IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 5.2D Soil Conservation Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Environmental systems and societies Topic 5.2D Soil Conservation Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Soil Conservation: Protecting the Thin Layer That Feeds Us

Definition

Soil conservation

Soil conservation is the sustainable management of soil to prevent degradation, maintain fertility, and support long-term agricultural productivity.

Soil conservation refers to all strategies used to protect, maintain, or improve soil quality, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity and ecosystem health.
These techniques address erosion control, fertility maintenance, and sustainable cultivation, bringing environmental, economic, and sociocultural benefits.
Soil conservation matters because degraded soil causes serious problems.
1. Loss of topsoil
2. Declining fertility
3. Erosion, desertification, and compaction
4. Reduced agricultural yields
5. Lower ecosystem resilience

Tip

Soil conservation is not just about preserving soil.
It secures the long-term productivity of ecosystems and human societies.

Conservation from Water Erosion

Terracing
1. Terracing reshapes steep slopes into flat platforms that slow water moving downslope.
2. Water spreads across each terrace, lowering erosion risk and increasing infiltration.
3. It reduces soil loss on steep land, allows cultivation of otherwise unusable areas, and prevents gully formation.
Contour Ploughing
1. Ploughing follows the natural contour lines of the land rather than running up and down slopes.
2. The furrows slow runoff and give water time to soak into the soil.
3. It reduces topsoil removal and the formation of rills and small gullies.
Bunding
1. Bunds are low retaining walls built along field boundaries.
2. They capture rainfall, sediment, and runoff, storing water for irrigation.
3. They cut the loss of soil and nutrients and are most useful where rainfall is intense and seasonal.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Soil Conservation: Protecting the Thin Layer That Feeds Us

Definition

Soil conservation

Soil conservation is the sustainable management of soil to prevent degradation, maintain fertility, and support long-term agricultural productivity.

Soil conservation refers to all strategies used to protect, maintain, or improve soil quality, ensuring long-term agricultural productivity and ecosystem health.
These techniques address erosion control, fertility maintenance, and sustainable cultivation, bringing environmental, economic, and sociocultural benefits.
Soil conservation matters because degraded soil causes serious problems.
1. Loss of topsoil
2. Declining fertility
3. Erosion, desertification, and compaction
4. Reduced agricultural yields
5. Lower ecosystem resilience

Tip

Soil conservation is not just about preserving soil.
It secures the long-term productivity of ecosystems and human societies.

Conservation from Water Erosion

Terracing
1. Terracing reshapes steep slopes into flat platforms that slow water moving downslope.
2. Water spreads across each terrace, lowering erosion risk and increasing infiltration.
3. It reduces soil loss on steep land, allows cultivation of otherwise unusable areas, and prevents gully formation.
Contour Ploughing
1. Ploughing follows the natural contour lines of the land rather than running up and down slopes.
2. The furrows slow runoff and give water time to soak into the soil.
3. It reduces topsoil removal and the formation of rills and small gullies.
Bunding
1. Bunds are low retaining walls built along field boundaries.
2. They capture rainfall, sediment, and runoff, storing water for irrigation.
3. They cut the loss of soil and nutrients and are most useful where rainfall is intense and seasonal.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

IB Environmental systems and societies 5.2D Soil Conservation Notes

Topic 1: Foundation 3 subtopics

Topic 2: Ecology5 subtopics

Topic 3: Conservation and biodiversity3 subtopics

Topic 4: Water4 subtopics

Topic 5: Land2 subtopics

Topic 6: Atmosphere and climate change4 subtopics

Topic 7: Natural resources3 subtopics

Topic 8: Human populations and urban systems3 subtopics

HL lenses 3 subtopics

Soil Conservation: Protecting the Thin Layer That Feeds Us

Conservation from Water Erosion

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Soil Conservation: Protecting the Thin Layer That Feeds Us

Conservation from Water Erosion

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account