Soil Erosion Control in Forest and Rangelands

a) Afforestation:

• The conversion of bare or cultivated land into forest.
• roots holding soil particles
• Breaking the wind
• Litters, grasses, leaves add OM increasing the aggregation of soil particles and basically avoiding the direct hitting of rain drops.

b) Reforestation:

• The restoration (replanting) of a forest that had been reduced.
• Avoiding overgrazing of forest: destroys natural vegetation, compacts soil, destroys aggregates and ultimately reduces water infiltration.
• Agroforestry

c) controlled grazing:

• soil is exposed when the grasses are grazed very close to the ground, making it easy for wind and water to blow and wash away.
• stocking within the carrying capacity of grazing area is of primary importance in sustainable management of range land.

d) Rotational grazing should be practiced.

e) Introducing legumes

f) Planting trees, grasses to speed the establishment of a good ground cover to minimize impact of soil erosion.