Grass can provide erosion control

If you are producing field-grown crops, miscanthus grass could be used to prevent field soil erosion and water runoff. Scientists at the USDA-Ag Research Service’s Nat’l. Sedimentation Lab in Oxford, Miss., have calculated how much soil erosion miscanthus grass will prevent. The grass’ ability to trap sediment increased as it matured. It captured about 90% of eroded sediment from ultra-narrow-row conventionally tilled fields and about 50% of sediment from no-till fields. The effectiveness of miscanthus was enhanced when clippings were allowed to accumulate uphill of the grass plantings. Even if the clippings from grasses over 1½-feet tall are removed, the grass can still help protect against field erosion.