Mulch Rates Required for Erosion Control on Steep Slopes

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Abstract
The erosion‐reducing effectiveness of six rates of straw mulch was tested on slopes averaging 15%. Mulch rates of only 0.56 and 1.12 metric tons/ha reduced soil losses to less than one–third of those from unmulched areas during a series of intense simulated rainstorms. A 2.24‐metric tons/ha rate decreased soil loss to only 18% of that from no mulch, and the 4.48‐ and 8.96‐metric tons/ha rates reduced it to less than 5%.Runoff velocity for the 0.56‐metric tons/ha rate was one‐half that for no mulch, but heavier rates decreased velocity only slightly more. The reduced velocity due to mulching accounted for much of the resulting decrease in soil erosion.Although the small mulch rates greatly reduced erosion, more mulch was required to fully control erosion than was required on the less‐steep, more permeable soil conditions tested in earlier studies.

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