SOIL EROSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 22 December 1938, Page 11

SOIL EROSION

LOSS OF FERTILITY PROBLEM FOR NEW ZEALAND RESULT OF ‘'GREEDY” FARMING The problem of soil erosion has not assumed major proportions in New Zealand yet, except in the tremendous damage caused by flooding. The question of the loss of fertility, which will be the next stage, is causing concern in Britain and is the subject of a critical article in Fertiliser and Feeding Stuffs, a journal dealing with the artificial fertiliser trade. “Considerable attention has been directed of late,” the article states, “to the dangers of soil erosion in some of the great food-producing countries overseas, since in many cases the countries have been sources of supply of cheap foodstuffs for consumers in the United Kingdom. These dangers are hardly appreciated by consumers, but it will be remembered that Professor Stapledon, at the recent British Association meeting, called attention to the matter.

“Soil erosion is, in fact, going on in some countries overseas to such an extent that in future years consumers may be faced with real emergencies of which they have very little inkling to-day, unless measures are taken to retard and put a stop to this depletion of fertility. In the main, soil erosion has been brought about by “greedy” methods of farming, as, for instance, the taking of one cereal crop after another with little or no return of plant nutrient to the soil and without any regard for the rotations which are at the root of all good farming. PROBLEM IN SOUTH AFRICA “Some further references to the subject may be noted with interest. Attention is being given to the matter in South Africa. In that country soil erosion appears to be brought about to a large extent by over-grazing the veldt, and the poor, dry state of the ground does not lend itself readily to absorbing the heavy rains when they occur. The result is that the soil is simr'y washed away. The reason for that soil erosion will be of interest to farmers in this country. Here the depletion of fertility is often the accompaniment of the understocking of pasture land. “But in South Africa methods are being devised to prevent the veldt from becoming worn and denunded by large numbers of beasts. Endeavours are also being made to see that the land is farmed by people who have a knowkdge of intensive farming methods. At a recent conference in Australia the Commonwealtn Minister of Agriculture referred to the ieduction in soil fertility as 4/ a burning question.” The Commonwealth Government, he said, would introduce a Soil Erosion Bill designed not to force the landowner to do something which he did not believe was right, but to educate him to the dangers of erosion and to assist him to restore the land.