An Extension Program for the Control of Soil Erosion in Nebraska 1

Extension programs to control erosion have been cooperative projects between specialists in agronomy and agricultural engineering. Soil erosion is an important problem in Nebraska from the standpoint of organic matter losses, soil tilth and texture, the loss of runoff, and damage to land and land values by gullies and ditches. The loss of organic matter through the removal of the surface soil by sheet erosion is the most important damage to Nebraska land by soil washing, although other losses are important. The use of legume crops to maintain the organic matter content of the soil is emphasized for Nebraska conditions. The most important methods used in carrying on the erosion control programs include circular letters, schoolhouse meetings, publicity, soil robber trials, soil service meetings, corn yield contests, detailed surveys of definite areas, and result demonstrations of definite practices, such as installing brush and soil-saving dams, terracing, and carrying out definite rotation practices.