← Agriculture / 1 Conservation of Resources
1.1 Soil Conservation Measures
Agriculture · Grade 8 · 10 lessons in the design
What this covers
- Methods of soil conservation: strip cropping, grassed waterways, stone lines, trash lines and soil bunds
- Carrying out soil conservation activities in the school environment
- A farm model displaying soil conservation measures
- Matching conservation measures to Kenya highlands and ASAL lands
- A caring attitude towards soil in the environment
What you will be able to do
- describe methods of soil conservation in agricultural environment
- carry out soil conservation activities in the environment
- demonstrate caring attitude towards soil in the environment
Key questions
“How can we conserve soil in the environment?”
Lessons
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Why we conserve soil
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizSoil conservation means slowing water and wind so the thin dark topsoil that feeds crops is not washed or blown away.
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Strip cropping
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizStrip cropping is planting alternate bands of open and close-growing crops across the slope so the dense strip filters runoff and holds soil.
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Grassed waterways
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizA grassed waterway is a shallow, grass-lined channel that carries runoff off a field without cutting a gully.
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Stone lines
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizStone lines are rows of stones laid on the contour to slow runoff and trap soil, especially on ASAL farms where stones are plentiful and grass is scarce.
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Trash lines
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizTrash lines are bands of crop remains laid across the slope to slow runoff, trap soil and later rot into manure.
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Soil bunds
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizA soil bund is an earth ridge built along the contour, with a small uphill ditch, so rainwater soaks in instead of racing downhill.
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Highlands and ASAL: matching the measure
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizWet highland slopes lean on strip cropping, grassed waterways and bunds; dry ASAL land leans on stone lines, trash lines and bunds where soil allows.
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Surveying the school farm
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizWalk the school environment, find where soil is moving, and choose a conservation measure the class can actually build and tend.
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A farm model of conservation
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizA carton, soil and papier-mache farm model displays strip cropping, a grassed waterway, stone and trash lines and a bund on one slope.
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A caring attitude toward soil
40 min · 1 practice tasks · quizCaring for soil means repairing structures after rain, keeping cover on the ground, sharing the skill, and not starting new gullies.