Soil erosion in agricultural systems is a very important problem to manage. The productive layer of dirt is called the humus or topsoil. If this layer is eroded away, then the ground is very unproductive in producing crops. High winds can blow away loose soils from flat or hilly terrain. Water erosion generally occurs only on slopes, an

Farmers cannot affect the mineral bedrock but can increase the amount of organic matter in soil by using manure and field waste. Unfortunately, third world farmer depend on field waste for other purposes and don't use it for the land. Another method to increase soil production is to restore lost nutrients. Nitrogen and potassium is often applied yearly to restore lost nutrients. The only problem is that refertilizing makes the yield larger, but does not restore an eroding field.

There are a number of different methods of reducing soil erosion that farmers are implementing. Contour tillage reduces water erosion. On hilly areas plowing is done across the hill rather than straight up and down. One problem with this is that some fields' shape makes this method impractical. Terraces can also be constructed so to reduce water erosion.

Atlantic coast, and sand and heavier materials drifted against houses, fences, and barns. In many places 3 to 4 inches of topsoil were blown away. Many thousands of families, their farms ruined, migrated westward; about a third of the remaining families had to accept government relief.

The Mississippi has flooded several times. The largest flood recorded was in 1927 in the lower valley. In 1993, however, the upper valley suffered its largest flooding in history. Levees were built, even before the 1927 flood in an attempt to prevent and lessen flooding damage. These levees help protect the shoreline in most floods, but larger floods have broken the levees. There is current debate over the effectiveness of levees. After the 1993 flood, some of the broken levees were not repaired. Recently, in 1991 the Mississippi experienced another flood that came close to reaching the 1993 levels.

The Mississippi is the largest and most important river in North America. It was a central role in exploration and economic development in the birth of our country. It still is a principal artery for bulk freight. It carries more than any other U.S. waterway. Many towns still depend on the river for economic support. Dredging and other engineering techniques have made it possible for large vessels to safely maneuver through the river. The river is significant is waste removal. The river carries both sewage and industrial pollution. But due to the large volume of water, the water is diluted and has fewer concentrations of pollutants than smaller rivers.

Western United States suffers from increased salt and is largely preventable. Poorly drained fields allow the water level to rise just to the soil surface. Salts and minerals from the fertilizer and soil are dissolved and are left at the top of soil as the water evaporates. A field outside Salt Lake City is a barren crust of white. Restoration can be very expensive and offers no guarantee of success. This is easily avoided by using underground pipes to draw excess water off the field.

In the Northern portion of the Mississippi, farmers have altered the landscape to suit their farming needs. Today, much of the land has been altered to allow row crops. Prairie and wetlands no longer exist. This results in an increase in erosion in place that was very secure. Soil is more easily carried off the land and into rivers. Since 1830, suspended sediment in River water has risen continuously. One piece of evidence is that Lake Pepin, a lake in the middle of the Mississippi River near the Minnesota-Iowa border, has lost 17% of its volume. If sediment deposit remains constant, then the lake will be completely filled within 350 years.

Some topics in this essay:
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