Interactive illustration · Yard water
Why does bare soil wash away on a slope?
Compare bare soil, mulch and grass, and change the slope, to see how ground cover changes what rain carries away.
An illustrative comparison, not a measured erosion rate.
EXPLORE HOW IT WORKS
Erosion control: slope and cover
Keep the same rainfall, then change the slope and soil cover. See how exposed soil can move.
- 1Rain on the surface
- 2Soil cover
- 3Soil carried downhill
Rain reaches exposed sandy soil. Loose grains travel with the surface flow.
What to notice.
Slope gives runoff a direction. Exposed soil can detach and travel with it. Plant cover and mulch can protect the surface in different ways. This comparison explains the mechanism; it does not predict soil loss or select an erosion-control treatment.
Educational illustration. Geometry and motion are simplified, and slopes are exaggerated so the change is visible. It does not predict performance at your property or specify equipment, dimensions or repairs.