The use of soil stabilizers to prevent erosion

Publication date: 21/08/2024
Extent: 22 pages

Contributions by: G. J. Levy , Agricultural Research Organization, Israel; and A. I. Mamedov, Tottori University, Japan

Chapter synopsis:

Soil and water conservation is essential for sustaining agricultural production and for protecting the soil ecosystem. This chapter discusses an alternative approach for soil erosion mitigation, which advocates modification of soil properties that are linked to processes that control degradation of soil structure stability. The chapter reviews the potential of three types of soil stabilizing agents (gypsum and gypsiferous materials, synthetic polymers, and organic waste materials). The focus is the impact these soil stabilizers can have on cultivated soils, many of which are associated with poor structural stability (e.g. soils from semiarid or humid regions), which ultimately leads to limited infiltration and to elevated levels of runoff and soil erosion. Current research suggests that judicious application of such stabilizing agents to the soil can lead to enhanced soil surface structure stability and combating soil erosion.

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2023.0131.18