Erosion in the Palouse - Steep III (Solutions To Environmental and ...

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12Stripcropping dividesa slope to reducerunoff and erosion.Level terraces keepwater where it falls.
13Using appropriatecombinations of practicesThe Palouse study evaluated the effectsof applying combinations of theseconservation practices with differentcropping systems. It concluded thaterosion rates on nearly level and gentlysloping lands can be reduced to lessthan 5 tons per acre if the right combinationsare used.Erosion on steeper slopes can also bereduced significantly, but on the steepestslopes it will remain high if cultivation iscontinued. Erosion on steep land can bestbe controlled by retiring it from cultivationand establishing a permanent plant cover.There is no single “best conservationpractice” for all farms. Combinations ofvarious practices that meet the needs ofthe land are the most successful. ThePalouse study can guide (individual andgroup) efforts to select the proper combinations.Applying various levels of conservationtreatment to the land will affect theeconomy of the basin. But erosion ratescan be reduced by 40 percent in the lowand high precipitation zones and 60percent in the intermediate precipitationzone—without decreasing farm income.The erosion rate can be reduced 80percent through maximum levels ofconservation practices and retirementof 35,000 acres of steep, erodible land.Achieving this level of reduction wouldcost more than $29 million in reducedproductivity and increased operatingcosts.As erosion rates are reduced throughconservation, less sediment will bedelivered to stream systems. Croppinginstead of summer fallowing increasesfuel and fertilizer use but reduces erosion.Reducing erosion improves water qualitygreatly by reducing sedimentation.Retiring very steep, erodible land fromcultivation can increase wildlife habitatvalues 4 to 18 percent and decrease fueland fertilizer use.Percent of erosion on cropland bypercent of slope*DepositionTopsoilSubsoilSouth andwest slopesNorth andeast slopesClass II Class III Class IV Class VIRange ofslope0–12% 12–30% 0–30% 30–45%Averageslope8% 16% 12% 36%Croplandarea7% 71% 15% 7%Percent oferosion2% 46% 25% 27%*Source:Idaho, Oregon, and Washington Agricultural Experiment Stations andAgricultural Research Service, USDA. Economics of cropping systemsand soil conservation in the Palouse. Bulletin No. 2. August 1961.
Page 2 and 3: 2Erosion in the Palouse:A Summary o
Page 4 and 5: 4The LandCalled PalouseWestern port
Page 6 and 7: 6Erosion in the Palouse:How Bad Is
Page 8 and 9: 8Effects of erosionThe millions of
Page 10 and 11: 10What CanConservation Do?Fall chis
Page 14 and 15: 14To reduceerosion...reducesummer f

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