AGRICULTURE REPORT - Soil Conservation Methods

AGRICULTURE REPORT – October 1, 2002: Soil Conservation¹ Methods

By Gary Garriott

This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.

Soil conservation efforts protect soil from wind and water that can blow or wash it away. Good soil produces
food crops for both humans and animals.

One important form of soil conservation is the use of windbreaks. Windbreaks stop the
wind from blowing soil away. They also keep the wind from destroying or damaging
crops.

Windbreaks are barriers² formed by trees and other plants with many leaves. Farmers plant
windbreaks in lines around their fields. They are very important when grains such as
wheat are grown.

For example, in parts of West Africa, studies have shown that grain harvests can be
twenty per cent higher on fields protected by windbreaks compared to those without such
protection³.

Windbreaks are effective when a wall of trees and other plants blocks the wind.

The windbreaks should also limit violent⁴ motions⁵ of the wind to those areas closest to the windbreak.

Windbreaks seem to work best when they allow a little wind to pass through. If the wall of trees and plants stops
wind completely⁶, then violent air motions will take place close to the ground. These motions cause the soil to lift
up into the air where it will be blown away. For this reason, a windbreak is best if it has only sixty to eighty per
cent of the trees and plants needed to make a solid⁷ line. An easy rule to remember is that windbreaks can protect
areas up to ten times the height of the tallest trees in the windbreak.

There should be at least two lines in each windbreak. One line should be large trees. The second line, right next
to it, can be formed from shorter trees and other plants with leaves.

Windbreaks not only protect land and crops from the wind. They can also provide wood products. These include
wood for fuel and longer pieces for making fences⁸. Locally-grown trees and plants are best for windbreaks.

You can get more information about windbreaks and other forms of soil conservation from the group Volunteers
in Technical Assistance⁹. VITA is an organization that helps people around the world use science and technology
to solve problems.

You can contact VITA through the Internet at its World Wide Web¹⁰ address, w-w-w dot v-i-t-a dot o-r-g.

This VOA Special English Agriculture Report was written by Gary Garriott.

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1 conservation   

n.保存，保持，守恒

参考例句：

• She is interested in conservation of environment.她对环境保护这个问题十分关心。
• Our community is a leader in the conservation of wildlife.我们社区在野生动物保护方面走在前头。

2 barriers   

n.障碍( barrier的名词复数 )；屏障；栅栏；分界线

参考例句：

• The crowd had to stand behind barriers. 人群只好站在障碍物后面。
• the dissolution of barriers of class and race 阶级和种族隔阂的消除

3 protection   

n.保护，防卫，保护制度

参考例句：

• The protection of the country is the duty of everyone.保卫国家是每个人的责任。
• The young in our society need care and protection.我们社会的年轻人需要关怀和照顾。

4 violent   

adj.暴力的，猛烈的，激烈的，极端的，凶暴的，歪曲的

参考例句：

• The madman was violent and had to be locked up.这个精神病患者很凶暴，不得不把他锁起来。
• They caught him and gave him a violent beating.他们抓住了他，把他狠狠打了一顿。

5 motions   

n.（物体的）运动( motion的名词复数 )；提议；通便

参考例句：

• She just went through the motions of being a poetess. 她只不过装成一个女诗人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He always accompanied his speech with motions. 他讲演时总是伴以手势。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 completely   

adv.完全地，十分地，全然

参考例句：

• She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
• I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。

7 solid   

adj.固体的，结实的，可靠的，实心的；n.固体，实心；adv. 一致地

参考例句：

• Water may change from a liquid to a solid.水可以由液体变为固体。
• I know that James is a solid type of person.我知道詹姆斯是个可信赖的人。

8 fences   

n.栅栏( fence的名词复数 )；（障碍赛马中的）障碍物；买卖赃物者；击剑（术）v.围以栅栏( fence的第三人称单数 )；搪塞；支吾；回避

参考例句：

• It's a pity we didn't mend our fences with the colonel. 可惜我们还没有和上校先生调整好关系。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He fences well, as she had noticed before. 正如她以前观察到的一样，他善于周旋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 assistance   

n.援助，帮助

参考例句：

• She called and called but no one came to her assistance.她叫了又叫，但没有人来帮。
• He will get the great possible assistance.他将获得尽可能大的帮助。

10 web   

n.网，蛛丝，蹼，织物，圈套，卷筒纸；vi.生蹼，形成网；vt.织蜘蛛网于，使落入圈套

参考例句：

• The spider weaves a web.蜘蛛织网。
• You mean the World Wide Web?你是说国际互联网？