Soil erosion carries away the fertile soil in an area. The remaining soil may not be productive enough to support the growth of grass and crops. Erosion control helps maintain a suitable environment for farming, but what exactly does it involve? Read on to identify five erosion control methods.
Hydro Mulching
Hydro mulching is a simple revegetation and erosion control technique. According to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), hydro mulching involves the use of water sludge, wood fiber mulch, and in most cases, a mulch adhesive together with seeds to encourage vegetative cover growth. It’s especially ideal for denuded lands that are susceptible to soil erosion. Mulching covers the ground and prevents raindrops from directly hitting the soil.
Planting Cover Crops
Planting grass protects the soil from being carried by rainwater. As per its name, cover crops cover the ground, preventing soil movement. Cover crops further prevent raindrops from directly hitting the water and control splash and sheet erosion. Besides grass, other cover crops include:
- Sweet potatoes
- Watermelon and pumpkin vines
- Peas and bean crops
Tree Planting
Topsoil is the most fertile soil layer that promotes plant growth. Bare soil, however, is susceptible to erosion since surface runoff and high wind speed carry away a layer of topsoil. Afforestation is an excellent erosion control method since tree roots bind soil particles together and hold them in place, which is normally during the rainy season. Moreover, trees provide vegetative cover, thus preventing soil from being blown away by the wind. River banks, steep slopes, and wastelands are areas to concentrate afforestation efforts as they are more prone to soil erosion.
Contour Farming
Contouring is a smart farming practice that involves carrying out cultivation across the slope rather than along. You can also make small ridges of soil across the hill. This erosion control method is practiced in hilly areas whereby contours act like a bund, preventing dirt from being washed away by water flowing down the slope.
Terracing
Steep-sloping land water runoff speed is very high. This water carries soil with it, contributing to gully erosion. Since the land is flat, it reduces surface runoff, thereby preventing erosion. Additionally, the grass planted at the edge of the terraces trap the soil.
Planting trees and cover crops as well as mulching all provide the ground with vegetative cover, thus preventing soil and wind from carrying away the topsoil. Terracing and plowing across the slope rather than along are good farming practices as they slow down surface runoff speed, effectively preventing soil erosion. Our services will impact your farming through erosion control, so reach out to us today.