{"id":2469,"date":"2024-02-07T15:20:12","date_gmt":"2024-02-07T21:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sustainabledriftlessmag.com\/sdmunicdn\/?p=2469"},"modified":"2025-07-30T11:24:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-30T16:24:49","slug":"the-top-10-strategies-to-improve-soil-and-water","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainabledriftlessmag.com\/sdmunicdn\/the-top-10-strategies-to-improve-soil-and-water\/","title":{"rendered":"THE TOP 10 Strategies to Improve Soil and Water"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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Small or large acreage, here is the list of the 10 Things you can do to increase soil and water quality on the land (or lot) that you own:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\r\n

1. Implement Cover Cropping \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Reduces erosion, increases organic matter, improves water infiltration, and suppresses weeds (e.g., clover, rye, legumes).<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n

2. Use Conservation Tillage or No-Till Practices \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Minimizes soil disturbance, retains moisture, improves soil structure, and reduces runoff.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n

3. Create Buffer Strips or Riparian Zones \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Vegetated areas along waterways filter pollutants, trap sediment, and prevent nutrient runoff.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n

4. Apply Compost and Organic Amendments \u2013<\/i><\/b> Boosts fertility, improves microbial life, enhances water retention, and significantly reduces chemical input needs.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n

5. Manage Livestock Access to Waterways \u2013<\/span><\/i><\/b> Prevents erosion and water contamination by fencing off streams and offering alternative water sources.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"\"<\/i><\/b>6. Install Rain Gardens or Swales \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Captures and filters stormwater runoff, reduces erosion, and helps recharge groundwater.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n

7. Practice Mulching \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Helps retain moisture, prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and slowly adds organic matter to the soil.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n

8. Collect and Use Rainwater (Rain Barrels or Tanks) \u2013<\/i><\/b> Conserves water, reduces runoff, and provides a clean irrigation source.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n

9. Use Raised Beds with Healthy Soil Mixes \u2013<\/i><\/b> Enhances drainage, prevents compaction, and allows precise soil management for small spaces.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n

10. Rotate Crops and Diversify Plantings \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Prevents nutrient depletion, disrupts pest cycles, and promotes biodiversity.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Small or large acreage, here is the list of the 10 Things you can do to increase soil and water quality on the land (or lot) that you own: 1. Implement Cover Cropping \u2013 Reduces erosion, increases organic matter, improves water infiltration, and suppresses weeds (e.g., clover, rye, legumes). 2.Continue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2566,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[],"class_list":["entry","author-steadm2","post-2469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-current-issue"],"yoast_head":"\nTHE TOP 10 Strategies to Improve Soil and Water - Sustainable Driftless Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Strategies to improve water quality depend on soil quality strategies and are relatively simple, range from cover crops to diversified plants.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sustainabledriftlessmag.com\/sdmunicdn\/the-top-10-strategies-to-improve-soil-and-water\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"THE TOP 10 Strategies to Improve Soil and Water - 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