G2-3

Soil Conservation

EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?

G2-3

The Value of Soil

• Everything that lives on land depends on soil either directly or indirectly

• Fertile soil is valuable because it is limited in supply– Less than 1/8 of the Earth’s soil is suitable for

farming

EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?

G2-3

Soil Damage and Loss

• Soil Loss– Over farmed by the same crops– Erosion by wind and water– Loss of plant cover

EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?

G2-3

George Washington Carver

• Scientist from the early 1900’s, Alabama

• Developed new crops and farming methods that helped restore farming fertility to the South

• Planted peanuts in cotton fields to replace soil nutrients

EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?

G2-3

Dust Bowl 1930 - 1938Cause- plowing removed prairie grass from the Great

Plains and exposed the soil- drought occurred turning the topsoil to dust-Wind started blowing soil across the country

EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?

G2-3

Soil Conservation

• Soil Conservation – management of soil to prevent its destruction

• Ways to conserve soil– Contour plowing – plowing land along curves of a

slope; slows runoff and prevents soil from washing away

– Conservation Plowing – disturbs the soil and plant cover as little as possible; leave dead weeds and stalks in ground to help return nutrients to the soil

– Planting wind screensEQ: Why is soil a

valuable resource?

G2-3

Class Work and Homework

Fill InWhat did I learnConfusedSay

Read pages G 57 – G 60, questions 1-4Documentary

EQ: Why is soil a valuable resource?