The vegetative cover can be a growing crop, standing stubble or other crop residues. Most soils require a 30 per cent ground cover to prevent wind erosion. Highly erodible soils could require double this amount of residue. Soil texture and structure also affect wind erosion risk. Loams, clay loams and silt loams are generally more resistant to aggregate breakdown, and thus are more resistant to wind erosion.
Soil structure is the combination of individual soil particles into aggregates.
Aggregates are heavier than individual particles and so are harder for wind to move. Organic matter helps to hold aggregates together and so soils with more organic matter are more resistant to wind erosion. Sandy soils are very susceptible to erosion. Clay soils which have been pulverized by frequent freezing and thawing are also very erodible. Wind erosion is a threat to soils in all four cropping systems and in pastures.