As soils age, much of the darker color is lost due to the weathering process. Soil on top of hills is usually lighter in color than the soil in depressions or on level ground. This is partly due to the darker topsoil being washed off the hills. This leaves the lighter subsurface or subsoil exposed.

The slope of the land influences: Moisture — the greater the slope, the greater the runoff and the less moisture that infiltrates into the soil. Soil retention — the greater the slope, the greater the rate of soil loss due to erosion (this is true even for fully-vegetated soil)

Higher parts of a field tend to have lower amounts of water, so at the top of a slope the water availability will be lower than at the bottom. The movement of the soil either by water or air erosion affects the fertility of the soil. Erosion causes the movement or transfer of the soil from one area to another.

Inhibitory effects of crops on slope runoff rate and sediment yield were enhanced with crop growth and decreased with increasing slope gradient. Crop growth and coverage could offset the impact of increasing slope gradient on runoff and sediment to some extent and reduced water and soil loss on slopes.

Work organic matter into the soil. Increasing the organic matter content improves the ability of the soil to retain water and the rate at which water is absorbed. Organic soil amendments could include manure, compost, sphagnum peat moss or grass clippings.

Cover crops, relay cropping, mulching and bio or synthetic geo-textiles placed on the soil’s surface decrease the direct impact of raindrops on the soil surface. On a larger scale, buffer strips in farming areas or close to riparian systems, and contour terracing, are also effective at addressing this issue.

Some plants that work well on slopes include:

• Burning Bush.
• Fragrant Sumac.
• Japanese Yew.
• California Lilac.
• Creeping Juniper.
• Dwarf Forsythia.
• Snowberry.
• Siberian Carpet Cypress.

1 Definition. A slope is the rise or fall of the land surface. It is important for the farmer or irrigator to identify the slopes on the land. A slope is easy to recognize in a hilly area. Start climbing from the foot of a hill toward the top, this is called a rising slope (see Fig.

Long, smooth, even slopes speed up runoff water. Then plant your crops across the slope or “on the contour”. This allows you to do all the land preparation, planting, and harvesting across the slope. Farming across the slope helps to shorten slope lengths, slowing down runoff water so it can soak into the soil.

1. Stagger or scatter your plants on the slope.
2. Control water flow from the top of the hill.
3. Slow water flow and runoff with terracing and contouring.
4. Hold soil with wide spreading roots and groundcovers.
5. Divert and scatter the force of heavy rains with plant foliage.
6. Mulch to reduce surface runoff.

Farming which is done on cut hill slopes is known as Terrace farming.

Deep-rooted plants, such as prairie plants, hold their own on even the steepest slope. Ornamental grasses, ground cover roses and shrubs (including shrub roses with a sprawling growth habit) work well in hillside and slope planting. Native plants are nearly always an excellent choice.

Gentle slopes can be farmed the same way flat land is farmed. The steeper the slope, the narrower the terraces. Terracing of hillsides in farming reduces erosion because terraces reduce the flow rate of water down the hill. Furrows running down slope can easily transform into erosion gullies.

There are many methods that could be used to help prevent or stop erosion on steep slopes, some of which are listed below.

1. Plant Grass and Shrubs. Grass and shrubs are very effective at stopping soil erosion.
2. Use Erosion Control Blankets to Add Vegetation to Slopes.
3. Build Terraces.
4. Create Diversions to Help Drainage.

Slopes can be stabilized by adding a surface cover to the slope, excavating and changing (or regrading) the slope geometry, adding support structures to reinforce the slope or using drainage to control the groundwater in slope material.

Cover bare patches of soil, hill sides, and spaces between plants with 1 to 2 inches of mulch. This will protect soil from overhead watering and rain, keeping it in place. It also minimizing evaporation and feeding soil at the same time. Consider adding extra seed to cover ground and fill in bare patches in your lawn.

SLOPE MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES:

1. Inspect & Maintain Slope Drains.
2. Install Drought-Tolerant Ground Cover.
3. Do Not Over-Irrigate Slope Landscaping.
4. Do Not Drain Directly to Slopes.
5. Do Not Dispose of Soil or Debris on Slopes.
6. Do Not Allow Water to Pond Against Retaining Walls.
7. Monitor Movement & Property Condition Changes.

The best plants for erosion control are those ground covers or shrubs that are vigorous, attractive, and have a root system effective at holding back soil on a hill. They should have spreading foliage to slow the velocity of heavy rain. If you live in deer country they should also be plants that deer tend not to eat.

There are many methods used to stabilize banks and embankments, such as through addressing soil structure, drainage and vegetation cover, slope armor/revetment or engineered works, including gabions, revet mattresses, and various retaining wall and sheet pile structures.

There are two basic types of riverbank stabilization:

1. Reinforcing the riverbank. Through hard approaches like retaining walls and riprap. Through soft approaches like bioengineering and vegetation re-establishment.
2. Reducing the hydrodynamic forces that lead to erosion through the use of flow control systems.

Sow grass along the top of the bank for additional stability and erosion control. Use a native grass, such as California fescue (Festuca californica), hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9, help stabilize the top of a creek bank and reduce the speed of water flowing over and down the bank to the creek.

Coir rolls can be used to protect and stabilize the toe of a bank or bluff by providing a physical barrier that buffers waves and reduces erosion of exposed sediment, as depicted in Figure 2. Coir rolls provide stability and protection to the site while the vegetation planted in and above the rolls becomes established.

On the dunes angle-iron-barbed wire fencing is most effective. of micro-wind breaks. Some the grasses/creepers/trees suitable for afforestation of dunes are: Grasses Creepers Trees/shrubs Sewan (Lasiurus sindicus), Anjan (Cenchrus ciliaris), Murat (Panicum turgidum).

Blowing sand seldom reaches a height greater than 3 feet above the ground . Thus, to effectively stop windblown sand, it is important that the wind barriers or wind breaks be at least 3 feet high . A taller wind barrier or wind break has greater capacity for trapping blowing sand .

Preventing bluff erosion

1. Retaining moisture-absorbing vegetation on the bluff.
2. Diverting surface runoff away from the bluff (including rain gutter outlets).
3. Reducing runoff rate toward the bluff.
4. Minimizing paved areas that increase runoff.
5. Limiting ground water flow toward the bluff.

How to Protect Eroded Land

1. Mulch or compost can be used in tree and shrub beds or in areas where vegetation is difficult to grow.
2. Plants for erosion control.
3. Soil fertility or pH sometimes needs improvement to grow appropriate vegetation.
4. Mixing compost into the soil can also help soil fertility.

Present beach erosion prevention methods include sand dunes, vegetation, seawalls, sandbags, and sand fences. Based on the research conducted, it is evident that new ways to prevent erosion must be obtained. Each way that is currently used has extensive negative effects on beaches and their natural tendencies.

Techniques for steep slopes include wood retaining walls, interlocking concrete blocks, rock retaining walls, riprap (loose rock) areas, and terracing. If you choose wood, make sure the wood is treated with a wood preservative to prevent rotting.