This booklet describes cost-effective ways to maintain successful crop production while protecting soil and water quality. Snowmelt and rainfall are the driving forces for water erosion on the prairies. Bare soils are very vulnerable to erosion. Steep slopes and long, uninterrupted slopes are especially prone to water erosion. Silty soils, soils low in organic matter, and soils with an impermeable subsoil layer are also more susceptible to water erosion.
Bare soils are very vulnerable to erosion.
Conservation farming methods maintain a protective cover on the soil. These land use and management practices can be adapted to fit the needs of any farm operation. Some areas of Alberta suffer from severe water erosion. In these areas, special measures may be needed to control erosion. A crop residue cover protects the soil.