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2. Soil Fundamentals
Causes of disturbance
•
Physical: tillage and compaction, root
plowing or other brush removal with
heavy equipment
•
Chemical: many fertilizers and pesticides,
herbicides, salty irrigation water
•
Biological: over- and under-grazed
grasslands
Consequences of disturbance
•
Loss of soil structure
•
Bare soil, because it can
be subject to erosion
•
Woody plant encroachment
Some examples of NRCS Conservation
Practices (Code) related to this principle:
(329) No till and (345) Reduced till
(327) Conservation cover
(590) Nutrient management
(595) Integrated pest management
(528) Prescribed grazing
Maximizing biodiversity includes both aboveground and belowground biodiversity:
microbes, plants, earthworms, insects, and other animals. Note that when
biodiversity is maximized above ground, it is also maximized below ground.
Minimize soil disturbance and external inputs
2
Maximize biodiversity
3
Some examples of NRCS Conservation
Practices (Code) related to this principle:
(327) Conservation cover
(528) Prescribed grazing
(328) Conservation Crop Rotation
(340) Cover crop
(512) Forage and biomass planting
For example:
•
Multi-species cover crop or well-
maintained range with cool-season
and warm-season grasses promoting
diverse native species
•
Diverse pollinator strips
•
Agroforestry