For a slope greater than 14%, which soil management practice is typically avoided?

Conservation tillage is typically avoided on slopes greater than 14% due to the increased risk of soil erosion. This practice involves minimal soil disturbance, which can lead to poor soil structure and reduced stability on steep slopes. Without proper management, conservation tillage can exacerbate erosion issues as water runoff can carry loosened soil down the slope.

In contrast, practices such as terracing and strip cropping are intentionally designed to reduce erosion on steep slopes. Terracing involves creating step-like formations on the slope, which can significantly decrease water runoff speed and soil loss. Strip cropping alternates rows of different crops, which helps to hold soil in place and reduce erosion more effectively than conservation tillage would in these environments. Thus, employing conservation tillage on steep slopes can be counterproductive to maintaining soil health and preventing erosion.