The photos below were taken before the warm summer temperatures and ample rainfall kicked crop growth into high gear. The corn is now well over head-high and the soybeans have canopied the soil. But, the tall crops are also masking the recurring issue of soil erosion. And, since the issue is out of sight now, it seems to be out of mind. It will be forgotten. No preventative actions will be taken. And, we will see erosion again next year.
In my geography, spring is the time of greatest soil erosion. All of the fall and/or spring tillage has been done. The crops have been planted but are not tall enough to protect the soil, leaving it exposed. And, it is the time of intense rainfall events.
Every spring, I drive the backroads photographing erosion scars. I never have to go far from home either, often returning to the same fields year after year. It seems we have large rainfall events every year and this severe weather trend is only expected to get worse.
From a photography standpoint, I am glad the crops are tall. Now, I can take pictures of Iowa’s beautiful landscapes without the ugly scars marring the landscape. Here is a small sampling of photos I took this spring before the crops masked the “ugly”.
[pjc_slideshow slide_type=”erosion-images”]
Conversation Starter
Interesting article, great photos and captions. Although the focus is water erosion and the conspicuous scars it leaves, some of the photos clearly show that tillage erosion is operating with as much degrading force – the scraping of topsoil from hilltops to bottoms. The light coloured hilltops are the result of tillage erosion, not water erosion. The balance between tillage erosion and water erosion (tillage erosion scraping topsoil into the convergent areas of the landscape where water runs off the land causing water erosion) is nicely demonstrated in the aerial photos, where the only good topsoil remaining is where rills and gullies cause their greatest soil loss and where tillage erosion causes soil accumulation.
I agree. Tillage erosion definitely explains the light-colored hilltops and contributes to degradation of the hill slopes. Gravity is at work, even in our crop land. Thank you for your comments.
Just I agree¡¡, like Former President of AAPRESID ( Argentine No TILL FARMER´S ASSOCIATION I SEND YOU CONGRATULATIONS¡¡ A FANTASTIC TASK OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. REGARDS
Noted an error in my email on previous reply.