Planting a variety of native and introduced species, such as grasses, legumes and forbes, can hold the soil in place, preventing soil erosion and the transportation of soil to water bodies.\u00a0 With less soil disturbance on these sites with permanent cover, root systems are allowed to grow and break-up compaction.\u00a0 This allows more pore space for water to filter and percolate through the soil instead of running off. The vegetated cover also slows down water during storm events causing sediments to drop out of the water.\u00a0 Perennial plantings with minimum soil disturbance also provide forage and shelter habitat for wildlife.<\/p>\n
Filter Strips<\/h2>\n
Vegetated strips adjacent to water bodies and streams can improve water quality by filtering sediment and nutrients that would normally runoff from fields and may contaminate water systems.\u00a0 The vegetation, such as grasses, slows the runoff water and allows contaminants to deposit in the filter strip before entering the water body\/stream.<\/p>\n
Grassed waterways<\/h2>\n![\"row](\"https:\/\/mcleanwater.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2012\/02\/Grassed-WaterwaySM-300x225.jpg\")
Photo Courtesy of McLean County NRCS<\/p><\/div>\n
Grass strips in fields located in concentrated flow areas can reduce\u00a0soil erosion by slowing down water and conveying water off fields.\u00a0 The water leaving the waterway will be moving at a lower velocity and will be less erosive to land beyond the outlet.\u00a0 Waterways improve water quality by conveying water safely and in a non-erosive manner out of the field\u2019s concentrated flow area.<\/p>\n
No\u00a0<\/b>till\/Strip till<\/b><\/h2>\n![\"Example](\"https:\/\/mcleanwater.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2012\/02\/No-till-pictureSM-300x224.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of McLean County NRCS<\/p><\/div>\n
Reduced tillage decreases agricultural runoff and improves the soil\u2019s ability to filter water.\u00a0 Undisturbed soil is more stable and maintains pore space to allow water to filter.\u00a0 No-till management also allows organic matter, which is important to productivity, to build up in the soil.\u00a0 Without soil disturbance microbial life will increase and soil structure will be maintained.<\/p>\n
Nutrient Management<\/b><\/h2>\n
Using site specific nutrient recommendations based on soil needs is effective nutrient management.\u00a0 Soil samples are tested in a lab to determine what nutrients are available to the plants and those that may need to be replenished to maximize productivity.\u00a0 The soil test results can be utilized along with the next year\u2019s crop nutrient needs to determine how much fertilizer should be applied to a field.\u00a0 This conservation practice focuses on the best economic return of fertilizer applied compared to crop yields, while minimizing chemical contamination to water bodies.<\/p>\n
Drainage water management (DWM) is another practice that helps manage nutrients in the soil as well as increase water availability for crop fields.\u00a0 This practice allows land managers to control the discharge of tile drainage using a dossier valve, which controls the subsurface water elevation of the field.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0When DWM is managed properly, nutrient and pesticide loads in the drainage systems can be reduced in downstream receiving waters, crop vigor and yield can be increased due to increased water availability, and seasonal wildlife habitat can be provided offering surface soil saturation and shallow flooding during the non-cropped season.<\/p>\n
Wetlands<\/b><\/h2>\n
Wetlands are water-holding areas that contain saturated soils and water-loving plants.\u00a0 Agricultural runoff can drain into a wetland to prevent contaminants from moving further downstream.\u00a0 Plants will use the nutrients and sediment that is deposited.\u00a0 The water that is intercepted by the wetland is treated through natural processes, allowing water that drains from the wetland to be cleaner when entering the water systems downstream.\u00a0 Wetlands also provide superb wildlife habitat.<\/p>\n
Riparian Buffer<\/b><\/h2>\n
Riparian Buffer zones are typically made of strips of grasses, then shrubs, and then trees adjacent to water bodies and streams.\u00a0 These zones work like filter strips in that they allow sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants in runoff water to deposit in the buffer zone before entering water bodies and streams.\u00a0 These zones can also help water filter through the soil and slow flooding.\u00a0 Riparian buffers mimic natural landscape features and provide wildlife habitat and cover, while also protecting fish and overall ecology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Water is one of those 6 natural resources that is imperative to sustainability. The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) strives to protect soil, water, animals, plants, air, and humans (SWAPA+H). Water quality can be affected both positively and negatively by different agricultural practices.\u00a0 A healthy soil can act as a… Continue reading
Photo Courtesy of McLean County NRCS<\/p><\/div>\n
Grass strips in fields located in concentrated flow areas can reduce\u00a0soil erosion by slowing down water and conveying water off fields.\u00a0 The water leaving the waterway will be moving at a lower velocity and will be less erosive to land beyond the outlet.\u00a0 Waterways improve water quality by conveying water safely and in a non-erosive manner out of the field\u2019s concentrated flow area.<\/p>\n
No\u00a0<\/b>till\/Strip till<\/b><\/h2>\nPhoto courtesy of McLean County NRCS<\/p><\/div>\n
Reduced tillage decreases agricultural runoff and improves the soil\u2019s ability to filter water.\u00a0 Undisturbed soil is more stable and maintains pore space to allow water to filter.\u00a0 No-till management also allows organic matter, which is important to productivity, to build up in the soil.\u00a0 Without soil disturbance microbial life will increase and soil structure will be maintained.<\/p>\n
Nutrient Management<\/b><\/h2>\n
Using site specific nutrient recommendations based on soil needs is effective nutrient management.\u00a0 Soil samples are tested in a lab to determine what nutrients are available to the plants and those that may need to be replenished to maximize productivity.\u00a0 The soil test results can be utilized along with the next year\u2019s crop nutrient needs to determine how much fertilizer should be applied to a field.\u00a0 This conservation practice focuses on the best economic return of fertilizer applied compared to crop yields, while minimizing chemical contamination to water bodies.<\/p>\n
Drainage water management (DWM) is another practice that helps manage nutrients in the soil as well as increase water availability for crop fields.\u00a0 This practice allows land managers to control the discharge of tile drainage using a dossier valve, which controls the subsurface water elevation of the field.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0When DWM is managed properly, nutrient and pesticide loads in the drainage systems can be reduced in downstream receiving waters, crop vigor and yield can be increased due to increased water availability, and seasonal wildlife habitat can be provided offering surface soil saturation and shallow flooding during the non-cropped season.<\/p>\n
Wetlands<\/b><\/h2>\n
Wetlands are water-holding areas that contain saturated soils and water-loving plants.\u00a0 Agricultural runoff can drain into a wetland to prevent contaminants from moving further downstream.\u00a0 Plants will use the nutrients and sediment that is deposited.\u00a0 The water that is intercepted by the wetland is treated through natural processes, allowing water that drains from the wetland to be cleaner when entering the water systems downstream.\u00a0 Wetlands also provide superb wildlife habitat.<\/p>\n
Riparian Buffer<\/b><\/h2>\n
Riparian Buffer zones are typically made of strips of grasses, then shrubs, and then trees adjacent to water bodies and streams.\u00a0 These zones work like filter strips in that they allow sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants in runoff water to deposit in the buffer zone before entering water bodies and streams.\u00a0 These zones can also help water filter through the soil and slow flooding.\u00a0 Riparian buffers mimic natural landscape features and provide wildlife habitat and cover, while also protecting fish and overall ecology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Water is one of those 6 natural resources that is imperative to sustainability. The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) strives to protect soil, water, animals, plants, air, and humans (SWAPA+H). Water quality can be affected both positively and negatively by different agricultural practices.\u00a0 A healthy soil can act as a… Continue reading
Photo courtesy of McLean County NRCS<\/p><\/div>\n
Reduced tillage decreases agricultural runoff and improves the soil\u2019s ability to filter water.\u00a0 Undisturbed soil is more stable and maintains pore space to allow water to filter.\u00a0 No-till management also allows organic matter, which is important to productivity, to build up in the soil.\u00a0 Without soil disturbance microbial life will increase and soil structure will be maintained.<\/p>\n
Nutrient Management<\/b><\/h2>\n
Using site specific nutrient recommendations based on soil needs is effective nutrient management.\u00a0 Soil samples are tested in a lab to determine what nutrients are available to the plants and those that may need to be replenished to maximize productivity.\u00a0 The soil test results can be utilized along with the next year\u2019s crop nutrient needs to determine how much fertilizer should be applied to a field.\u00a0 This conservation practice focuses on the best economic return of fertilizer applied compared to crop yields, while minimizing chemical contamination to water bodies.<\/p>\n
Drainage water management (DWM) is another practice that helps manage nutrients in the soil as well as increase water availability for crop fields.\u00a0 This practice allows land managers to control the discharge of tile drainage using a dossier valve, which controls the subsurface water elevation of the field.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0When DWM is managed properly, nutrient and pesticide loads in the drainage systems can be reduced in downstream receiving waters, crop vigor and yield can be increased due to increased water availability, and seasonal wildlife habitat can be provided offering surface soil saturation and shallow flooding during the non-cropped season.<\/p>\n
Wetlands<\/b><\/h2>\n
Wetlands are water-holding areas that contain saturated soils and water-loving plants.\u00a0 Agricultural runoff can drain into a wetland to prevent contaminants from moving further downstream.\u00a0 Plants will use the nutrients and sediment that is deposited.\u00a0 The water that is intercepted by the wetland is treated through natural processes, allowing water that drains from the wetland to be cleaner when entering the water systems downstream.\u00a0 Wetlands also provide superb wildlife habitat.<\/p>\n
Riparian Buffer<\/b><\/h2>\n
Riparian Buffer zones are typically made of strips of grasses, then shrubs, and then trees adjacent to water bodies and streams.\u00a0 These zones work like filter strips in that they allow sediment, nutrients, pesticides and other contaminants in runoff water to deposit in the buffer zone before entering water bodies and streams.\u00a0 These zones can also help water filter through the soil and slow flooding.\u00a0 Riparian buffers mimic natural landscape features and provide wildlife habitat and cover, while also protecting fish and overall ecology.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Water is one of those 6 natural resources that is imperative to sustainability. The Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) strives to protect soil, water, animals, plants, air, and humans (SWAPA+H). Water quality can be affected both positively and negatively by different agricultural practices.\u00a0 A healthy soil can act as a… Continue reading