What are the methods of preventing or reducing soil erosion ?
The methods of preventing soil erosion are : (i) Afforestation : Forests reduce erosion as the roots of trees hold the soil in place. (ii) Shelter belts : Trees planted in lines or hedges around farmland reduce erosion by reducing the speed of the wind. (iii) Contour ploughing : Farmers plough land so that furrows lie across the natural slope of the land. These furrows trap water and do not allow it to flow down carrying the topsoil. (iv) Terrace (or step) farming : A terraced hillside is less likely to be eroded than a natural hillside. Here a series of steps formed by horizontal strips supported by walls, catch the descending water. It gives the water sufficient time to percolate into the soil and nourish the crop. (v) Soil cover : Soil left bare after harvesting a crop is often covered with dried vegetation to prevent erosion. Steep slopes that cannot be ploughed are covered with grass or pasture crops. (vi) Preventing overgrazing : As the grass has a tendency to bind soil molecules, so
