HANDS-ON SOIL EROSION CONTROL

Kevin HealyConservation Agronomist

USDA-NRCS

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

• Soil Erosion• Erosion Control Practices• Other resources• Q&A

SOIL EROSION

WHAT IS IT?

• “… a process of detachment and transport of soil particles by erosive agents.”

• Erosive agents–Raindrop impact–Surface runoff–Wind

DETACHMENT & TRANSPORT

Soil

Sediment Load orSediment Transport

Detachment

DEPOSITION

Soil

DepositionSediment Load

SOME FACTORS THAT AFFECT EROSION?

• Climate• Vegetation• Soil Type• Topography• Cultural Practices

How does soil erosion impact me?

• Degrades soil resource– Reduces soil productivity– Reduces topsoil layer– Reduces soil organic matter content

• Sediment– Downstream effects

• Pollutants– Nutrients– Pesticides– Sediment

WHERE IS EROSION A PROBLEM

• Low residue crops• Clean tilled fields• Disturbed land with little cover• Rows up/down slope• End rows• Steep/long slopes• More…

BOTTOM LINE

• Costs• Value“As you financially evaluate which strategies to employ in your operation, keep in mind that preventing the conditions that lead to runoff and erosion is always cheaper than fixing the physical problems caused by runoff and erosion after the fact.”*

*Adapted from Battany, Mark. Farm Water Quality Plan Fact Sheet 3.5

EROSION CONTROL PRACTICES

WHAT CAN I DO?

• Prevent Detachment• Provide for appropriately designed

transport structures, practices or techniques

• Provide for appropriately designed deposition structures, practices or techniques

PREVENT DETACHMENT

PREVENTING DETACHMENT

• Cover crop• Cut Bank Stabilization• Crop Rotation• Cross Wind Ridges• Filter Strip• Hedgerows• Critical Area Planting

• Grassed or Lined Waterway

• Irrigation Management

• Mulching• Polyacrylamide• Residue Management• Surface Roughening• Windbreaks

COVER CROPPING

Between vine rows

Alternate row cultivation

Grassed roads

CRITICAL AREA PLANTING (NON-CROP)

WINDBREAK & RESIDUE MANAGEMENT

HEDGEROWS

CUT BANK STABILIZATION

MULCHING

IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT

SYSTEM EVALUATION

DRIP IRRIGATION

SPRINKLER

POLYACRYLAMIDE (PAM)

CROSS WIND RIDGES

Predominant Wind Direction

MANAGING SEDIMENT

MANAGING SEDIMENT TRANSPORT

• Diversion• Underground Outlet • Structure for Water Control • Grassed or Lined Waterway

DIVERSION & UNDERGROUND OUTLET

STRUCTURE FOR WATER CONTROL

LINED WATERWAY

GRASSED WATERWAYS

MANAGING SEDIMENT DEPOSITION

• Buffer Strip• Filter Strip• Irrigation Tailwater Return• Sediment Control Basin

FILTER/BUFFER STRIPS

TAILWATER RECOVERY

SEDIMENT BASIN

DEEP RIPPING

EROSION CONTROL NETTING & WADDLE

CLOSE & GRASS NON-ESSENTIAL ROADS

SUMMARY

MORE INFORMATION

• USDA-NRCS• UCCE• CCVT• RCD• Farm Bureau

The Natural Resources Conservation Service(NRCS) provides technical assistance to growers. We are confidential, voluntary,

non-regulatory,and free of charge.

SLO CountyUSDA Service Center65 S. Main St.,Templeton(805) 434-0396

Monterey CountyUSDA Service Center744A LaGuardia,Salinas(831) 424-1036

www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov

Questions?