How To Prevent Soil Erosion

It’s estimated by DEFRA that every year, around 2.9 million tonnes of topsoil is lost to erosion. While a certain amount of soil erosion is natural and unavoidable, excessive erosion can have a huge impact on crop growth and biodiversity over time. Therefore, it’s essential to put measures in place to prevent it where we can.But what exactly causes soil erosion and how can you minimise it? The team at Oliver Brown Ltd is here to explore the practical steps you can take to protect your land.

What causes soil erosion?

Soil erosion is rarely caused by just one thing; it’s usually down to a combination of factors, some natural and some exacerbated by human activity. We’ve listed some of the most common causes below:

• Bad weather:As much as we’d like to, we can’t control Mother Nature, and there will always be some level of soil erosion caused by bad weather. Torrential rain can dislodge and wash away soil particles, while strong winds can lift and blow away dry, loose soil, especially in exposed areas. Over time, this means that the top layer of soil can be stripped away entirely.

Deforestation:

• Trees and plants play an important role in stabilising soil. They have deep roots that help to anchor soil in place, while their leaves help to shelter the ground from heavy rain. When vegetation is removed from an area, the soil is left bare and unprotected, making it more vulnerable to erosion.
  

Invasive plants:

• While this might seem at odds with what we’ve said above, invasive plants can have the opposite effect on soil stabilisation. They displace the natural vegetation yet lack the same deep root system; instead, their shallow roots offer very little support to the soil.
  

Poor agricultural practices:

• Excessive ploughing and overgrazing can break down the soil and remove vegetation to leave the land more vulnerable.
  

How to prevent soil erosion

While some soil erosion is inevitable, there are certain measures you can take to reduce the risk and help preserve topsoil:

• Remove invasive plants: By eradicating fast-growing weeds and invasive plants, you can help native vegetation to grow. As we’ve mentioned above, native plants have deeper, stronger root systems that help to keep the soil in place. By enlisting aninvasive plant removalexpert to keep these aggressively growing plants in check, you can encourage healthier vegetation growth.

• Plant vegetation: By planting new vegetation, you can help to stabilise the soil and shelter it from the effects of bad weather. One of the most effective ways of revegetating a large area of land quickly is through hydroseeding. This involves spraying a slurry of seed, water, tackifiers and fertilisers directly onto the soil – you can read our previous guide to hydroseeding for more information. This has many benefits: it ensures total coverage, encourages faster germination and improves soil health.

Use mulches:

• Similarly to hydroseeding, hydromulching involves spraying a slurry straight onto the soil. However, unlike hydroseeding, the slurry contains mulch, which acts as a protective layer that retains moisture and protects the soil. Unlike erosion control blankets, the mulch can follow the contours of the land without leaving behind air pockets thanks to its spray application. Here at Oliver Brown Ltd, we’re one of only two certified installers in the UK for Profile Products, including Flexaterra HP-FGM – a high-performance mulch that has proved to be 99% effective as an erosion control measure.
  

Integrate soil run-off systems:

• Installing biodegradable rolls and silt fencing helps to prevent water run-off, trap sediment and protect land that is especially vulnerable.
  

Work with an erosion control expert:

• When you work with an erosion control specialist, like Oliver Brown Ltd, we can help you decide on the best erosion control methods for your specific site, taking into account soil condition, slope gradient and various other factors.

Here at Oliver Brown Ltd, we provide a range of commercial erosion control services to customers across the UK. No matter how challenging your site is, our team can offer solutions to protect your land and prevent erosion – get in touch with us today to find out more.