The protective canopy of the Protection Cover lowers the effect of rain drops on the soil surface, which slows the disintegration of soil aggregates. Soil erosion as well as runoff are considerably reduced, while infiltration is greatly increased. Reduced soil loss and runoff means less beneficial nutrients, pesticides, herbicides, and pathogens linked with manure are transported from agriculture, degrading the quality of streams, rivers, and water bodies and posing a health risk. In addition to all this, the Protection Cover also reduces soil loss due to sheet a well as rill erosion by slowing runoff from rain and snowmelt.