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Soil conservation is important for all Canadians
National Soil Conservation Week runs April 15 to 21, 2007.
Regina, Sask., April 16, 2007—Soil conservation is something every Canadian should be concerned with. Soil provides the basis for agricultural production, a source of ecosystem biodiversity, carbon sequestration and a natural filter for water.
“At first glance, the links between waterfowl habitat conservation and soil conservation might not be obvious,” said Paul Thoroughgood, regional agrologist, Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) western region. “But there is a very strong correlation between sustainable agriculture that promotes the conservation of soil and the health of the watershed and the entire ecosystem, including waterfowl, relying upon it.”
National Soil Conservation Week runs April 15 to 21, 2007. Through the Soil Conservation Council of Canada (SCCC) and the efforts of its provincial member organizations, producers are realizing the benefits of using direct seeding and other beneficial management practices to improve water infiltration, increase seedbed moisture, enhance organic matter and reduce the risk of soil erosion from wind and water.
“More and more producers throughout Canada are adopting low disturbance and minimum or zero-till cropping practices,” said Doug McKell, SCCC executive director. “These practices are used extensively in Western Canada and, depending on the crop or region, anywhere from 10 to 75 per cent of corn, soybean and grains are now being produced under direct or reduced tillage seeding systems.”
Thoroughgood agrees that one of the SCCC’s top successes has been their advocacy for zero-till, a conservation practice of seeding crops into previous crop stubble. Retaining stubble from the previous crop dramatically reduces soil losses due to wind and water erosion. Prior to zero-till these soil particles often found their way into riparian systems, wetlands, rivers and streams, altering their biological function.
“Zero-till is important for the production of winter wheat on the Canadian Prairies because it retains the previous year’s stubble to trap snow that provides insulation for the winter wheat plants during cold winter months,” said Thoroughgood. “Research conducted by DUC has shown that waterfowl nesting in winter wheat, and other winter cereals, are ten times as productive as those nesting in spring-seeded crops.”
Ducks Unlimited Canada is a private non-profit organization that conserves, restores and manages wetlands and associated habitats for North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also benefit other wildlife and people.For more information, contact:
Paul Thoroughgood
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Ph: (306) 569-0424
E-mail: p_thoroughgood@ducks.ca
