Abstract

The effectiveness of soil erosion control of various vegetative aisle covers was evaluated using Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) type plots. ‘Appalow’ sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don ‘Appalow’), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) aisle treatments and a clean till plot were established on a 5% slope Typic Paleudult soil. Previously established ‘Indian Magic’ crabapple (Malus ‘indian magic’) and silver maple (Acer saccharium L.) were grown parallel to the slope in the center of each plot. Runoff from the clean till aisle resulted in the greatest sediment concentration, runoff volume, and sediment runoff. Crimson clover and perennial ryegrass runoff was similar. The ‘Appalow’ lespedeza aisle cover had the highest runoff volume of any vegetative aisle cover. However, runoff sediment concentration and sediment runoff were least from ‘Appalow’ lespedeza covered aisles.