Emergency controls are used when wind erosion is imminent or has started. Increasing the surface roughness of a field or covering the soil with straw or manure are the two basic emergency measures. A rougher surface reduces wind speed at the soil surface so the wind is less able to move soil particles. This way, the procedure can be repeated later on the untreated strip if necessary. Ripping is an emergency measure to reduce wind ersosion on clay soil.
Listing ridges the soil and brings up firmer subsoil.
It must be perpendicular to the eroding wind, and should always start on the upwind side of the field. Treating the entire field will greatly reduce erodibility. Lister shovels are only mounted on the back gang of a heavy duty cultivator. Listing of sandy soil reduces wind erosion. Increasing the surface roughness should be done before the soil freezes.