(introduction...)

There are few areas in the world where soil erosion by water or wind hasn't taken its toll, either on the farm or in the surrounding environment. This is especially true in much of the Third World, where harsh climatic conditions, ranging from torrential rainfall to drought and damaging seasonal winds, have combined with unsound land use practices to accelerate erosion problems. On-farm erosion results in soil loss, yield reduction, and even abandonment of the land. In the surrounding environment, erosion is both a cause and effect of deforestation and desertification.

This chapter provides a basic introduction to conservation methods for combatting soil erosion on small farms.