Topsoil

• Earthworms and decaying plants contribute to fertile topsoil.outdoors image by FJ Medrano from Fotolia.com
  
  Topsoil is the uppermost layer of the earth's crust. The depth of the topsoil is determined by the nutrients it contains. The layer of topsoil can be as shallow as two inches, but can go as deep as several feet. Healthy topsoil will contain organisms, fungi, nitrogen and earthworms. The earthworm and decaying plants play an important role in the production of healthy, fertile topsoil.
  
  

Reclamation Of Farmland

• Harvested wheat field left to renourish topsoil.stubble image by michael langley from Fotolia.com
  
  Reclamation means to reclaim, to take an area that is considered to be useless and turn it into an area that has a useful purpose. As reclamation pertains to topsoil for agricultural purposes, the meaning is to take an area of land that has had the nutrients in the topsoil depleted, and by letting the land rest, with no planting or plowing taking place for several years, the nutrients in the soil would be allowed to replenish. This process would provide a more fertile topsoil for future planting and growing.
  
  

Reuse Topsoil

• Machinery can be used to recycle topsoil for reclamation.heavy machines image by JCVStock from Fotolia.com
  
  Reclamation of topsoil can also include recycling the topsoil. In an area were the topsoil can no longer sustain growing, the topsoil can be recycled. Machinery can be used to scrape the uppermost layer of the land. The dirt is put into a machine that sifts and separates the contents. The rocks that are attained can be recycled and used in landscaping projects. The dirt can be used to fill in holes, and also used to level uneven ground.
  
  

Reduce Topsoil Loss

• Allowing weeds to grow provides nutrients and stability for topsoil.field of dried weeds in summer image by Sherri Camp from Fotolia.com
  
  Topsoil is lost due to heavy rains, flooding, wind, and construction. In order to prevent loss of topsoil, measures should be taken to make the area more stable. This can be done by planting grass, flowers or anything that has a root structure that penetrates into the soil, thereby making the soil less likely to wash away during rain or blow away during wind. Allowing weeds to grow in an area that is not being used is better than plowing up the land and letting it sit, which allows the soil to be washed or blown away.
  
  

Considerations

• Topsoil takes a long time to reproduce.tilled field image by Niki from Fotolia.com
  
  Topsoil that is lost due to erosion, flooding and farming is damage that cannot be repaired in a short amount of time. The process of producing topsoil is very slow. It can take over a hundred years to produce one inch of topsoil.