Did you know that Soil is the most important and valuable natural resource on earth.

Focus on soil erosion control

Did you know that Soil is the most important and valuable natural resource on earth, I thought you should know?  Trees plays a significant role in creating and protecting it through preventing soil erosion, improving soil fertility and maintaining or adding soil health.

Soil erosion is the displacement of top soil caused by water, air or tilling the land. This can therefore create series of problems in future vegetation and may lead to more critical soil erosion. The good news is, there are several ways to prevent and remedy soil erosion.

 Therefore, maintenance of good and health soil is important for your land scape. Trees are one of the best natural methods to maintain healthy soil and prevent soil erosion. Fruit tree farming can be a double-edged gain. Fruit trees provide nutritious fruits, animal feeds, provide shade, help in keeping the soil moist and most importantly prevent soil erosion.

3 ways how fruit trees prevent soil erosion.

  1. Root system.

Root system of most of the fruit trees are embedded with large roots that Branch out into many smaller roots.  The roots extend out into the surrounding soil far beyond their branches, hold the soil in place and improve the drainage of the soil. Additionally, the roots prevent compaction and help water soak into the ground thus preventing flowing over its surface.  Tree roots; tend to grow more deeply compared to other plants. Consequently, they provide a significant resistance to erosion.

  • Fruit trees act as wind breakers

Trees planted closely together in rows are excellent wind breakers, especially, on the wind ward side of an area vulnerable to the wind erosive force.  The overlapping foliage of trees planted in a windbreak assists in lowering the force of the wind.  This therefore, reduces the amount of the soil that is carried away during heavy wind.  The best trees to act as wind breakers have a rapid growth rate, dense foliage that aggressively reduces the force of the wind. Fruit trees, especially grafted trees, fits these requirements perfectly as they grow to a medium size, form an excellent canopy that significantly reduce the force of the wind.

  • Trees foliage

Rain water is the major threat that results to soil erosion. Tree foliage intercepts falling of rain water and reduces its impact when it hits the ground.    When rain water lands into tree foliage, it is channeled over the stems and finally down the truck until it is soaked into the soil. This process assists rain water to penetrate through the soil instead of washing it away. Although you do not need to plant many trees to protect an area, trees with broad foliage planted together can reduce the force of falling rain a significant area.

In conclusion, soil erosion control measures are a significant idea every farmer should consider especially for those areas that experience high rainfall and a sloppy topography. On that note, farmers should consider doing fruit farming as a way of soil conservation measure as it will be a double-edged gain where a farmer will benefit from fruits and prevention of soil erosion.

 

 

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