Tiehui Liu

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1996

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Geography

Abstract

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is the most recent soil conservation program in the state and was authorized by the 1985 Farm Bill. Ten years have passed, the expiration day is coming, and the need for a better understanding of the program is increasing. The importance of understanding the CRP is not only to evaluate and re-recognize the role of the program in soil conservation, but also to provide valuable data assessment for similar program in the future. I investigated elected aspect of CRP related oil erosion control in Clark County, South Dakota. The CRP has been carried out well in the study area and successfully achieved its target in soil erosion control. The problem of soil erosion exists in the study area and the oil erosion rate is greater than soil erosion tolerance in the enrolled CRP lands, but the erosion index (erosion rate/erosion tolerance) in most of CRP lands is lower than 2. With CRP, the erosion index of all CRP lands is lower than 1. That means the erosion rates have changed to an acceptable level, which should be help for rebuild the productive capacity of CRP lands. Most of the CRP lands are located in the areas where soil erosion is relatively high. This match of distribution between soil erosion lands and the CRP lands illustrates that during the enrollment process of the CRP, the agencies responsible for CRP very carefully studied the erosion situation in the area and targeted the limited financial and human resources on the most severe erosion area. This enhanced the effectiveness of the CRP in soil erosion control and supported environmental improvement. Effective control of soil erosion may also bring about other environmental and ecological benefits. There may be 1.7 to 3.6 million tons of soil saved because of the CRP in ten year. With such an amount of saved soil, sediment in drainage systems can be reduced, the water quality and the water holding capacity in the wetland can be improved, and waterfowl and other wildlife habitat can be enlarged. Overall, the CRP achieved its goal - soil erosion control.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Conservation Reserve Program (U.S.)

Soil erosion -- South Dakota -- Clark County

Soil conservation -- South Dakota -- Clark County

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

114

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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In Copyright