Soil and Agriculture: Erosion, Microbial Activity, and Conservation Techniques

Contaminate

exposure of a pollutant or poisonous substance to something which was unexposed before

Microbial

bacterium, fungus or virus

No-till

agriculture technique for growing crops without disturbing the soil

Rill Erosion

results in small defined streams and occurs when rainfall or irrigation water does not soak into the soil, but flows across it

Sheet Erosion

detachment of soil particles by rainfall or irrigation which are removed by flowing water as a sheet instead of rills or channels

Subsidence

loss of volume and depth in organic soils due to oxidation caused by increased microbial activity

Terraces

earthen structures which intercept runoff on slopes, grassed waterways and vegetive barriers

Tillage

agriculture technique for preparing the land for growing crops