IB ESS HL 5.2.9 Soil conservation techniques Question Bank

a. Add windbreaks/trees/shelterbeds to reduce wind erosion;
b. Plant cover crops/mulch to reduce wind erosion / intercepts raindrops (reducing water erosion);
c. Terrace slopes/use contour ploughing to reduce water erosion / reduce water flow;
d. Reduce tillage/use conservation tillage to protect the soil surface and allows water to infiltrate/reduces water erosion / reduces physical disturbance of soil (e.g. by tillage machinery) / improves water holding/infiltration capacity of soil;
e. Rotational grazing/managing stocking density reduces soil compaction (by preventing overgrazing);
f. Drip irrigation to reduce water erosion;

Note to examiners: Do not credit techniques that are not clearly linked to soil erosion (e.g. crop rotation). As an "outline" there needs to be a little more than simply stating a technique.