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?