Code
A04
Sector
Agriculture
The complete description of the NWRM
Summary

Strip cropping is a method of farming used when a slope is too steep or too long, or otherwise, when one does not have an alternative method of preventing soil erosion. It alternates strips of closely sown crops such as hay, wheat, or other small grains with strips of row crops, such as corn, soybeans, cotton, or sugar beets. Strip cropping helps to stop soil erosion by creating natural dams for water, helping to preserve the strength of the soil. Certain layers of plants will absorb minerals and water from the soil more effectively than others. When water reaches the weaker soil that lacks the minerals needed to make it stronger, it normally washes it away. When strips of soil are strong enough to slow down water from moving through them, the weaker soil can't wash away like it normally would. Because of this, farmland stays fertile much longer. There is no available information on the extent of strip cropping in Europe. The practice has been widespread in North America as a means of mitigating soil erosion from wind and water.

Illustration(s)
Possible benefits with level
Benefits Level
BP2 - Slow runoff
High
BP6 - Increase infiltration and/or groundwater recharge
Medium
BP7 - Increase soil water retention
Low
BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery
High
BP11 - Improve soils
Medium
ES6 - Groundwater/aquifer recharge
Medium
ES7 - Flood risk reduction
Medium
ES8 - Erosion/sediment control
High
ES9 - Filtration of pollutants
Medium
PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements
Medium
PO5 - Improving quantitative status
Medium
PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration
Medium
PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks
High
PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure
High
PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry
Medium
PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss
Medium

Case studies per NWRM