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31-480: The Conservation Security Program ( CSP ) was a voluntary conservation program in the United States that supported stewardship of private agricultural lands by providing payments and technical assistance for maintaining and enhancing natural resources. The program promoted the conservation and improvement of soil , water , air , energy , plant and animal life, and other conservation purposes. Congress established

62-778: A byproduct of soil infiltration ; irrigation merely increases the rate of salt deposition. The best-known case of shallow saline water table capillary action occurred in Egypt after the 1970 construction of the Aswan Dam . The change in the groundwater level led to high salt concentrations in the water table. The continuous high level of the water table led to soil salination . Use of humic acids may prevent excess salination, especially given excessive irrigation. Humic acids can fix both anions and cations and eliminate them from root zones . Planting species that can tolerate saline conditions can be used to lower water tables and thus reduce

93-593: A large number of applications that cannot be funded. Also, the NRCS expects that a significant number of producers will seek participation in the Conservation Security Program and ask for assistance to determine their potential eligibility for the program. By law, the NRCS cannot incur technical assistance costs in excess of 15 percent of the funds expended in that fiscal year for the CSP. Given this modest service funding,

124-933: A major impact on soil quality. Soil quality relates to soil functions . Unlike water or air, for which established standards have been set, soil quality is difficult to define or quantify. Soil quality can be evaluated using the Soil Management Assessment Framework. Soil quality in agricultural terms is measured on a scale of soil value ( Bodenwertzahl ) in Germany . Soil quality is primarily measured by chemical, physical, and biological indicators because soil function cannot easily be measured directly. Each of these categories comprises several indicators that provide insight into overall soil quality. There are very few soil quality monitoring systems that can provide near real-time information on these indicators but almost all of these systems are currently reported only to

155-632: Is caused by irrigating with salty water. Water then evaporates from the soil leaving the salt behind. Salt breaks down the soil structure, causing infertility and reduced growth. The ions responsible for salination are: sodium (Na ), potassium (K ), calcium (Ca ), magnesium (Mg ) and chlorine (Cl ). Salinity is estimated to affect about one third of the earth's arable land . Soil salinity adversely affects crop metabolism and erosion usually follows. Salinity occurs on drylands from overirrigation and in areas with shallow saline water tables. Over-irrigation deposits salts in upper soil layers as

186-431: Is further required to solve the erosion problem. A simple governance hurdle concerns how we value the land and this can be changed by cultural adaptation. Soil carbon is a carbon sink , playing a role in climate change mitigation . Contour ploughing orients furrows following the contour lines of the farmed area. Furrows move left and right to maintain a constant altitude, which reduces runoff . Contour plowing

217-440: Is more common on small farms. This involves creating a series of flat terraced levels on a sloping field. Keyline design is the enhancement of contour farming, where the total watershed properties are taken into account in forming the contour lines . Tree, shrubs and ground-cover are effective perimeter treatment for soil erosion prevention, by impeding surface flows. A special form of this perimeter or inter-row treatment

248-412: Is the use of a "grass way" that both channels and dissipates runoff through surface friction, impeding surface runoff and encouraging infiltration of the slowed surface water. Windbreaks are sufficiently dense rows of trees at the windward exposure of an agricultural field subject to wind erosion . Evergreen species provide year-round protection; however, as long as foliage is present in

279-581: The 2020 Food and Agriculture Organization’s report "State of knowledge of soil biodiversity – Status, challenges and potentialities", there are major gaps in knowledge about biodiversity in soils. Degraded soil requires synthetic fertilizer to produce high yields. Lacking structure increases erosion and carries nitrogen and other pollutants into rivers and streams. Each one percent increase in soil organic matter helps soil hold 20,000 gallons more water per acre. To allow plants full realization of their phytonutrient potential, active mineralization of

310-727: The CSP under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA), which amended the Food Security Act of 1985. The program was administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In 2008 Congress enacted the 2008 Farm Bill and replaced the Conservation Security Program with the similarly named, but differently structured Conservation Stewardship Program. The CSP

341-921: The Caribbean area. As the CSP expands, other watersheds will be selected each year with the input of the State Conservationists, until landowners in every watershed have had a chance to participate. NRCS used watershed prioritization to determine specific areas eligible for accepting CSP applications in each sign-up. The NRCS nationally prioritizes the watershed based on a score derived from a composite index of existing natural resource, environmental quality, and agricultural activity data. The watershed prioritization and identification process considers several factors. Some of these factors include vulnerability of surface and ground water quality. Also, potential for excessive soil quality degradation and condition of grazing land are also factors that are considering in determining

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372-459: The NRCS must focus and limit the land and landowners that its conservations can serve at one time. Offering the Conservation Security Program in only selected watersheds provides that focus. In fiscal year 2004, 18 watersheds from across the Nation were selected as part of the Conservation Security Program. In 2005, the number of watersheds increased drastically to 202 to have at least one per state and

403-421: The amount of soil organic matter . Repeated plowing/tilling degrades soil, killing its beneficial fungi and earthworms. Once damaged, soil may take multiple seasons to fully recover, even in optimal circumstances. Critics argue that no-till and related methods are impractical and too expensive for many growers, partly because it requires new equipment. They cite advantages for conventional tilling depending on

434-419: The crop or livestock marketed for the operation. The NRCS implemented the CSP on a watershed basis instead of a nationwide basis because they believed a staged, watershed-based implementation of CSP made the most sense – economically, practically, and administratively. They feel that focusing on high priority watersheds will reduce the administrative burden on applicants, and will reduce the costs of processing

465-414: The geography, crops and soil conditions. Some farmers have contended that no-till complicates pest control, delays planting and that post-harvest residues, especially for corn, are hard to manage. The use of pesticides can contaminate the soil, and nearby vegetation and water sources for a long time. They affect soil structure and (biotic and abiotic) composition. Differentiated taxation schemes are among

496-415: The local field office. Of these, 2,800 complete the self-assessment put forth by the program and made application towards the program. And finally, 2,180 contracts were approved as eligible for the Conservation Security Program. The USDA actually accepted all eligible CSP applications that were submitted during the first sign-up period. The CSP required that the land must be privately owned or Tribal land and

527-430: The majority of the land must be located within one of the selected watersheds. Also, the applicant must be in compliance with highly erodible and wetland provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, have an active interest in the agricultural operation, and have control of the land for the life of the contract. The applicant for the CSP must also share in the risk of producing any crop or livestock and be entitled to share in

558-507: The natural resources benefits provided to all Americans." Participants in the CSP sign a Conservation Security Contract stating which of the three levels (also referred to as tiers) of conservation they will maintain on lands in production in return for annual payments. Producers determined whether they were located in an eligible watershed, and then completed a self-assessment, including a description of conservation activities on their operations, to help determine their eligibility for CSP at

589-436: The options investigated in the academic literature to reducing their use. Alternatives to pesticides are available and include methods of cultivation, use of biological pest controls (such as pheromones and microbial pesticides), genetic engineering (mostly of crops ), and methods of interfering with insect breeding. Application of composted yard waste has also been used as a way of controlling pests. Salinity in soil

620-568: The rate of capillary and evaporative enrichment of surface salts. Salt-tolerant plants include saltbush , a plant found in much of North America and in the Mediterranean regions of Europe . When worms excrete feces in the form of casts , a balanced selection of minerals and plant nutrients is made into a form accessible for root uptake. Earthworm casts are five times richer in available nitrogen , seven times richer in available phosphates and eleven times richer in available potash than

651-687: The research level. The physical category of soil quality indicators consists of tests that measure soil texture, bulk density, porosity, water content at saturation, aggregate stability, penetration resistance, and more. These measures provide hydrological information, such the level of water infiltration and water availability to plants. Chemical indicators include pH and nutrient levels. A typical soil test only evaluates chemical soil properties. Biological measures include diversity of soil organisms and fungi. The movement and biological functions of soil organisms (including earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, ants, and spiders) impact soil processes such as

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682-491: The seasons of bare soil surfaces, the effect of deciduous trees may be adequate. Cover crops such as nitrogen-fixing legumes , white turnips, radishes and other species are rotated with cash crops to blanket the soil year-round and act as green manure that replenishes nitrogen and other critical nutrients. Cover crops also help to suppress weeds. Soil-conservation farming involves no-till farming , "green manures" and other soil-enhancing practices which make it hard for

713-618: The sediment originates from productive land, this process of addition to a floodplain is a natural process that can rejuvenate soil chemistry through mineralization. Soil quality Soil quality refers to the condition of soil based on its capacity to perform ecosystem services that meet the needs of human and non-human life. Soil quality reflects how well a soil performs the functions of maintaining biodiversity and productivity, partitioning water and solute flow, filtering and buffering, nutrient cycling , and providing support for plants and other structures. Soil management has

744-541: The soil is sometimes undertaken. This can involve adding crushed rock or chemical soil supplements. In either case the purpose is to combat mineral depletion. A broad range of minerals can be used, including common substances such as phosphorus and more exotic substances such as zinc and selenium . Extensive research examines the phase transitions of minerals in soil with aqueous contact. Flooding can bring significant sediments to an alluvial plain. While this effect may not be desirable if floods endanger life or if

775-511: The soil. Code 330 defines standard methods recommended by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service . Farmers have practiced soil conservation for millennia. In Europe, policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy are targeting the application of best management practices such as reduced tillage , winter cover crops, plant residues and grass margins in order to better address soil conservation. Political and economic action

806-466: The soils to be equalized. Such farming methods attempt to mimic the biology of barren lands . They can revive damaged soil, minimize erosion, encourage plant growth, eliminate the use of nitrogen fertilizer or fungicide, produce above-average yields and protect crops during droughts or flooding. The result is less labor and lower costs that increase farmers’ profits. No-till farming and cover crops act as sinks for nitrogen and other nutrients. This increases

837-416: The surrounding upper 150 millimetres (5.9 in) of soil. The weight of casts produced may be greater than 4.5 kg per worm per year. By burrowing, the earthworm improves soil porosity , creating channels that enhance the processes of aeration and drainage. Other important soil organisms include nematodes , mycorrhiza and bacteria . A quarter of all the animal species live underground. According to

868-420: The time. Based on the application, description of current conservation activities, and the interview, NRCS determined CSP eligibility and in which program tier and enrollment category the applicant may participate. During the first year the program was in operation about 9,000 people contacted a field office or attended a local workshop about the CSP the first year. About 4,800 producer requests were registered at

899-556: The watersheds used for the Conservation Security Program. Soil conservation Slash-and-burn and other unsustainable methods of subsistence farming are practiced in some lesser developed areas. A consequence of deforestation is typically large-scale erosion , loss of soil nutrients and sometimes total desertification . Techniques for improved soil conservation include crop rotation , cover crops , conservation tillage and planted windbreaks , affect both erosion and fertility . When plants die, they decay and become part of

930-433: Was practiced by the ancient Phoenicians for slopes between two and ten percent. Contour plowing can increase crop yields from 10 to 50 percent, partially as a result of greater soil retention. Terracing is the practice of creating nearly level areas in a hillside area. The terraces form a series of steps each at a higher level than the previous. Terraces are protected from erosion by other soil barriers. Terraced farming

961-737: Was used on Tribal and private working lands. All 50 states and U.S. territories in the Caribbean and Pacific basins had incorporated the CSP. The program provides equitable access to benefit all producers, regardless of size of operation, crops produced, or geographic location. The CSP helps producers maintain conservation stewardship and implement additional conservation practices that provide added environmental enhancement, while creating powerful incentives for other producers to meet those same standards of conservation performance. The NRCS believes "The conservation benefits gained will help farms and ranches be more environmentally sustainable and will increase

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