Which soil preparation practice helps to prevent erosion?

Cover cropping is a soil preparation practice that significantly helps to prevent erosion. This practice involves planting specific crops during off-seasons when soils would otherwise be bare. Cover crops create a protective layer over the soil, which helps to anchor the soil in place with their root systems. This reduces the impact of water and wind on the soil surface, thereby minimizing soil displacement and erosion.

In addition to protecting against erosion, cover crops also improve soil health by enhancing organic matter, improving nutrient cycling, and increasing biodiversity. They can help retain moisture in the soil and improve its structure, further contributing to erosion prevention.

While reducing concrete for rainwater runoff may aid in managing water flow on the surface and can be a part of a broader erosion control strategy, it is not primarily a soil preparation practice. The other choices, such as using synthetic fertilizers and increasing tillage intensity, tend to have negative impacts on soil structure and health, which can actually contribute to increased erosion rather than mitigate it.