How Does Vegetation Affect Erosion?
Punch holes in the bottom of a plastic cup to make a sprinkler. Place three to five centimeters of soil in each of two planting flats. Sprinkle grass seed on the soil in one of them and cover lightly with soil. Water both flats every day with the sprinkler until the grass is five centimeters tall. Prop the ends of both flats up at a moderate angle with bricks or blocks. Sprinkle each flat with water equally until you observe soil erosion. In which tray did the soil erode more? What might be the effect of removing plants like trees from a steep mountainside? How could soil erosion be controlled in steep places? What other factors can students think of that would affect the amount of erosion? Have students identify any areas in your community that are steep. Take a field trip to look for signs of erosion. Wave Action – How Beaches Are Formed Slope a generous amount of sand against one end of a dishpan. Add water until the sand is about half covered. Use the side of a ruler to generate st
