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CHAPTER 3 – PLANET SUSFARMS® Edition 3 – July 2015
Module 3.7
SOIL CONSERVATION: LAYOUT
STATEMENT OF INTENT Soil erosion is minimised
Measures Notes
Legal requirement
Compliance with Regulations published under the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 to minimise soil erosion
Cultivation of land:
Except with written authority, no virgin land has been cultivated
Except with written authority, no land has been cultivated if it has a slope of more than 20%
Except with written authority, no land has been cultivated if it has a slope of more than 12%, and is situated in certain magisterial areas
Cultivated land has been protected against excessive soil loss through the action of water and wind
Regulations under the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act
Farmers must comply with the Regulations published under section 29 of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act as promulgated in GN R 1048 Government Gazette 10029 of 25 May 1984, as amended.
NB: The Better Management Practices developed for sugarcane and detailed under
Modules 3.6: Environmental Conservation and 3.7: Soil Conservation Layout are designed to meet the requirements of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act. In most
circumstances, farmers who implement the BMPs would meet the general requirements of the Regulations.
Cultivation of land:
Except with written authority, no virgin land shall be cultivated (land which in the opinion of the executive officer has at no time during the preceding ten years been cultivated).
(Refer also to the Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989, sections 21, 22 and 26 and the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 section 24.)
Cultivation of land with slope:
Except with written authority, no land shall be cultivated if it:
- has a slope of more than 20%; or
- has a slope of more than 12%, and is situated in certain magisterial areas, with specified erodible soils and physical properties (the magisterial districts of Eshowe, Alexandria, Albany, Bathurst and East London.)
NB: This prohibition does not apply to land which was under cultivation on the date of commencement of the regulations (viz. 1 June 1984), provided such land is protected against excessive soil loss due to erosion through the action of water.
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CHAPTER 3 – PLANET SUSFARMS® Edition 3 – July 2015
Legal requirement
Protection of cultivated land against erosion through the action of water:
Cultivated land shall be protected against excessive soil loss as a result of erosion through the action of water by as many of the following measures as are necessary for each particular situation:
soil conservation works shall be established to divert run-off water or to restrict the speed of run-off water
land shall be cultivated in such a manner so as to restrict the speed of run-off water
land shall be used in accordance with a crop rotation system
alternate strips on which a cover crop occurs shall be left undisturbed annually
crop residues shall be left on the land to the extent that a sufficient mulch forms
the land shall be permanently removed from cultivation through the establishment of a grazing crop
Protection of cultivated land against erosion through the action of wind:
Cultivated land shall be protected against excessive soil loss as a result of the actions of wind by as many of the following measures as are necessary for each particular situation:
land shall be cultivated in such a manner so as to restrict the surface movement of soil particles as a result of wind
land shall be used in accordance with a crop rotation system
alternate strips on which a cover crop occurs shall be left undisturbed annually
crop residues shall be left on the land to the extent that a sufficient mulch forms
the land shall be permanently removed from cultivation through the establishment of a grazing crop
soil conservation works shall be established to restrict the movement of soil particles through the action of wind
strips of natural vegetation shall be left at right angles to the prevailing wind, or a suitable windbreak shall be constructed or suitable vegetation shall be established to serve as a windbreak
land shall not be left fallow (i.e bare fallow without suitable vegetation)
cultivation and grazing of lands during periods of high winds shall be avoided
establishment of crops of which the harvesting causes disturbance of the topsoil shall be avoided.
