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04 June 2016

When To Hire Erosion Control Companies

By Frances Taylor


The loss of topsoil can turn a once healthy land into an arid terrain that can barely support life. Such destruction often take place in construction sites and other places where soil disturbance occur. This article seeks to educate you on what you can do to minimize the negative effects of such activities. You may need to also work with reputable erosion control companies.

You need to educate yourself about erosion. It can be simply described as the process through which topsoil and rocks are swept away. It is caused mainly by two factors which are either geological or man-made. The agents of this destruction include water, wind and even ice. On the other hand, it is caused geologically when soil is disturbed for whatever reason through formation or removal.

It is also important to understand some of the factors that make erosion worse. These are things that enhance topsoil being swept away. Knowing these factors will help you figure out what you can do to adopt till the correct mitigation efforts. They include rainfall intensity and duration, climate, topography, surface cover and vegetation. For instance, when vegetation is removed the sweeping of top dust worsens.

Before undertaking farming or a building project on your land, it is advisable to conduct a risk assessment exercise. Check the kind of vegetation present, climate and drainage to help avoid any problems that may arise late on. If you are well knowledgeable, you can conduct the exercise yourself. However, you may also need to hire the services of experts for any complex matters. Acting at the right time will minimize negative effects of erosion.

To find if your land is at risk of destruction, there are several indicators you can look for. Some of them will depend upon the natural features of your land while others are universal. It is advisable to assess the condition of your land after every heavy rainfall. Some of the telltale signs to look for include exposed plants or rocks, formation of gullies and channels and build-up of soil below slopes.

There are a number of ways controlling the destruction and most of them are things you can do. First, you can use plants by planting appropriate cover. These are usually ground cover plants and grass that grow fast while sending down roots to hold the top cover together. You may use fertilizer to give the vegetation the best chance to flourish. You can also plant trees to stabilize the land further.

If you face a serious form of land degradation, you may need to use barriers. However, this is a risky approach that may cause further damages. You will have to choose an appropriate barrier especially when you are not using a professional. Vegetation and rock can be used to reduce the forces or water or wind. You may also use dikes, sediment traps and dams.

The use of the best farming techniques is also another way of ensuring that the effects of erosion are reduced. Conservationists advise that you need to adopt conservative tillage which reduces soil disturbance. It is also important to avoid the use of heavy machinery and destruction of top cover like trees and vegetation.




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