made loose by various techniques.
07:03That is also responsible for soil erosion as loose soil is more prone to be blown away
07:10by the wind or washed away by water.
07:17Every effort should be made to reduce tillage as top loose soil is more prone to soil erosion
07:25due to wind.
07:27If cattle graze all around the year on the same land the uniform cover of grass or plantation
07:35is removed and it may cause soil erosion.
07:40So cattle should not be allowed to graze on the same land all through the year.
07:47In hilly areas due to slope land is more prone to soil erosion and in such slopes contour
07:56farming, strip cropping, terrace farming should be practiced.
08:03So kids today we learned a lot of methods that should be practiced to prevent soil erosion.
08:12Now you may go ahead and take a quiz to learn more.
08:16Bye bye!