soil-conservation-people-religion-and-land.pdf - South West NRM

(c) The flexibility of the plan concerning its suitability
for other forms of production if a change in owner
interests or changing returns for farm commodities
necessitate the change.
(d) The ease and efficiency of working the property must be
considered in relation to the particular needs of the
type of production being undertaken.
(e) The most suitable system of erosion control measures to
be adopted on the various areas to gain maximum control
of erosion and increased stable returns from the farm is
a primary consideration.
(f) Access with farm machinery, stock movements, subdivision
fencing and location of the runoff disposal systems must
be considered.
The development of an effective soil conservation farm plan on
a property generally requires a complete reorganisation of
farm layout to suit the topography. Only permanent
improvements such as farm buildings and permanent watering
points are therefore considered when the plan is being
developed. While the location of existing fences should not
be discarded completely from consideration, there are few
farms where the existing location is ideally suited for soil
conservation development, and generally speaking location of
existing fences should not be allowed to influence the layout.
Some examples of the practical aspects of fam planning
Plannina cro~land
(1) The Plains (eg the low sloping alluvial plains)
Concentration of flood waters on the plains leads to severe
soil erosion and therefore the policy has been to recommend
land use and management practices that will lead to the
spreading of flows.
Some obstacles (eg roads and access tracks, irrigation head
ditches, fences, buildings, crop lines) on the plain not
correctly positioned will lead to concentration of water.
(a)
Roads
Those roads that are perpendicular to the contour cause very
few problems.
Those roads that are skew to the contour and substantially
raised above ground level will concentrate sheet flow and
scour the top side of the road. Such roads will spread water
flows if either the crown height is lowered or if long lowered
flood sections (not inverts) are constructed.