Armoring Your Fields to Avoid 4 Types of Erosion – No-Till Farmer

Report on Soil Erosion and Sustainable Development

Introduction: Soil Degradation as a Barrier to Sustainable Development Goals

Soil erosion by water remains a principal cause of soil degradation globally and within the United States, posing a significant threat to agricultural sustainability and environmental health. This issue directly impedes progress toward several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The degradation of soil resources undermines SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by reducing land productivity and threatening food security. Furthermore, sediment and nutrient runoff from eroded lands pollutes water bodies, challenging the objectives of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The loss of healthy topsoil also contributes to broader land degradation, which is a key concern of SDG 15 (Life on Land). Despite nearly a century of conservation efforts, erosion continues to be a critical issue requiring urgent and effective management strategies.

Status of Soil Erosion in the United States

National Conservation Progress and Persistent Challenges

Data from the National Resource Inventory (NRI) indicates progress in mitigating soil loss, yet highlights the scale of the remaining challenge. Key findings include:

• Average soil erosion by water on U.S. cropland decreased from 3.82 tons per acre per year in 1982 to 2.71 tons per acre per year in 2015.
• Despite this improvement, U.S. croplands still lose nearly one billion tons of soil annually to water and wind erosion combined.
• A 2007 NRI report revealed that 99 million acres, or nearly one-third of the nation’s cropland, were eroding at rates exceeding the Tolerable Soil Loss (‘T’) level, the threshold for maintaining long-term economic productivity.

Regional Vulnerability and Climate Change Impacts

The situation is particularly urgent in regions like Pennsylvania, where 60% of cropland is classified as Highly Erodible. This vulnerability is exacerbated by climatic shifts, including increases in total precipitation and rainfall intensity. These trends, linked to SDG 13 (Climate Action), amplify the risk of erosion and underscore the need for climate-resilient agricultural practices.

Erosion Control Strategies and Alignment with SDGs

Stage 1: Interrill (Sheet) Erosion Control

The first and most insidious stage of erosion is interrill, or sheet, erosion, which occurs as raindrops dislodge soil particles. Controlling this requires maintaining continuous soil cover. Effective practices that support multiple SDGs include:

1. Continuous No-Till Farming: This practice leaves crop residue on the soil surface, providing a protective layer against raindrop impact.
2. Cover Cropping: Planting cover crops is essential where primary crops like corn silage or soybeans leave insufficient residue, ensuring year-round soil protection.
3. Improving Soil Health: Enhancing soil structure and function is fundamental to erosion resistance and directly supports SDG 2 and SDG 15. Key methods include:
   • Increasing soil organic matter, which also contributes to carbon sequestration (SDG 13).
   • Promoting beneficial biological organisms such as earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi.
   • Improving soil aggregate stability and water infiltration to reduce runoff.
   • Controlling soil compaction and integrating perennial crops into rotations.

Stage 2: Rill Erosion Management

When runoff concentrates, it can form rills—small channels up to four inches deep. The appearance of rills signifies that soil loss has already exceeded the ‘T’ level. Preventing rill formation is critical for protecting water quality (SDG 6). Conservation practices include:

• Contour Farming: Planting crops along the contour of the land slows water flow and increases infiltration.
• Strip Cropping: Alternating high-residue or forage crops with low-residue crops on the contour.
• Terraces: Constructing cropped bunds that allow water to pond, giving it more time to infiltrate into the soil.
• Contour Buffer Strips: Narrow strips of vegetation designed to slow runoff and filter out sediment.

Stages 3 & 4: Addressing Gully Erosion

Unchecked rills can develop into ephemeral gullies (up to 18 inches deep) and classical gullies (deeper than 18 inches). These advanced forms of erosion cause significant damage to farmland and are often excluded from official soil loss estimates, suggesting the problem may be underestimated. Increasing reports of gully formation, even on no-till farms during years of high precipitation, highlight the growing impact of extreme weather events (SDG 13). Remediation often requires engineered solutions like grassed waterways, which stabilize channels of concentrated flow. While these take land out of production, they are often necessary to prevent further degradation and protect downstream water resources (SDG 6).

Conclusion: An Integrated Approach for a Sustainable Future

Protecting croplands from the four stages of water erosion—interrill, rill, ephemeral gully, and classical gully—is essential for maintaining soil productivity and environmental quality. The visibility of rill erosion serves as a critical indicator that tolerable soil loss levels have been surpassed, demanding immediate action. Addressing soil erosion is not merely an agricultural concern; it is a fundamental requirement for achieving a sustainable future. Effective soil conservation is intrinsically linked to the success of global objectives, including SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on soil erosion and conservation addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on soil health and land management directly links to goals concerning food security, water quality, and terrestrial ecosystems.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  This goal is relevant because soil degradation directly threatens agricultural productivity and, consequently, food security. The article highlights the importance of maintaining soil productivity “to be maintained economically and indefinitely” to support food production.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article connects soil erosion to water quality by stating that erosion results in “almost one billion tons of soil washing off our nation’s croplands.” This sediment runoff pollutes streams and water bodies, which is why the article concludes by emphasizing the importance of protecting “the quality of our streams.”

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  Climate change is mentioned as an exacerbating factor for soil erosion. The article notes that in Pennsylvania, “total precipitation has been increasing, and where the intensity of rainfall has been increasing as well.” The conservation practices discussed, such as improving soil health and increasing organic matter, are also key strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation by enhancing soil’s water-holding capacity and carbon sequestration.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This is the most directly addressed SDG. The entire article is about combating soil erosion, which is a primary form of land degradation. The goal to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems” and “halt and reverse land degradation” is the central theme of the text.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.4

   “By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems… and that progressively improve land and soil quality.”

   • The article’s detailed discussion of conservation practices like continuous no-till, cover crops, and improving soil health directly supports the implementation of resilient agricultural practices to improve soil quality and maintain long-term productivity.

2. Target 6.3

   “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution…”

   • The article’s focus on stopping soil from “washing off our nation’s croplands” and protecting the “quality of our streams” directly relates to reducing non-point source pollution from agricultural lands.

3. Target 13.1

   “Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.”

   • The article acknowledges the challenge of increasing rainfall intensity, a climate-related hazard. The recommended practices, such as improving water infiltration and soil cover, are designed to strengthen the resilience of agricultural systems to such events.

4. Target 15.3

   “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.”

   • This target is the core of the article. The text explicitly addresses the problem of soil erosion as a major source of “soil degradation” and details numerous methods to prevent it, from stopping sheet erosion to healing gullies, all aimed at restoring and protecting soil resources.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions and implies several quantitative and qualitative indicators for measuring progress:

1. Rate of Soil Erosion (Tons/Acre/Year)

   This is an explicit, quantitative indicator mentioned in the article. It provides a direct measure of land degradation.

   • Reference: “average soil erosion by water on U.S. cropland decreased from 3.82 T/A/yr in 1982 to 2.71 T/A/yr in 2015.”

2. Proportion of Land Eroding Above Tolerable Soil Loss (‘T’)

   This indicator measures the extent of severely degraded land. The article uses this to show that despite average improvements, significant problems remain.

   • Reference: “according to the 2007 NRI, there were 99 million acres (almost 1/3^rd of U.S. cropland) that were still eroding at levels exceeding T.”

3. Adoption of Conservation Practices

   The article implies that tracking the adoption of Best Management Practices (BMPs) is a key indicator of progress. This would include:

   • Percentage of cropland under continuous no-till.
   • Acreage of cover crops planted.
   • Implementation of contour farming, strip cropping, and terraces.

4. Visual Assessment of Erosion Features

   The article suggests that the presence of certain features are clear, qualitative indicators that erosion is exceeding sustainable levels.

   • Reference: “when we see rills in the field it is a sign that ‘T’ is already exceeded.” The presence and size of rills, ephemeral gullies, and classical gullies serve as direct visual indicators of the severity of erosion.

5. Soil Health Metrics

   Progress can be measured by tracking improvements in soil health, as implied by the text.

   • Reference: The article mentions the importance of “improving soil health to improve aggregate stability and macroporosity” and “increasing organic matter.” These can be measured as indicators of soil quality and resilience.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: no-tillfarmer.com