Skip to main content

Soil and Water Conservation: An Overview

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Zero Hunger

Definitions

Buffer strip:

An area of land maintained in permanent vegetation that helps to trap sediment by slowing down runoff, thus enhancing filtration of nutrients.

Conservation tillage:

A tillage system that creates a suitable soil environment for growing a crop and that conserves soil, water, and energy resources mainly through reduction in the intensity of tillage and retention of plant residues.

Crop residue:

Any type of vegetative cover retained in the field and may include standing stubble, dispersed straw, living vegetation, or mulch.

Soil and water conservation (SWC):

Any practice that reduces soil erosion and water runoff, thus conserving soil.

Soil erosion:

Detachment and transportation of soil and soil material from the place of origin by water, wind, ice, or gravity and deposition to another place.

Introduction

Loss of soil quality due to soil erosion remains a major factor of low crop productivity in tropical and subtropical countries. Soil and water conservation (SWC)...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 499.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 649.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Boardman J, Shepheard ML, Walker E, Foster IDL (2009) Soil erosion and risk-assessment for on- and off-farm impacts: a test case using the Midhurst area, West Sussex, UK. J Environ Manag 90(8):2578–2588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duvert C, Gratiot N, Evrard O, Navratil O, Némery J, Prat C, Esteves M (2010) Drivers of erosion and suspended sediment transport in three headwater catchments of the Mexican Central Highlands. Geomorphology 123:243–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farhan Y, Zregat D, Nawaiseh S (2014) Assessing the influence of physical factors on spatial soil erosion risk in Northern Jordan. J Am Sci 10:29–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Felfoul MS, Snane MH, Albergel J, Mechergui M (2003) Relationship between small dam efficiency and gullyerodibility of the lithologic formations covering their watershed. Bull Eng Geol Environ 62:315–322

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gachene CKK, Jarvis NJ, Linner H, Mbuvi JP (1997) Soil erosion effects on soil properties in a highland area of Central Kenya. Soil Sci Soc Am J 61:559–564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gachene CKK, Mbuvi JP, Jarvis NJ, Linner H (1998) Maize yield reduction due to erosion in a high potential area of Central Kenya highlands. Afr Crop Sci J 6(1):29–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gobin A, Jones R, Kirkby M, Campling P, Goversa G, Kosmas C, Gentile AR (2004) Indicators for pan-European assessment and monitoring of soil erosion by water. Environ Sci Policy 7:25–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hurni H, Berhe WA, Chadhokar P, Daniel D, Gete Z, Grunder M, Kassaye G (2016) Soil and water conservation in ethiopia: guidelines for development agents. Second revised edition. Bern, Switzerland: Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, with Bern Open Publishing (BOP), p 134

    Google Scholar 

  • Ighodaro ID, Lategan FS, Yusuf SFG (2013) The impact of soil erosion on agricultural potential and performance of Sheshegu community farmers in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. J Agric Sci 5:140–147

    Google Scholar 

  • Jawuoro SO, Koech OK, Karuku GN, Mbau JS (2017) Effect of piospheres on physic- chemical soil properties in the Southern Rangelands of Kenya. Ecol Process 6(14):1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahsay T (2011) The effect of land tenure systems on soil conservation practices in northern Ethiopia: A case study of Habru District in Amhara National Regional State (ANRS). Dublin, Ireland. Retrieved from http://kimmagedsc.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Tesfu-Kahsay.pdf

  • Kinama JM, Stigter CJ, Ong CK, Ng’ang’a JK, Gichuki FN (2007) Contour hedgerows and grass strips in erosion and runoff control on sloping land in semi-arid Kenya. Arid Land Res Manag 21(1):1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klaus DP, Sebastian O, Johannes BR, Irene M, Ali AH (2014) Soil erosion in gully catchments affected by land-leveling measures in the Souss Basin, Morocco, analyzed by rainfall simulation and UAV remote sensing data. Catena 113:24–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maeda E, Petri KEP, Mika S, Clark BJF (2010) Potential impacts of agricultural expansion and climate change on soil erosion in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Kenya. Geomorphology 123:279–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mariara JK, Linderhof V, Kruseman G, Atieno R, Mwabu G (2010) Poverty-environmental links: the impact of soil and water conservation and tenure security on household welfare in Kenya. J Dev Agric Econ 2:041–053

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez-Casasnovas JA, Ramos MC, García-Hernández D (2009) Effects of land-use changes in vegetation cover and sidewall erosion in a gully head of the Penedès region (Northeast Spain). Earth Surf Process Landf 34:1927–1937

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mati BM (1984) A technical evaluation of soil conservation activities in Kiambu District. Soil and Water Conservation Branch, Ministry of Agriculture, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • Mati, BM (1992) An evaluation of the needed soil conservation works along Minor Roads Programme (MRP) soil conservation. Pilot Project, Muranga District

    Google Scholar 

  • Muchomba FM (2017) Women’s land tenure security and household human capital: evidence from Ethiopia’s land certification. World Dev 98:310–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munyahali W, Pypers P, Swennen R, Walangululu J, Vanlauwe B, Merckx R (2017) Responses of cassava growth and yield to leaf harvesting frequency and NPK fertilizer in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. Field Crop Res 214:194–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murillo JFM, Vicente ML, Poesen J, Sinoga DR (2011) Modelling the effects of land use changes on runoff and soil erosion in two Mediterranean catchments with active gullies (South of Spain). Landf Anal 17:99–104

    Google Scholar 

  • NEMA (2000) Environmental economics guidelines for Uganda. National Environment Management Authority, Kampala, pp 34–46

    Google Scholar 

  • New Zealand Government (2018) Soil conservation and River Control Act 1941. Public Act 1941 No 12. http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1941/0012/latest/DLM230365.html. Accessed 20 July 2019

  • Nkonya E (2002) Soil conservation practices and non-agricultural land use in the south western highlands of Uganda. The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Kampala, p 29

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyawade OS (2015) Effect of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cropping systems on soil and nutrient losses through runoff in a Humic Nitisol, thesis. University of Nairobi, Kenya, p 80

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyawade SO, Karanja NN, Gachene CKK, Schulte-Geldermann E, Parker M (2018a) Effect of potato hilling on soil temperature, soil moisture distribution and sediment yield on a sloping terrain. Soil Tillage Res 184:24–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyawade SN, Karanja N, Gachene C, Schulte-Geldermann E, Parker M (2018b) Susceptibility of soil organic matter fractions to soil erosion under potato-legume intercropping systems in Central Kenya. J Soil Water Conserv 73:568–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okalebo JR, Othieno CO, Woomer PL, Karanja NK, Semoka JRM, Bekunda MA, Mugendi DN, Muasya RM, Bationo A, Mukhwana EJ (2006) Available technologies to replenish soil fertility in East Africa. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 76:153–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Otieno HM, Chemining’wa GN, Zingore S (2018) Effect of farmyard manure, lime and inorganic fertilizer applications on soil pH, nutrients uptake, growth and nodulation of soybean in acid soils of Western Kenya. J Agric Sci 10(4):199–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Pimentel D (2006) Soil erosion: a food and environmental threat. Environ Dev Sustain 8:119–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pincus L, Margenot A, Six J, Scow K (2016) On-farm trial assessing combined organic and mineral fertilizer amendments on vegetable yields in Central Uganda. Agric Ecosyst Environ 225:62–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renschler CS, Harbor J (2009) Soil erosion assessment tools from point to regional scales-the role of geomorphologists in land management research and implementation. Geomorphology 47:189–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues MÂ, Ladeira LC, Arrobas M (2018) Azotobacter-enriched organic manures to increase nitrogen fixation and crop productivity. Eur J Agron 93:88–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez PA (1999) Improved fallows come of age in the tropics. Agrofor Syst 47:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sileshi G, Akinnifesi F, Ajayi K, Oluyede C (2008) Meta-analysis of maize yield response to woody and herbaceous legumes in sub-Saharan Africa. Plant Soil 307:12–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sjögren H (2015) Agroforestry systems with trees for biomass production in Western Kenya. Department of Forest Ecology and Management Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, UmeÃ¥. PhD thesis, p 43

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesfahunegn GB, Tamene L, Vlek PLG (2014) Soil erosion prediction using Morgan-Morgan-Finney model in a GIS environment in Northern Ethiopia catchment. Appl Environ Soil Sci. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/468751

  • Thierfelder C, Wall PC (2009) Effects of conservation agriculture techniques on infiltration and soil water content in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Soil Tillage Res 105:217–227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Udayakumara EPN, Shrestha RP, Samarakoon L, Vogt DS (2010) People’s perception and socioeconomic determinants of soil erosion: a case study of Samanalawewa watershed, Sri Lanka. Int J Sediment Res 25:323–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valentin C et al (2008) Runoff and sediment losses from 27 upland catchments in Southeast Asia: impact of rapid land use changes and conservation practices. Agric Ecosyst Environ 128:225–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Violet NG, Gachene CKK, Ngugi JN, Thuranira EG, Baaru MW (2011) Adoption and opportunities for improving soil and water conservation practices in Kathekakai settlement scheme, Machakos District

    Google Scholar 

  • Wan R, Yang G (2007) Influence of land use/cover change on storm runoff-a case study of Xitiaoxi River Basin in upstream of Taihu Lake watershed. Chin Geogr Sci 17:349–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weimer CG (1980) Soil conservation in Kenya especially in small-scale farming in high potential areas using labor intensive methods, farm management branch project management and evaluation division ministry of agriculture, Nairobi

    Google Scholar 

  • Xin Z, Yu X, Lu X (2010) Factors controlling sediment yield in China’s Loess Plateau. Earth Surf Process Landf 36(6):816–826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yannelli FA, Tabeni S, Mastrantonio LE, Vezzani N (2013) Assessing degradation of abandoned farmlands for conservation of the Monte Desert Biome in Argentina. Environ Manag 53(1):231–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles K. K. Gachene .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Section Editor information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Gachene, C.K.K., Nyawade, S.O., Karanja, N.N. (2020). Soil and Water Conservation: An Overview. In: Leal Filho, W., Azul, A.M., Brandli, L., Özuyar, P.G., Wall, T. (eds) Zero Hunger. Encyclopedia of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95675-6_91

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics