THE CALM AFTER THE STORM - Stormwater Runoff Management Tips - Storms occur naturally everyday across the planet producing stormwater runoff; it is simply fact of life. Stormwater runoff occurs when rain or snowmelt flows over the ground which can pick up pollutants like pesticides, oils chemicals and dirt. As cities grew, the land was increasingly covered with impervious surfaces like concrete and asphalt roadways, blocking the stormwater runoff from naturally soaking into the soil. Many people don’t realize that this untreated and polluted runoff flows directly into our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans endangering our most precious resource – water. Interestingly, a phenomenon called urban heat island (UHI) can impact the amount of rainwater produced in our cities and other populated regions. The pollution from our car exhaust and other sources can lead to cloud production, thus increasing the chance of rain. While our desire for water conservation is high, we can’t reasonably assume that we can stop modernization, so we need to identify ways to manage stormwater runoff effectively. By implementing the following stormwater pollution prevention tips you can reduce your impact on the environment and help ensure our water resources remain clean. Fertilizers and pesticides that are used on lawns and gardens wash away and pollute the stormwater. Do not fertilize if excessive rain is expected and don’t exceed the recommended amounts of the products.

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The Calm after the Storm

Stormwater Runoff Management Tips

Water Conservation by Matthew Speer

 

 

Storms occur naturally everyday across the planet producing stormwater runoff; it is simply fact of life. 

Stormwater runoff occurs when rain or snowmelt flows over the ground which can pick up pollutants like pesticides, oils chemicals and dirt. 

As cities grew, the land was increasingly covered with impervious surfaces like concrete and asphalt roadways, blocking the stormwater runoff from naturally soaking into the soil.

Many people don’t realize that this untreated and polluted runoff flows directly into our streams, rivers, lakes and oceans endangering our most precious resource – water.

Water Conservation & Prevention Can Solve the Problem

Interestingly, a phenomenon called urban heat island (UHI) can impact the amount of rainwater produced in our cities and other populated regions. 

The pollution from our car exhaust and other sources can lead to cloud production, thus increasing the chance of rain. 

While our desire for water conservation is high, we can’t reasonably assume that we can stop modernization, so we need to identify ways to manage stormwater runoff effectively.

By implementing the following stormwater pollution prevention tips you can reduce your impact on the environment and help ensure our water resources remain clean.

Fertilizers and pesticides that are used on lawns and gardens wash away and pollute the stormwater.

Do not fertilize if excessive rain is expected and don’t exceed the recommended amounts of the products.

There are organic and low impact fertilizer and pesticide products available, be sure to check with your local store to compare products. Find organic fertilizer and green garden supplies now.

Our furry friends are also a major source of excess nutrients and bacterial pollution in stormwater. Picking up after your pets is not only polite but will help the environment at the same time.

According to the EPA, flushing pet waste is the most environmentally friendly of disposal.

Direct your downspouts and gutters into your lawn, garden or other containment methods.

It is best to allow the stormwater to naturally soak into the soil as opposed to going down the storm drain. Consider using xeriscaping to further enhance your water conservation techniques.

Washing your car in your yard while using a biodegradable soap allows the water to filter back into the soil.

You can also use a commercial car wash that recycles or treats the wastewater before releasing into the drains. Shop for green car care products on Amazon.com.

Using mulch, bricks, gravel or other porous materials for driveways and walkways will allow water to flow through the surface and seep back into the soil.

Storms can help rejuvenate the air and soil helping keep Earth healthy, though if we are not aware of the impact of our choices, we can’t lead a sustainable lifestyle. 

Protect our most precious resource by reducing the impact stormwater runoff has on Earth’s water supply.

Matthew Speer is a Marketing and Advertising Executive that has worked with companies like AOL and U.S. News University Connection. He also has a passion for sustainability and keeping the Earth a beautiful place for our future generations which is why he helped create iSustainableEarth.com. Inspired by his own family and taking strides to go green he strives to live a sustainable lifestyle through research and action.

http://www.isustainableearth.com/water-conservation/the-calm-after-the-storm-%e2%80%93-stormwater-runoff-management-tips

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SOIL AGGREGATES - Poorly aggregated soils disintegrate easily when exposed to erosive forces. They tend to break down faster, leading to soil degradation. Poor stability can lead to pore spaces being filled in and can ultimately result in the formation of soil crusts. This can lead to reduced infiltration and gaseous exchange. Poorly aggregated soils can reduce crop productivity. Soil management often influences aggregate size, shape, and stability. The ground beneath your feet might seem like a uniform material, but it’s really a mixture of soil particles, organic matter, and other mineral/organic components. For a soil to be healthy, it must have good structure. Soil is made up of a combination of primary particles – sand, silt and clay. These particles can be bound together into what soil scientists call “aggregates.” Soil aggregates retained on a 4.75 mm sieve after wet sieving experiment. These aggregates are clumps of soil that range from the micro level (less than 0.25mm in diameter) to the macro level (greater than 0.25mm in diameter). Furthermore, they can resemble various shapes: granular, blocky, etc. These varied shapes allow for healthy soil to have pores spaces for air and water, needed for healthy plant growth. Aggregate formation is a complex process. Soil aggregates are formed through physical, chemical and biological activity below ground. They are even influenced by human factors, like tilling, walking on the surface, or even how you fertilize your garden.

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Soil  Aggregates

What are soil aggregates?

Soil is made up of a combination of primary particles – sand, silt and clay.These particles can be bound together into what soil scientists call “aggregates.”

.

Poorly aggregated soils disintegrate easily when exposed to erosive forces. They tend to break down faster, leading to soil degradation. Poor stability can lead to pore spaces being filled in and can ultimately result in the formation of soil crusts. This can lead to reduced infiltration and gaseous exchange. Poorly aggregated soils can reduce crop productivity. Soil management often influences aggregate size, shape, and stability.

Soil Science Society of America

by Nall I. Moonilall, Ohio State University

 

The ground beneath your feet might seem like a uniform material, but it’s really a mixture of soil particles, organic matter, and other mineral/organic components.

For a soil to be healthy, it must have good structure.

Soil is made up of a combination of primary particles – sand, silt and clay.

Soil aggregates retained on a 4.75 mm sieve after wet sieving experiment.

These particles can be bound together into what soil scientists call “aggregates.”

These aggregates are clumps of soil that range from the micro level (less than 0.25mm in diameter) to the macro level (greater than 0.25mm in diameter).

Furthermore, they can resemble various shapes: granular, blocky, etc.

These varied shapes allow for healthy soil to have pores spaces for air and water, needed for healthy plant growth.

Aggregate formation is a complex process.

Soil aggregates are formed through physical, chemical and biological activity below ground.

They are even influenced by human factors, like tilling, walking on the surface, or even how you fertilize your garden.

Formation of aggregates begins with finer soil primary particles binding together.

You may know that clay particles have a negative charge.

And, the fertilizers you use include salts that have positively charged cations (things like potassium nitrate, etc.)

The positively charged cations allow the negatively charged clay particles to bind together creating “floccules.”

Soil crust formation on a soil exposed to simulated rainfall.  You can see

 the crust formation on the surface of the soil as well as how deep

 the crust extends. (This really is soil – not cement!)

The type and amount of clay minerals in the soil often plays an influential role in aggregation formation.

The second part of aggregate formation deals with cementation.

Here, the clay floccules and other soil particles are bonded together by some type of cementing agent. (Here we mean “binding” – not cement like in concrete!)

Examples of cementing agents include organic matter, and liming materials like calcium carbonate.

Even types of oxides, like iron and aluminum can help cement particles together.

In the case of organic matter, it is broken down by the soil microorganisms and soil fauna (earthworms, etc.)

When breakdown occurs, these organisms secrete organic compounds that are the “glue” that makes cementation occur.

Plant roots also play a role in aggregate formation by secreting organic compounds called root exudates.

These help bind soil together near the root zone. Fungal hyphae also contribute to aggregate formation by entangling and weaving around soil particles.

As you can see, aggregate formation is the result of many interactions and feedback loops occurring below ground.

Soil aggregates play a major role in soil structure formation and soil health.

In agriculture, the stability of aggregates is critical to how well an agroecosystem will function. The pore spaces in soil influence air and water storage, and gaseous exchange.

They create habitat for soil microorganisms, and allow for plant root development and penetration.

They also assist in nutrient cycling and transport.

Soils that have high aggregate stability are less susceptible to erosion.

Keep soil covered! Crop residues on the soil surface help
 to protect soil from erosive forces.

They hold their shape when exposed to disruptive forces, like water, and do not easily break apart.

Poorly aggregated soils disintegrate easily when exposed to erosive forces. They tend to break down faster, leading to soil degradation.

Poor stability can lead to pore spaces being filled in and can ultimately result in the formation of soil crusts.

This can lead to reduced infiltration and gaseous exchange. Poorly aggregated soils can reduce crop productivity.

Soil management often influences aggregate size, shape, and stability. Favorable practices that promote and maintain greater stability include:

·      Minimizing soil disturbance, like minimal tillage. This reduces aggregate destruction because they are not physically or mechanically broken apart;

·      Adding organic matter enhances aggregate strength and stability;

·      Keeping soil covered is essential to keeping soil intact. Vegetative cover on the soil reduces the impact of erosive forces;

·      Promoting a diverse cropping system. Systems that promote perennial plants or meadows have expansive rooting systems and require no tillage. Promoting this kind of diversity within a system will ensure that soil’s function is not reduced;

·      Managing for grazing. Grasses have strong root systems, but if animals graze too long, that can be disruptive to the forage system. There are many ways to graze animals and preserve or enhance soil stability; and,

·      Managing for pest control. The choice of plants and how they are managed (e.g., annual vs. perennial, cover crops, rotation) are highly influential.

To recap – soil aggregates are the building blocks that make up soil and their stability is extremely important in the long-term.

Soils that are well aggregated exhibit greater soil health, ensure greater agronomic productivity, are less susceptible to soil erosion, and can play a role in carbon sequestration.

Answered by Nall I. Moonilall, Ohio State University

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Soil Science Society of America (SSSA)

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https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2019/07/15/what-are-soil-aggregates/