Herbaceous Cover Establishment

Herbaceous cover establishment involves planting grasses that will not be harvested in order to decrease erosion.

• Conservation cover
  • Planting grass on land that would not otherwise be planted or grazed (https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/CA/327-std-ca-4-16.pdf)
• Contour buffer strips
  • Planting perennial grasses in contour strips along a hillside under cultivation (https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/CA/332_std_ca_12-15.pdf)
• Field border
  • Planting a strip of grass along the border of your field (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1241318.pdf)
• Filter strip
  • Planting grass along the banks of a stream or river (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1241318.pdf)
• Forage and biomass planting
  • Planting perennial crops for animals to graze (https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/CA/512-std-6-11.pdf)
• Grassed waterway
  • Planting grass in the depressions where water flows during rain events (https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/CA/412_std_ca_12-15.pdf)
• Herbaceous wind barrier
  • Within a field, planting strips of grass that are perpendicular to the prevailing wind direction (https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/CA/603-std-ca-8-16.pdf)
• Riparian herbaceous cover
  • Planting grasses in the area along the banks of a stream or river that periodically floods (https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/CA/390-std-3-12.pdf)
• Vegetative barriers
  • Planting very stiff grasses to decrease erosion on hills or along waterways (https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/CA/601-std-ca-08-16.pdf)