Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation Speech Contest
The Erosion of Life
By
Jordan Anderson
Luxuriant towering forests, emerald fields of delicate grass, vibrant petals gracing fragile stems, and dainty green buds growing into large crops provide decoration to the planet. With such beauties covering the earth, it’s difficult to imagine that soil suitable for crops is scarce. Having only ten percent of land available for farming, limited space is employable to grow crops and pasture livestock. With over six and a half billion people scrambling across the planet, fertile soil full of vitamins and minerals is necessary for people to remain healthy; the demand for sustenance is constant and unrelenting. Having only this small amount of earth to claim for food production, the preservation of the soil that is usable is imperative.
An uncontrollable nemesis, erosion by wind and water, further depletes the soil which is available for agricultural use. Natural erosion, though not as severe as human initiated erosion, is still a major problem. Rain falling with enough intensity is able to move particles of dirt short distances, causing splash erosion. Rills, small channels which direct the pathway of rainfall, carry topsoil from one area to another. Wind erosion picks up soil and transports it to other areas. These and many other types of erosion contribute to the endangerment of our soil.
Soil throughout the United States and the world is constantly in danger of and destroyed by pollutants. An ever increasing number of houses and buildings cover acres of fertile land, rendering it incapable of being farmed. Roads and highways spider web the landscape, trapping lush earth beneath their harsh asphalt. Uneducated gardeners who attempt to fertilize lawns and gardens become overzealous, generously spreading an overabundance of fertilizer, thereby contaminating the soil. Landfills containing everything from half empty paint cans to toxic household cleaners ooze pollutants into the surrounding earth. Industries in their zeal to provide the many useless items that are in constant demand by insatiable Americans, spew toxic waste of one kind or another from coast to coast. Better care should be taken by the people of this country to protect the earth from such contamination.
One area pristine and undefiled is the great state of Alaska. However, due to its terrain and climate, the state has a limited supply of farmable soil. Numerous jagged mountain ranges extend across Alaska. Hundreds of icy rivers carve the landscape. Patches of breathtaking tundra scatter across the state. With these beautiful, natural wonders encompassing thousands of acres, coupled with the year round extreme cold of the northern part of the state, Alaska’s land open for farming is miniscule. Having only approximately fifteen million acres of farmland available for crops and livestock, and less than a million acres farmed, the preservation of the state’s soil is made all the more important by its scarcity.
Because of the inadequacy of farmland for crop production, the majority of Alaska’s food supply travels from the lower forty-eight over land and sea via semi-trucks and barges. Lacking warehouses stocked with food, the state boasts less than a week’s supply of food from in state. Nature plays a large role in whether or not the required provisions reach their destination. Stormy or iced-over seas threaten the path for the barges. Roads blocked by rockslides could hinder the trucks. Depending on nature to behave itself is a risky proposition. In the event that the barges and semis would be unable to deliver the fare, Alaska would be in a dire situation.
Not only does nature dictate the shipment of food to Alaska, it can also determine the yield of crops grown in-state. Farmers all over the state face many challenges, including farmers in the town of Delta Junction. Against the elements, farmers in Delta fight to keep soil in their fields and full of nutrients. Winds rip through the valley like invisible claws, pulling and tearing at its flesh, snatching the loose dirt up into its grip and carrying it away. The threat that wind poses to the topsoil is a severe one. Farmers, aware of this danger, take the necessary precautions to prevent this theft. By leaving the ground in stubble to secure it through the bitter winters, which can drop below negative fifty degrees, farmers are able to preserve their soil. Farmers also take preventive measures to ensure the quality of their soil. Rotating their crops each planting season, farmers ensure the health of their soil, protecting it from becoming depleted in nutrients. Continually gathering soil samples with soil probes, the farmers have their soil tested regularly to determine the proper amount of fertilizer necessary for their crops. Using modern technology such as GPS systems, farmers are able to closely monitor the areas of land that have been fertilized, thereby eliminating over fertilization. Through these measures, farmers have limited the runoff of excess fertilizer from their farms, thereby protecting surrounding land. By employing these and other measures, the farmers in Delta Junction have diligently protected and preserved the quality of this limited resource.
Average citizens can play their own role in soil conservation. With lawns and home gardens, Alaskan’s can help keep soil rich and healthy by going through the motions of taking soil samples to their local conservation center and having it tested to see how much fertilizer should be applied. When beginning a garden on a slope, place the rows in a manner that will reduce runoff. When sowing grass seed in a lawn, scatter straw across the ground to reduce wind erosion. By practicing reducing, reusing, and recycling, less waste will be dumped into lands fills. After performing an oil change, dispose of the oil properly. By employing these and other conservation measures, each one of us can make a positive impact on the health of our soil.
The earth’s soil is a crucial element in the production of food for humans and animals. Preserving the land should be a cause in which all peoples are involved, because without nutrient rich soil, our crops would not grow; our livestock would have no food. Humanity’s food source would dry up, leaving us withering away, causing the erosion of human life.
References~
Wrigley, Bryce - Salcha-Delta Soil and Water Conservation District Manager -Interview– February 9th Favis-Mortlock, Dave. http://soilerosion.net/ (2008). Parker, Tim. http://www.ers.usda.gov/StateFacts/AK.HTM (2008). Agriculture in the Classroom. http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache:pyn1spiMt5gJ:www.agclassroom.org/kids/stats/alaska.pdf+alaska+farming+season&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=us
Ruby Hollembaek
PO Box 502
Delta Junction, Alaska
99737
business website: www.bisonandelk.com
