What conservation practice aims to reduce runoff by creating buffer zones?

The practice that specifically aims to reduce runoff by creating buffer zones is filter strips. These are areas of vegetation planted between agricultural lands and water bodies, designed to intercept and absorb runoff before it reaches waterways. By doing so, filter strips not only help to minimize soil erosion but also enhance water quality by trapping sediments, nutrients, and potential pollutants that can be carried away by runoff.

Filter strips serve as a critical barrier that slows down and absorbs runoff, allowing for the natural filtration of water. They are particularly effective in managing agricultural pollution, as nutrients from fertilizers and pesticides can be captured in the vegetation before they can adversely affect aquatic ecosystems. This practice plays a vital role in sustainable land management and conservation strategies, emphasizing the importance of maintaining healthy waterways.

In contrast, while crop rotation, cover cropping, and conservation tillage are important conservation practices with various benefits, they do not specifically create buffer zones to address runoff in the way that filter strips do. Crop rotation focuses on alternating different crops in a field to enhance soil health and reduce pests, cover cropping involves planting certain crops during off-seasons to improve soil structure, and conservation tillage is about minimizing soil disturbance to protect soil integrity. Each of these practices contributes to conservation but does not emphasize the creation of distinct