Depleted soils can be protected from soil erosion by groundcover plants such as naturally growing grasses in agroforestry systems. These help to stabilise the soil as they increase cover compared to short-cycle cropping systems. Soil cover is a crucial factor in preventing erosion. Cleaner water through reduced nutrient and soil surface runoff can be a further advantage of agroforestry. The runoff can be reduced by decreasing its velocity and increasing infiltration into the soil. Compared to row-cropped fields nutrient uptake can be higher and reduce nutrient loss into streams.Further advantages concerning plant growth:
Jill owns a very large farm where she grows two types of crops. In Field C she grows corn in rows and there are no groundcover plants in the soil. In Field B she grows beans; the beans are not planted in rows and there is a layer of groundcover plants in the soil. She is curious about how the different styles of growing these crops will affect soil erosion.
Which planting system will not result in cleaner water due to more runoff, Field B or Field C?