Methods of Reducing Soil Erosion
In both conservation and agricultural circles, soil erosion is a huge problem. Soil erosion is the act of loose soil being displaced by wind, water, or other environmental factors. Soil erosion not only causes problems by carrying soil away from where it is supposed to be, resulting in more shallow soil, but it often deposits this loose soil into water ways as a pollutant. This guide will describe some ways to help slow or stop soil erosion.
The most common method of erosion control since the mid-20th century has been to build terraces in a field. Often used by farmers, this method consists of creating several lines of mounded earth in a tier fashion on hillsides in a field in order to ‘catch’ soil that would erode otherwise. While terraces are effective at slowing soil erosion, they are quite the eyesore and can create complications for equipment in certain cases.
Another method, and the one I believe to be both the most effective and most beneficial, is the method of using cover crops. This method refers to planting a type of plant in a field that grows after the main crop has been harvested or completed its growing cycle, when the ground would normally be bare. The harvest of the main crop leaving bare ground along with soil disturbance from the harvest machines means that soil is at great risk or erosion; however, planting cover crops eliminates this issue as the roots from the plants will hold the soil in place until the main crop begins its growing season. The cover crop is also beneficial in that it can be used to feed livestock or be sold for profit, depending on what crop is planted.
