Ag Erosion
Did you know there are about 2,000,000 farms in the United States? Soil erosion, which can be a problem on farmlands, occurs in three different ways: wind, water and tillage – the agricultural preparation of soil by plowing or turning the land. When soil is carried away from farmlands, phosphorus and nitrogen can be carried away, too. If these nutrients make it into rivers, streams and lakes, they can degrade water quality.
Viewer Tip: Soil erosion on farmlands and related water quality impacts can be reduced with conservation management practices. No-till and grassed waterways (considered “Best Management Practices” for agriculture) can deliver a one-two punch in controlling soil erosion. No-till is a method of growing crops that improves soil quality without disturbing the land through tillage. Grassed waterways are natural or constructed channels that help trap sediments and pesticides and reduce the speed of water by providing a grass cushion.
Learn more about agricultural Best Management Practices from the USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service: www.nrcs.usda.gov
Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
(Sources: USDA-NRCS, www.nrcs.usda.gov; University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, http://www2.ca.uky.edu/)
