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7. Contour farming
Farming with row patters nearly level around the hill - not up and down hill.
| How it works |
Crop row ridges built by tilling and planting on the contour create hundreds of small dams. These ridges or dams slow water flow and increase infiltration, which reduces erosion. Can also be used with stripcropping, whereby the crop is alternated with strips of meadow or small grain planted on the contour. The small grain/meadow strip slows runoff, increases infiltration, traps sediment and provides overall cover. Crop rotation with legumes may also be included to add nitrogen as part of the stripcropping measure.
| How it helps |
Contouring can reduce soil erosion by as much as 50%, compared with up and down hil1 farming.
By reducing sediment and runoff, and increasing water infiltration, contouring promotes better water quality.
| Planning ahead |
Will more than one key contour line be needed because of steep or irregular slopes?
Are terraces or stripcropping needed for steeper slopes?
Are field borders needed to replace end rows in the contouring system to control sheet and rill erosion?
| Tech notes |
Establish a key line around the hill using a hand level or contour gauge.
Contour key line grade should not exceed 2% except within 100 feet of an outlet. In that case, the grade can be a 3% slope.
Perform all tillage and planting operations parallel to the key contour line.
Replace end rows with field borders to reduce erosion.
Row crop strips need to be nearly the same width as small grains or meadow. A 10% variance is allowed.
Strip widths may be adjusted downward to accommodate equipment width for even rounds.
Stripcropping is not as effective if crop strips become too wide, especially on steep slopes.
| Maintenance |
- Use grassed waterways in areas where runoff is concentrated to pre vent gully erosion.
- Contoured rows should enter the grassed area of waterways on the level, but should direct water into the grass.
- To avoid establishing new key contour lines every year, install a narrow permanent strip of grass along each key contour line. Keep strip widths consistent from year to year.