Soil and Water Conservation/Management
Conservation and proper management of our
soil and water resources is critically important for the long-term
economic sustainability of Oklahoma. This is especially true for the
crop production sector of Oklahoma’s economy. Soil erosion by wind and
water adversely impact the productively of our cropland soils, by
removing the fertile topsoil. The subsoil left behind is less fertile,
with less desirable physical characteristics for crop production. The
sediment eroded from croplands is detrimental to offsite environmental
quality. Sediments carried by water contribute reduced water quality in
lakes and streams by reducing its clarity. These sediments also slowly
fill our reservoirs which limit their use for drinking water storage,
flood control, and recreation.
A firm grasp of the processes of soil erosion and the soil characteristics that impact crop productivity is important to the conservation and management of our soil resources. Therefore, this website will provide information on soil processes and characteristics that impact crop productivity, soil quality, soil carbon storage, water availability and water conservation.