PEI FARMERS KNOW THAT SOIL IS THEIR MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE. PUT SIMPLY, THEY WANT IT TO STAY PUT.
Topsoil erosion can result in a significant loss of productivity and crop yield. Keeping soil in its place helps to ensure the long-term productivity of the soil and also reduces unintended loss of soil and nutrients from our fields to ecologically sensitive areas.
COVER IT UP
Planting a cover crop after the main commercial crop has been harvested can provide numerous soil health benefits to the land and helps reduce erosion over the winter/spring.
What it does
- Conserves soil moisture
- Increases soil organic matter
- Prevents soil erosion
- Suppresses weeds
- Increases nutrient cycling
- Reduces off-season nutrient loss
- Reduces compaction
Why it matters
- Improves water efficiency to crops
- Conserves water
- Improves water quality
- Improves crop production
- Improves nutrient use efficiency
- Decreases use of pest control products
TRYING NOT TO DISTURB
Island soil is very porous, like a sponge, and over-tilling of the soil can weaken its structure leading to soils that are hard, compacted or inefficient at holding water and nutrients. To support the soil, PEI farmers reduce tillage passes, use tillage equipment that causes less disturbance to the soil, as well as time tillage events to times of the year that will reduce erosion susceptibility due to precipitation, such as tilling in the spring instead of the fall.
What it does
- Reduces soil erosion
- Improves soil capacity to hold water
- Increases organic matter
- Decreases compaction
- Reduces energy use
Why it matters
- Improves water efficiency
- Conserves water
- Improves water quality
- Improves crop production
- Saves renewable resources
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
HELPING SOIL STAY PUT
Island farmers can take advantage of funding support and expertise from Soil and Water Conservation Specialists under the AGRICULTURE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM to design and implement Soil Conservation/Erosion Control structures. These are berms, terraces, and waterways constructed in the farm fields to slow and direct the flow of water to reduce and prevent erosion.
Agriculture Stewardship Program supported by Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership
SOIL-IPEDIA
