Contour bunds are structures that control erosion, improve infiltration and improve agricultural yields (Knoop et al. 2012). The bunds are usually built on hillsides along contours. This dissects the slope into many smaller micro-catchments. Contour bunds reduce the speed of run-off, which allows the water to infiltrate, thus improving the soil moisture. Contour bunds come in various designs (stone bunds, soil bunds, tied ridges and stone face bunds), and are globally used as another approach of water buffering and soil conservation.
In East Africa the most common contour bunds practiced are called Fanya Juu. These soil bunds are used on cultivated land on slopes ranging from 3% – 5% (Desta, et al. 2005).
• During the design phase of the bunds, it is important to
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• Steeper slopes pose increased run-off speeds that can damage the bunds. Such steep slopes require another soil conservation technique such as trenches.
• It is important to begin building the bunds at the top of the slope and then work your way downwards.
• When the interval between the lines is planned, then mark a straight line from the upper section of the field to the bottom.
• Afterwards mark the line of these line intervals.
• Every demarcation measure and mark the line.
• Eradicate grass from the areas where the proposed bunds are to be constructed, as this allows better bondage with the ground.
• Then build the bunds on the marked contour lines.
• Afterwards reinforce the bunds and allow vegetation to grow (NREGA, 2006).
Costs and benefits
• Increases recharge.
• Improves retention.
• Improves and increases crop production (Knoop et al. 2012).
• Controls erosion and thus better water flow
One of the most visible and mutual environmental impacts of ski areas on the environment is deforestation and grading of slopes. In order to service a multitude of winter sport enthusiast, mountain slopes must be cleared of dense forest in order to make way for ski runs and lifts. With the ski industry in the US showing steady numbers (Satistica) resorts have to come up with new attractions to keep past patrons and attract new customers. One of the ways that they do this is by opening up new terrain, which increases the amount of deforestation damaging the local vegetation. Ski resorts essentially have two options in creating new terrain. First clearing runs by removing trees and other woody vegetation, leaving the topsoil and seed bank intact or by grading slopes by using bulldozers to remove any abnormalities. The second method is preferred as it is faster and more efficient and allows for the slope to be opened earlier with less snow pact.(USA) The impacts of grading slopes by bulldozing destroy the vegetation, reduce the topsoil and greatly contribute to erosion. The removal of woody vegetation can also lead to a drastic change in the local vegetation in order to keep the trails clear it requires constant trimming of the new growth of unwanted vegetation that can help anchor topsoil in place and provide better growing conditions for other plants. The destructive method of bulldozing runs not only leads to environmental degradation but also can be counter productive. According to a UC Davis study, while clearing slopes of vegetation and irregularities by bulldozer might result in opening earlier than other resorts the increase in maintenance, will likely offset any monetary gains (USA).
Cultural control of dollar spot has major success if completed properly. A couple cultural practices that promote healthy turf are: removing excess thatch, mow frequently at recommended heights, and aerate compacted soils (SLJ, 2009). Removing excess thatch can be accomplished a couple of ways such as; by using a vertical mower or by using a power rake. Aerating the turf will help with soil compaction while topdressing will help with drainage (Wong 2009). Mow the turf at recommend height without removing more than 1/3 of leaf surface area in one mowing (Pigati ...
affects the ecosystem. The land's incline prevents some areas to receive and maintain a water
Desert pavements are common landforms in arid regions. They consist of flat or sloping surfaces where stones are closely packed angular or rounded, and generally exhibit low relief (Mabbutt, 1977). Pavements tend to form on both alluvial fan toposequences and on weathering volcanic flow fields in arid regions. Soils are often found under desert pavements and they play an important role in the evolution of pavements (McFadden et. al., 1987). In the past there have been several theories as to the formation pavements and soil development beneath them. Deflation, or the erosion of finer grained particles from a surface, stone concentration by wash erosion and upward displacement of stone due to shrink and swell clay characteristics were at one time believed to be the main factors in the formation of desert pavements (Mabbutt, 1977). However, more recent research has shown that desert pavements are born and maintained at the surface, and that the soil below them is mainly eolian in origin. Slow accretion of eolian dust below the pavement is a process that eventually develops cumulate horizons. Eolian dust in environments where pavements often develop is rich in carbonate salts and clays due to the fact it often originates from nearby playa lake evaporate basins (McFadden et. al., 1987). Soils that form below the pavements over time develop calcic horizons and clay rich structure due to the influx of these eolian fines through the pavement surface. In turn the development of mature or plugged calcic horizons effects the form of the pavement surface because it alters the water drainage infiltration rate and causes pavements to decline.
To solve this problem, I built different sized cubes (2 x 2 x 2, 3 x 3
2. Mark a starting line and a finish line two meters away from each other with small pieces of masking tape.
hundred feet on each side of the trail line. Surveyors will go back and made a decision
Davis, J. G., R. M. Waskom, and T. A. Bauder. Managing Sodic Soils. Colorado State
Engineers, scientists, and/or volunteers place brush, roots, trees and other plants to cover banks. This helps to stop erosion by reversing loose soil. Hard structures like rock or cement are sometimes used too. Some pros is that there is a high chance of success and there is a recovery of streamside habitat. The recovery of streamside habitat occurs because animals use plants as shade and hiding places from predators, the plants affect dissolved oxygen levels, and because herbivores may eat/live in the plants (hollows of trees, fungi and roots). Some cons of this natural solution is loss of existing vegetation and results take time.
Dry lands is a previous stage into what can develop the atrocity of desertification. These plains of ground lack moisture. These areas lose it either to evaporation or by transpiration of plants. Generally the land that is considered dry lands is still used by primitive technologies within herding and farming. This weak land is put on even l...
Living in Bangladesh, we have seen quite disastrous mudslides from the past few years. Mudslide is also called a landslide or a land slip. It is a downward mass movement of earth or rock on unstable slopes, including many forms resulting from differences in rock structure, coherence of material involved, degree of slope, amount of included water, extent of natural or artificial undercutting at the base of the slope, relative rate of movement, and relative quantity of material involved. There are numerous facts that can cause a mudslide and there are also numerous effects that it can cause us.
The first step to development is to survey the property in order to document and draw the bounds and land surface shapes. The property will be represented by various geometry elements such as points, lines, arcs, circles, and other defined geometry shapes. Surveyors use scope on tripods witch use projection of line Referenced point on a stick in order to measure the variations of the heights on the ground. This tool uses various angel theorems and postulates to find location of property boundaries, property corners, utilities and building layouts on the property. The surveyor uses the data collected to draw the property layout on a 36”x 24”sheet of paper.
This is a form of rotational grazing. It is considered the best method of grazing. It involves the farmer dividing grazing areas into 20-25 paddocks. The paddocks depend on the size of our herd. Every day cows will graze one paddock. This method is based on the idea that each tiller has three actively growing leaves at an...
home farm. Reducing soil erosion is one of the most important practices on my home farm.
Landslides are one of the most common destructive geological processes on the surface of the Earth and are accountable for loss of lives and property every year. Landslides are frequent and widespread geomorphological phenomena over mountainous regions and steep terrains are affected severely. It destroys fertile lands and is a major threat to urban and industrial development. Landslides cause changes in the morphology of the landscape and drop in land productivity (Blaschke et al., 2000).