Which of the following practices could reduce erosion of water banks? a. buffer strips b. natural fertilizers and pesticides c. decrease in fossil fuel emissions d. all of the above

Answer;

a. buffer strips

Explanation;

-Erosion is the removal of soil particles from a site due to the forces of water, wind, and ice. Bank erosion occurs commonly in rivers and upper reaches of estuaries.

-Buffer strips are designed to intercept runoff using permanent vegetation. They trap sediment, and enhance filtration of nutrients and pesticides by slowing down runoff that could enter the local surface waters.

The maintenance of buffer strips is an ideal solution for the conservation of water banks and reducing erosion.

Further Explanation:

To control soil, water, and air quality and also take care of other environmental issues in the vegetative area is done by maintaining an area of land, called buffer strip. The sediments are trapped within the buffer strips. They also help in the filtration of pesticides and nutrients by lowering the speed of the runoff that could interfere with the surface waters present locally. These buffer strips have planted vegetation whose root systems helps in holding the soil particles together that could lessen the wind erosion of the soil and also provide protection to stream banks from landslides and erosions. The buffer strips can also be used by the farmers to square up or predict difficult situations in crop fields so as to provide proper safety equipment while performing farming more effectively.

A different set of vegetation can be found growing on buffer strips which can range from simple grasses to a variety of trees and shrubs. The presence of this diverse vegetation contributes to the biodiversity among plants and animals along with the protection from pesticide and nutrient flow.

The buffer strips can be classified as follows:

• Buffer within fields: A waterway that is grassed is capable of capturing more nutrients and pesticides that would normally flow out of the fields and into other water-filled areas. Such buffers also help in the reduction of soil erosion. These waterways take the surface water into an area with a stable outlet with a velocity that is non-erosive.  

• Edge of field buffers: In these buffers, native shrubs or grasses are planted in rows parallel to the crops as vegetative barriers of buffer strips. It is a very effective method for the reduction of water and wind erosion and results in the infiltration of water and trapping the sediments.  

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Answer Details:

Grade: Secondary School

Chapter: Buffer Strips

Subject: Environmental Sciences

Keywords:

Buffer strips, water banks, conservation, soil erosion, water and wind erosion, sediment trapping, filtration, pesticides, nutrients, buffer within fields, the edge of field buffers.