Difference between revisions of "How to Fight Soil Erosion"

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=How To to Fight Slopes Soil Erosion?=  
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=How to Fight Slopes Soil Erosion?=  
 
==Short Description==
 
==Short Description==
 
*'''Problem:''' Due to deforestation or poor agricultural managment, the soil layer is being washed down by rain, causing gullies, poor agricultural conditions, and a risk for the populations.
 
*'''Problem:''' Due to deforestation or poor agricultural managment, the soil layer is being washed down by rain, causing gullies, poor agricultural conditions, and a risk for the populations.
−
*'''Idea:''' slowing the speed of the rain water on the slope, filtering the soil from the water and causing the particles to stay on the slope, planting deep roots plants or trees stabilizing the soil deeply, working on the horizontal contour lines.
+
*'''Idea:''' Slowing the speed of the rain water on the slope, filtering the soil from the water and causing the particles to stay on the slope, planting deep roots plants or trees stabilizing the soil deeply, working on the horizontal contour lines.
 
*'''Difficulty:''' Often huge surfaces concerned with the problem, work intensive solutions, necessity of an general agreement on the works within the community, maintainance.
 
*'''Difficulty:''' Often huge surfaces concerned with the problem, work intensive solutions, necessity of an general agreement on the works within the community, maintainance.
−
*'''Price Range:''' accordingly to the labour intensivity, expensive
+
*'''Price Range:''' Accordingly to the labour intensivity, expensive
−
*'''Material Needeed:''' deep root trees and plants, construction material
+
*'''Material Needeed:''' Deep root trees and plants, construction material
−
*'''Geographic Area:''' global
+
*'''Geographic Area:''' Global
−
*'''Competencies:''' understanding of contour lines, construction and planting skills
+
*'''Competencies:''' Understanding of contour lines, construction and planting skills
−
*'''How Many people?''' from 5 to a community
+
*'''How Many people?''' From 5 to a community
−
*'''How Long does it take?''' depending on the slope and area concerned. labour intensive.
+
*'''How Long does it take?''' Depending on the slope and area concerned. labour intensive.
  
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
−
The basic principles of the fight against slope erosion are to stabilize the soil through the planting of trees like or deep rooted plants like vetiver, working on the horizontal contour lines to slow the speed of the rain water on the slope, which as a midterm side effect improves the water infiltration and the groundwater levels, and to filter the washed soil particles from the flowing rainwater.
+
The basic principles of the fight against slope erosion are to stabilize the soil through the planting of trees like or deep rooted plants like vetiver, working on the horizontal contour lines to slow the speed of the rain water on the slope, which as a midterm side effect improves the water infiltration and the groundwater levels, and to filter the washed soil particles from the flowing rainwater.<br>
 
On relatively flat slopes, it will already be of some help to plough perpendicularly to the slope, along the contour lines.
 
On relatively flat slopes, it will already be of some help to plough perpendicularly to the slope, along the contour lines.
  
−
Contour lines are (abstract) lines that follow an horizontal path along the hill or the mountain side. They are perpendicular to the slope. Some animals create such horizontal paths: thoses paths can be an indication to recognize a contour line.
+
Contour lines are (abstract) lines that follow an horizontal path along the hill or the mountain side. They are perpendicular to the slope. Some animals create such horizontal paths: thoses paths can be an indication to recognize a contour line. An A shaped wood frame with a weighted string attached to the top angle, and a point marking the middle of the horizontal beam can be helpful to mark precisely horizontal contour lines: when the string hangs centered on the mark, the two legs of the A are at the same horizontal level.<br>
−
Some of the traditional ways to fight soil erosion is the creation of walls or fences along the contour lines. You should consider the fact that the pressure of the rainwater flow can break the wall or at least strongly weaken it, and that there should always be a sufficient drainage to lower the pressure. Planting vetiver is a promissing alternative to walls and fences as it allows the water to flow through but filters efficently soil particles and is quickly deeply rooted. Reports show that in the course of the time, natural terrasses create where vetiver was planted.  
+
Some of the traditional ways to fight soil erosion is the creation of walls or fences along the contour lines. You should consider the fact that the pressure of the rainwater flow can break the wall or at least strongly weaken it, and that there should always be a sufficient drainage to lower the pressure. Planting vetiver is a promising alternative to walls and fences as it allows the water to flow through but filters efficently soil particles and is quickly deeply rooted. Reports show that in the course of the time, natural terrasses create where vetiver was planted.  
−
It is important for terrassing walls or vetiver contours that no opening occures in the contour, that thoses elements are undisrrupted along the contour line, for this would mean an increased flow of water destroying parts of the construction and creating a gully.
+
It is important for terrassing walls or vetiver contours that no opening occures in the contour, that those elements are undisrrupted along the contour line, for this would mean an increased flow of water destroying parts of the construction and creating a gully.
  
 
==Difficulties==
 
==Difficulties==
Line 29: Line 27:
 
==Plans, Illustrations, Posters==
 
==Plans, Illustrations, Posters==
 
==Contacts==
 
==Contacts==
 +
*WOCAT: World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies.
 +
CDE WOCAT
 +
Hallerstrasse 10
 +
CH - 3012 Berne
 +
Switzerland
 +
Tel.: ++41 31 631 88 22
 +
Fax: ++41 31 631 85 44
 +
New Email-Address: wocat (at) cde.unibe.ch
 +
[http://www.wocat.net/ http://www.wocat.net]
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
 +
 +
Link to Fourthway's poster "How to stop soil erosion": http://www.fourthway.co.uk/posters/pages/soilerosion.html
 +
 +
Link to Fourthway's poster "Why Mulch?": http://www.fourthway.co.uk/posters/pages/mulch.html
  
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
 +
[http://www.vetiver.org/Fiji%20Rep.pdf Pdf on evaluation of invasiveness of Vetiver in Fidji], Paul Truong & Colin Creighton
  
 
==Related articles==
 
==Related articles==
  
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=='''Categories:'''==
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*[[How to Fight Soil Erosion by planting Vetiver Grass]]
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Mention the category, that is to say one or more themes for which this article is relevant, so that it can be recognized in these [[categories]], and quickly found by users.
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*[[How to Fight Soil Erosion]]
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Write them this way <nowiki>[[category:Example]]</nowiki>
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*[[How to Stop Gullies on Eroded Slopes]]
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[[category:Example]]
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*[[How to Build Causeways out of Dry Stone]]
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[[Category:Water]] [[Category:Agriculture]] [[Category:Soil]] [[Category:Forest]]  [[Category:Construction]] ] [[Category:Community]]  
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*[[How to Harvest Rainwater]]
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[[Category:Principles]]  
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*[[How to Harvest Run Off Rainwater]]
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[[Category:Medium]] [[Category:Difficult]]  
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*[[How to Process Nutmeg and Mace]]
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[[Category:More than 200 US$]]
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*[[What to Do with Neem Seeds]]
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[[Category:More than 5 Persons]]
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*[[Ecological Sanitation]]
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[[Category:Global Technology]] [[Category:Rural Environment]][[Category:Urban Environment]] [[Category:Montaneous Environment]] [[Category:Forest Environment]] [[Category:Temperate Climate]] [[Category:Mediterranean Climate]][[Category:Tropical Climate]] [[Category:Arid Climate]] [[Category:Monsoon Climate]] [[Category:Prevention]]  
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*[[How to Start Culture in Zai Holes]]
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[[Category:Vetiver]]  
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*[[How to Control Water Hyacinth]]
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[[Category:Stub|Stub]] [[Category:howtopedia requested images]] [[Category:howtopedia requested drawings]]
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*[[How to Recycle Rubber]]
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=='''Categories'''==
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[[Category:Agriculture]]  [[Category:Communication]] [[Category:Community]][[Category:Construction]] [[Category:Crisis Management]] [[Category:Forest]][[Category:Ideas]] [[Category:Pollution]] [[Category:Prevention]] [[Category:Resource Management]]  [[Category:Soil]] [[Category:Run-Off]] [[Category:Water]] [[Category:Water harvesting]] [[Category:Irrigation]] [[Category:Wind]] [[Category:Biodiversity]]
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[[Category:Medium]]
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[[Category:Global Technology]] [[Category:Arid Climate]] [[Category:Forest Environment]] [[Category:Global]] [[Category:Mediterranean Climate]] [[Category:Monsoon Climate]] [[Category:Rainy season]][[Category:Montaneous Environment]] [[Category:Coastal Area]] [[Category:Lakes and Rivers]] [[Category:Rural Environment]] [[Category:Temperate Climate]] [[Category:Tropical Climate]] [[Category:Urban Environment]]
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[[Category:Clay]] [[Category:Compost]]  [[Category:Seeds]] [[Category:Seedlings]] [[Category:Straw]] [[Category:Tea]]  [[Category:Tyres]] [[Category:Vetiver]] [[Category:Wood]]  
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[[Category:More than 5 Persons]]  
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[[Category:Household]] [[Category:Village]][[Category:Neighbourhood]]
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[[Category:Application]] [[Category:Principles]] [[Category:Howtopedia requested drawings]] [[Category:Howtopedia requested images]]
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[[Category:Requested translation to Spanish]]
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[[en:How to Fight Soil Erosion]]
 +
[[fr:Comment combattre l’érosion des pentes]]
 +
[[pt:Como combater a erosão do solo]]

Latest revision as of 14:56, 5 June 2017

This article is a draft. It was just started and needs further work.


How to Fight Slopes Soil Erosion?

Short Description

  • Problem: Due to deforestation or poor agricultural managment, the soil layer is being washed down by rain, causing gullies, poor agricultural conditions, and a risk for the populations.
  • Idea: Slowing the speed of the rain water on the slope, filtering the soil from the water and causing the particles to stay on the slope, planting deep roots plants or trees stabilizing the soil deeply, working on the horizontal contour lines.
  • Difficulty: Often huge surfaces concerned with the problem, work intensive solutions, necessity of an general agreement on the works within the community, maintainance.
  • Price Range: Accordingly to the labour intensivity, expensive
  • Material Needeed: Deep root trees and plants, construction material
  • Geographic Area: Global
  • Competencies: Understanding of contour lines, construction and planting skills
  • How Many people? From 5 to a community
  • How Long does it take? Depending on the slope and area concerned. labour intensive.

Description

The basic principles of the fight against slope erosion are to stabilize the soil through the planting of trees like or deep rooted plants like vetiver, working on the horizontal contour lines to slow the speed of the rain water on the slope, which as a midterm side effect improves the water infiltration and the groundwater levels, and to filter the washed soil particles from the flowing rainwater.
On relatively flat slopes, it will already be of some help to plough perpendicularly to the slope, along the contour lines.

Contour lines are (abstract) lines that follow an horizontal path along the hill or the mountain side. They are perpendicular to the slope. Some animals create such horizontal paths: thoses paths can be an indication to recognize a contour line. An A shaped wood frame with a weighted string attached to the top angle, and a point marking the middle of the horizontal beam can be helpful to mark precisely horizontal contour lines: when the string hangs centered on the mark, the two legs of the A are at the same horizontal level.
Some of the traditional ways to fight soil erosion is the creation of walls or fences along the contour lines. You should consider the fact that the pressure of the rainwater flow can break the wall or at least strongly weaken it, and that there should always be a sufficient drainage to lower the pressure. Planting vetiver is a promising alternative to walls and fences as it allows the water to flow through but filters efficently soil particles and is quickly deeply rooted. Reports show that in the course of the time, natural terrasses create where vetiver was planted. It is important for terrassing walls or vetiver contours that no opening occures in the contour, that those elements are undisrrupted along the contour line, for this would mean an increased flow of water destroying parts of the construction and creating a gully.

Difficulties

Success Story

Plans, Illustrations, Posters

Contacts

  • WOCAT: World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies.

CDE WOCAT Hallerstrasse 10 CH - 3012 Berne Switzerland Tel.: ++41 31 631 88 22 Fax: ++41 31 631 85 44 New Email-Address: wocat (at) cde.unibe.ch http://www.wocat.net

Links

Link to Fourthway's poster "How to stop soil erosion": http://www.fourthway.co.uk/posters/pages/soilerosion.html

Link to Fourthway's poster "Why Mulch?": http://www.fourthway.co.uk/posters/pages/mulch.html

Bibliography

Pdf on evaluation of invasiveness of Vetiver in Fidji, Paul Truong & Colin Creighton

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