Types of Erosion Control Structures

Cropping

• Soil erosion is reduced by maintaining the crop cover at 30 percent or above, according to the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. Crops lay their roots down into the soil and stabilize the soil. Crops should also be managed carefully, alternating summer and winter crops and perennial species.

Contour Farming

• Soil erosion can also be minimized using a technique called contour farming, where the individual lines of new crops are planted on the natural curves and sinews of the land, meaning that the edges of hills and small contours are protected from wind and water runoff. This method works best on moderate slopes with a ridge height of 2 or 3 inches.

Strip-cropping

• Erosion can be reduced if the farmer plants strips of different crops with alternating cover heights. As in contour farming, each strip is planted close to the natural ridges in the land to maximize the potential benefits. Strip widths range between 75 and 120 feet.

Level Terracing

• Some farming practices involve the creation of level strips of land called terraces. This is a common practice in European countries like Italy and Cyprus where the land can be dry and require good access for cultivation. Terraces reduce natural sloping of the land, erosion of the soil and improve the number of plants that can be planted in small, otherwise inconvenient areas. They are designed to drain of water within 48 hours.

Wind Breakers and Tillers

• Soil erosion by the action of strong winds represents a serious threat to the successful cultivation of crops, land resources and air quality. As explained by the University of Nebraska, the best solution involves long-term planning using wind breakers as well as crop-cover planning and strip cropping. If the wind erosion requires emergency corrective action, a process known as "tillage" can be carried out, in which artificial ridges are created in the soil to slow the wind down. Tillage should be minimized to prevent long-term damage to the land.

Grass Waterways

• Grass waterways are one example of a range of environmentally friendly measures that help reduce erosion but also contain surface runoff and soil loss. A grass waterway is an area where grass grows permanently to drain runoff water into designated outlets. In corn and soybean fields, for example, tillage practices are combined with grass waterways to reduce erosion on sloping fields, as described by the University of Minnesota.

Conservation Buffers

• Another enhancement to traditional methods of erosion control, "conservation buffers" are strips of vegetation placed in a landscape to influence ecological processes. Benefits of buffers include soil protection for crop planting, improved air and water quality, enhanced fish and wildlife habitats and a more attractive landscape.