What steps should you take to prevent erosion on slopes during irrigation or heavy rainfall?

• A. Avoid mulching and keep slope bare.
• B. Plant only grasses.
• C. Use terracing or benches, stabilize with groundcovers, maintain adequate mulch, and avoid overwatering that saturates slopes.
• D. Ignore irrigation scheduling.

Answer: (C)

When slopes face irrigation or heavy rain, the goal is to keep soil in place by reducing runoff and strengthening surface protection through a combination of structure, vegetation, and moisture control. Terracing or benches break a steep slope into smaller, level steps, which slows water, increases infiltration, and gives plants a better chance to establish. Groundcovers provide continuous root networks that bind the soil and shield it from raindrop impact, while mulch on the soil surface protects against splash erosion and helps retain moisture. Preventing overwatering is essential because saturated soil loses strength and becomes more prone to sliding and erosion, so irrigation should be timed and applied to avoid saturating slopes. Together, these practices address both how water moves on the slope and how the soil is protected and anchored. Leaving slopes bare, relying on a single plant type, or ignoring irrigation scheduling fail to control erosion effectively.