Editing Soil erosion (section)

==Prevention and remediation==
{{See also|Erosion control|Erosion control#Examples|l2=Erosion control examples}}

[[File:Windbreak near New Alyth - geograph.org.uk - 687555.jpg|thumb|A [[windbreak]] (the row of trees) planted next to an agricultural field, acting as a shield against strong winds. This reduces the effects of wind erosion, and provides many other benefits.]]

The most effective known method for erosion prevention is to increase vegetative cover on the land, which helps prevent both wind and water erosion.<ref>{{cite book|author=Connor, David J.|title=Crop Ecology: Productivity and Management in Agricultural Systems|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2011|isbn=978-0-521-74403-4|page=351|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O2eh7vyvuscC&pg=PA351|display-authors=etal}}</ref> [[Terrace (agriculture)|Terracing]] is an extremely effective means of erosion control, which has been practiced for thousands of years by people all over the world.<ref>For an interesting archaeological/historical survey of terracing systems, see {{cite book|author=Treacy, John M.|author2=Denevan, William M.|name-list-style=amp|chapter=The creation of cultivable land through terracing|editor=Miller, Naomi A.|title=The Archaeology of Garden and Field|publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press|year=1998|isbn=978-0-8122-1641-7|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MARsWXbqFCsC&pg=PA91}}</ref> [[Windbreaks]] (also called shelterbelts) are rows of trees and shrubs that are planted along the edges of agricultural fields, to shield the fields against winds.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Forman, Richard T.T.|chapter=Windbreaks, hedgerows, and woodland corridors|title=Land Mosaics: The Ecology of Landscapes and Regions|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1995|isbn=978-0-521-47980-6|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sSRNU_5P5nwC&pg=PA177}}</ref> In addition to significantly reducing wind erosion, windbreaks provide many other benefits such as improved [[microclimate]]s for crops (which are sheltered from the dehydrating and otherwise damaging effects of wind), habitat for beneficial bird species,<ref>{{cite book|author=Johnson, R.J.|chapter=Global perspectives on birds in agricultural landscapes|editor=Campbell, W. Bruce|editor2=Ortiz, Silvia Lopez|title=Integrating Agriculture, Conservation and Ecotourism: Examples from the Field|publisher=Springer|year=2011|isbn=978-94-007-1308-6|page=76|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=85KuKnayVMEC&pg=PA76|display-authors=etal}}</ref> [[carbon sequestration]],<ref>{{cite book|author=Udawatta, Ranjith P.|author2=Shibu, Jose|name-list-style=amp|chapter=Carbon sequestration potential of agroforestry practices in temperate North America|editor=Kumar, B. Mohan|editor2=Nair, P.K.R.|title=Carbon Sequestration Potential of Agroforestry Systems: Opportunities and Challenges|publisher=Springer|year=2011|isbn=978-94-007-1629-2|pages=35–36|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oDzvVdD_dHwC&pg=PA35}}</ref> and aesthetic improvements to the agricultural landscape.<ref>{{cite book|author=Blanco, Humberto|author2=Lal, Rattan|name-list-style=amp|chapter=Wind erosion|title=Principles of Soil Conservation and Management|publisher=Springer|year=2010|isbn=978-90-481-8529-0|page=69|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wj3690PbDY0C&pg=PA69}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Nair, P.K.R.|title=An Introduction to Agroforestry|publisher=Springer|year=1993|isbn=978-0-7923-2135-4|pages=333–338|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CkVSeRpmIx8C&pg=PA333}}</ref> Traditional planting methods, such as mixed-cropping (instead of [[monocropping]]) and [[crop rotation]], have also been shown to significantly reduce erosion rates.<ref>{{cite book|author=Lal, Rattan|title=Tillage Systems in the Tropics: Management Options and Sustainability Implications, Issue 71|publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations|year=1995|isbn=978-92-5-103776-8|pages=157–160|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Cxxj2VczLG0C&pg=PA157}}</ref><ref>See also: {{cite book|author=Gajri, P.R.|title=Tillage for sustainable cropping|publisher=Psychology Press|year=2002|isbn=978-1-56022-903-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i_acg2gACb8C|display-authors=etal}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and {{cite book|author=Uri, Noel D.|title=Conservation Tillage in United States Agriculture|publisher=Psychology Press|year=1999|isbn=978-1-56022-884-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2uPYFG3XLoEC}}</ref> Crop residues play a role in the mitigation of erosion, because they reduce the impact of raindrops breaking up the soil particles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/soil-management/conservation-tillage/cover-crops-for-conservation-tillage-systems|title=Cover Crops for Conservation Tillage Methods|last=Curran|first=W.|date=2016|publisher=Penn State University|access-date=December 1, 2016|archive-date=August 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828044013/http://extension.psu.edu/plants/crops/soil-management/conservation-tillage/cover-crops-for-conservation-tillage-systems|url-status=dead}}</ref> There is a higher potential for erosion when producing potatoes than when growing cereals, or oilseed crops.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/production/potatoes-soil-management-on-potato-land.html|title=Soil Management on Potato Land|date=2016|publisher=Government of Manitoba|access-date=December 1, 2016|archive-date=December 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202170215/https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/production/potatoes-soil-management-on-potato-land.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Forages have a fibrous root system, which helps combat erosion by anchoring the plants to the top layer of the soil, and covering the entirety of the field, as it is a non-row crop.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://homeguides.sfgate.com/advantages-fibrous-root-taproot-systems-104165.html|title=The Advantages of the Fibrous Root & Taproot Systems|access-date=2016-12-01}}</ref> In tropical coastal systems, properties of mangroves have been examined as a potential means to reduce soil erosion. Their complex root structures are known to help reduce wave damage from storms and flood impacts while binding and building soils. These roots can slow down water flow, leading to the deposition of sediments and reduced erosion rates. However, in order to maintain sediment balance, adequate mangrove forest width needs to be present.<ref>Spalding M, McIvor A, Tonneijck FH, Tol S and van Eijk P (2014) Mangroves for coastal defence. Guidelines for coastal managers & policy makers. Published by Wetlands International and The Nature Conservancy. 42 p</ref>