Beneficial Management Practices: Environmental Manual for Crop Producers in Alberta - Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is the removal of soil by wind, water or tillage. Erosion removes the topsoil, the most productive portion of the soil, reducing levels of organic matter and nutrients, and resulting in lower productivity. Eroded soil particles can reduce water quality and air quality. As well, eroded soil can include soil-attached pesticides and nutrients that further decrease water and air quality (see Water Quality and Air Quality).

• For more information on soil erosion, see The Health of Our Soils (AAFC), An Introduction to Water Erosion Control (ARD), and An Introduction to Wind Erosion Control (ARD).

Bare soils are vulnerable to erosion. Courtesy of ARD	Crop residue protects the soil. Courtesy of ARD

• Soil covered by plants or plant residues is less susceptible to water erosion than bare soil. Growing plants and a crop residue cover absorb the energy of raindrops and slow the flow of runoff, reducing the risk of erosion. Roots hold soil in place and contribute organic matter, which further stabilizes the soil.
• The greater the amount and intensity of snowmelt or rainfall, the greater the risk of water erosion.
• Steep and/or long, uninterrupted slopes are especially prone to erosion because water can pick up speed as it travels downslope.
• Fine- to medium-textured soils (Figure 2.2), especially clays and silts low in organic matter, are very prone to water erosion.
• Sometimes clayey and silty soils can be prone to crusting. Crusting reduces water infiltration (the movement of water into the ground). Less infiltration means more runoff and a greater risk of water erosion.
• Soils with a shallow, impermeable layer (hardpan layer) are more prone to erosion because this layer limits infiltration deeper into the soil.
• Tillage leaves the soil prone to water erosion by decreasing the size and stability of aggregates, thus decreasing infiltration, and by burying the crop residue cover.

• Smaller soil particles are easier to erode than larger ones.
• Organic matter helps hold soil particles together in soil aggregates; these aggregates are harder for the wind to move than small individual soil particles.
• A cover of plants or plant residues prevents wind erosion.
• High wind speeds and persistent winds have more erosive power.
• Wind barriers, such as shelterbelts and wooded areas, reduce wind speeds and the risk of wind erosion (see Shelterbelts).
• Dry soils are more susceptible to wind erosion.
• Tillage leaves the soil prone to wind erosion by burying crop residues, drying out the soil, decreasing soil organic matter and decreasing soil aggregate size.

.

• More tillage passes and more intense tillage increase the risk of tillage erosion.
• Use of tillage and seeding implements that cause very little soil disturbance reduces the risk of tillage erosion.
• The risk of tillage erosion is greater on steeper slopes.

• For information about results from soil erosion research, see the CAESA Soil Quality Program Research Factsheets.