soil conservation practices
In Canada, there is a wide diversity of landscapes, so the soil conservation practices depend by region. In Prairie Provinces, the soil is damaged by the dry climate and affected by wind erosion and salinization. Unprotected soils are also susceptible to water erosion, more during the summer storms. Severe wind and water erosion led to the Creation of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) in 1935, which took great measures to stop erosion. Shelter belts, conservation tillage, permanent grass cover and the reduced use of summer shallow helped improve soil. Ontario & Quebec is greatly cultivated for corn and soy beans, these crops need long growing seasons. The soil is often wet, which causes soil compaction, and inadequate protection of soil from rain and snowmelt erosion for long periods of time. Minimum and no tillage, crop rotation, shelter belts, and the use of clover and alfalfa hay crops to increase organic matter in soil lead to better soil structure and fewer compaction problems. Atlantic Canada does not have highly productive soils, they tend to be weak and acidic. The overproduction of vegetable crops has reduced the amount of organic matter in the soil and damaged the soil structure. Terracing, crop rotation with cereal grains and clover, grassed waterways, and the mixing of ground limestone into soil with tillage implements to reduce acidity from fertilizers improved soil.
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laws and acts passed
- Environment and Land Use Act
- Agricultural Reserve Land Act-to permanently protect valuable agricultural land that has among the most fertile soil in the country from being lost
- Pesticide Act-to protect human health and safety and the environment by regulating products used for the control of pests
- Waste Management Act
- Environmental Management Act-prohibits the introduction of waste into the environment in a way that will cause pollution, except in accordance with a regulation, permit, approval or code of practice issued under the Act.
- Soil Conservation Act
- BC Federation of Agriculture Services for farmers.
- Agricultural Land Commission Act- to preserve agricultural land
% OF USABLE LAND
The boreal occupies about 29% of Only, 12% of land is protected and over 30% has been used for logging, energy, and other development.
% OF CONTAMINATED LAND
Excess iron and manganese are the most common contaminates. It's also contaminated due to radioactive decay
% OF FOOD PRODUCTION
Canadians Boreal Forest has been affected by
FROM BIOME hydroelectric development. Dams of 625 or more are using hydropower in Canada. With 40% of production coming from rivers or flowing to the boreal forest. This has led to habitat loss due to flooding above dams.
The boreal occupies about 29% of Only, 12% of land is protected and over 30% has been used for logging, energy, and other development.
% OF CONTAMINATED LAND
Excess iron and manganese are the most common contaminates. It's also contaminated due to radioactive decay
% OF FOOD PRODUCTION
Canadians Boreal Forest has been affected by
FROM BIOME hydroelectric development. Dams of 625 or more are using hydropower in Canada. With 40% of production coming from rivers or flowing to the boreal forest. This has led to habitat loss due to flooding above dams.