Lesson 5: Composting
Lesson 8: Erosion control
This lesson is useful for both vocational training students in Sierra Leone and online students.
This lesson is useful for both vocational training students in Sierra Leone and online students.
You will learn how erosion damages soil and how simple methods can help protect land, farms, roads and young trees during heavy rain.
You will learn about causes of erosion, contour bunds, vetiver grass or similar strong local grasses, stone lines and cover crops.
Learn by watching, doing the practical activity if possible, uploading your work and reflecting on what you learned.
Soil is one of the most important things we have. Without good soil, trees, crops and communities cannot grow well.
In Sierra Leone, heavy rain can wash soil away very quickly, especially when land is bare, sloped or not protected. This is called erosion.
In this lesson, you learn:
-
what erosion is
-
why erosion happens
-
why topsoil is important
-
how heavy rain can damage bare soil
-
why slopes, roads, paths and drains can make erosion worse
-
how contour bunds can slow water down
-
how vetiver grass or similar strong local grasses can help hold soil
-
how stone lines can reduce runoff
-
how cover crops protect the soil surface
-
why erosion control helps young trees, farms and communities
Online students can also follow this lesson. It is useful if you want to understand how land can be protected before trees and crops are planted.
Watch the lesson, do the practical activity if possible, upload your work and reflect on what you learned.
Step 2. Do
This lesson has no required practical exercise for online students.
If you want to earn points, you can upload one of these:
-
a short reflection about what erosion is and why it matters
-
a photo or short video of a place where soil could wash away
-
a drawing showing how rainwater moves over bare soil
-
a short note explaining one method to control erosion, such as contour bunds, stone lines, cover crops or strong local grasses
-
a short comment about how erosion control can help young trees, farms and communities
Do not take risks. Do not work during heavy rain, near deep gullies or beside unsafe roads.
Step 4. Reflect
Write what you learned. Upload and AI will check your answers.​
​
You can answer these questions:
-
What is erosion?
-
Why does erosion happen during heavy rain?
-
Why is bare soil more at risk?
-
Why is topsoil important for plants and trees?
-
How can contour bunds slow water down?
-
How can stone lines help protect soil?
-
How can cover crops protect the soil surface?
-
How can vetiver grass or similar strong local grasses help hold soil?
-
Which erosion-control method would be useful in your area, and why?
Online students should complete this lesson if they want to grow their score and show what they have learned.
Complete the lesson, upload your reflection and earn extra points.