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Soil Erosion & the Crops that Combat It
Modern large-scale farming practices have long used tillage, the mechanical turnover of soil. Its main benefits are easier seed planting and reduction of weeds, but the method has many drawbacks.
For one, tillage exposes underlying layers of soil to the elements. These layers are nutrient-rich and contain all the “good stuff” needed for healthy crop growth. You know how that corn field down the street is bare after the summer? Annual cropping means entire seasons go by with no or minimal protection to the soil. Heavy rains and strong winds are able to move the sun-dried soil around. Especially in hilly areas, where rain and winds can shift soil far more easily down a slope, erosion is a major issue.
There are many techniques existing today in the form of crops planted to combat erosion. Crops that are especially important for hillside areas steady the soil, like Vetiver grass, and protect it from the sun, as with the usage of cover crops.
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