Which practice helps reduce soil erosion?

Which practice helps reduce soil erosion?

• A. Over-watering
• B. Plowing continuously
• C. Mulching and cover cropping
• D. Applying lime heavily

Answer: (C)

Protecting the soil surface from rain and wind is the main idea here, and mulching and cover cropping do this most effectively. A layer of mulch on the soil slows down raindrop impact, reduces surface runoff, helps retain moisture, and protects soil structure, while living cover crops keep the soil in place with their roots and add organic matter that improves infiltration and stability. Together, they minimize soil displacement during storms and over time. The other practices don’t provide that protective surface cover or root binding: over-watering can increase runoff and erosion risk when water can’t infiltrate, continuous plowing disturbs the soil and removes residues that protect against erosion, and applying lime adjusts soil pH rather than directly reducing erosion.

Protecting the soil surface from rain and wind is the main idea here, and mulching and cover cropping do this most effectively. A layer of mulch on the soil slows down raindrop impact, reduces surface runoff, helps retain moisture, and protects soil structure, while living cover crops keep the soil in place with their roots and add organic matter that improves infiltration and stability. Together, they minimize soil displacement during storms and over time. The other practices don’t provide that protective surface cover or root binding: over-watering can increase runoff and erosion risk when water can’t infiltrate, continuous plowing disturbs the soil and removes residues that protect against erosion, and applying lime adjusts soil pH rather than directly reducing erosion.