Thumbnail Image

Mulching to control soil erosion in Dominica

Year of publication 2014

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Document

Category Other document

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Natural hazards, such as storms, hurricanes, and heavy rains, directly impact agricultural productivity and production in Dominica, leading to landslides and soil erosion, among others. In order to better mitigate the impacts of these hazards and prevent soil erosion, mulching can be used to protect and conserve the soil, and reduce erosion by water and wind. Mulching is a very simple and beneficial practice where organic material, such as crop residues and weeds, or inorganic material, like plastic sheets, is spread over the soil surface.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Other document
    Enhancing drought resistance through Guinea grass mulching, Jamaica 2008
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Guinea grass mulching is one of the local drought-mitigation strategies adopted in the low-rainfall areas of Jamaica. After the land preparation dried guinea grass is applied in a matted form over the area to be cultivated. This practice helps crop to survive during the dry season without having to recur to irrigation. Moreover, this technique enhances soil moisture for germinating seeds and allows for a better crop establishment and nutrient uptake.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Other document
    Mechanical soil conservation strategies to reduce soil erosion in Dominica 2014
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    In Dominica, natural disasters, such as storms and heavy rainfalls, regularly occur and have a direct impact on its agricultural sector. Therefore, mechanical soil conservation strategies are important management practices for crop production. These strategies use methodologies that include the use of bunds, terraces, waterways / drainage channels, and other structures, for example vegetative barriers, or stone / rock lines. Thereby, the structures are so installed as to break the force of winds or decrease the velocity of runoff to reduce soil erosion. Barriers can be constructed with live material, such as plants, dead material, such as rocks, or with a mixture of both materials. For an illustration of different on-farm erosion control strategies see the pictures attached to this practice.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Document
    Other document
    Soil conservation: Contour ploughing, Grenada 2008
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Contour ploughing mitigates the impacts of floods, storms and landslides on the crops by reducing soil erosion up to 50 percent, controlling runoff water, increasing moisture infiltration and retention and thus enhancing soil quality and composition. This practice describes contour ploughing and contour beds which can be constructed manually using on farm equipment.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Thumbnail Image
    Booklet
    High-profile
    FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 2022
    Also available in:
    The FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 was endorsed by FAO Council in June 2022. This new strategy replaces the previous strategy from 2017 to better FAO's climate action with the Strategic Framework 2022-2031, and other FAO strategies that have been developed since then. The Strategy was elaborated following an inclusive process of consultation with FAO Members, FAO staff from headquarters and decentralized offices, as well as external partners. It articulates FAO's vision for agrifood systems by 2050, around three main pillars of action: at global and regional level, at country level, and at local level. The Strategy also encourages key guiding principles for action, such as science and innovation, inclusiveness, partnerships, and access to finance.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Flagship
    The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
    Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all
    2021
    Also available in:
    In recent years, several major drivers have put the world off track to ending world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The challenges have grown with the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures. This report presents the first global assessment of food insecurity and malnutrition for 2020 and offers some indication of what hunger might look like by 2030 in a scenario further complicated by the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes new estimates of the cost and affordability of healthy diets, which provide an important link between the food security and nutrition indicators and the analysis of their trends. Altogether, the report highlights the need for a deeper reflection on how to better address the global food security and nutrition situation.To understand how hunger and malnutrition have reached these critical levels, this report draws on the analyses of the past four editions, which have produced a vast, evidence-based body of knowledge of the major drivers behind the recent changes in food security and nutrition. These drivers, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, include conflicts, climate variability and extremes, and economic slowdowns and downturns – all exacerbated by the underlying causes of poverty and very high and persistent levels of inequality. In addition, millions of people around the world suffer from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition because they cannot afford the cost of healthy diets. From a synthesized understanding of this knowledge, updates and additional analyses are generated to create a holistic view of the combined effects of these drivers, both on each other and on food systems, and how they negatively affect food security and nutrition around the world.In turn, the evidence informs an in-depth look at how to move from silo solutions to integrated food systems solutions. In this regard, the report proposes transformative pathways that specifically address the challenges posed by the major drivers, also highlighting the types of policy and investment portfolios required to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all. The report observes that, while the pandemic has caused major setbacks, there is much to be learned from the vulnerabilities and inequalities it has laid bare. If taken to heart, these new insights and wisdom can help get the world back on track towards the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Booklet
    Corporate general interest
    Emissions due to agriculture
    Global, regional and country trends 2000–2018
    2021
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The FAOSTAT emissions database is composed of several data domains covering the categories of the IPCC Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU) sector of the national GHG inventory. Energy use in agriculture is additionally included as relevant to emissions from agriculture as an economic production sector under the ISIC A statistical classification, though recognizing that, in terms of IPCC, they are instead part of the Energy sector of the national GHG inventory. FAO emissions estimates are available over the period 1961–2018 for agriculture production processes from crop and livestock activities. Land use emissions and removals are generally available only for the period 1990–2019. This analytical brief focuses on overall trends over the period 2000–2018.
Show more