Throughout the Country, various types of composts and organic soil mulches have been used effectively in erosion control applications, and various application rates have been found to be effective. In areas of lower precipitation such as in the majority of Texas and Central and Southern California, two to three inches of compost, wood chips and ground yard debris have been found to be extremely effective, while in areas of higher precipitation, such as in Maine, from 6 to 12 inches of organic materials are used depending on the severity of the slope. Field research and practical experience have shown that these products can be effective in holding 2:1 slopes and in certain instances, even slopes which are more severe in nature. As a rule of thumb, the greater the potential precipitation volume, the thicker the organic mulch should be applied. However, in a significant number of the applications, a three to four inch application rate will be sufficient.