Contour plowing benefits are huge. It is one of the sustainable farming practices. Crop rotation, organic farming, water conservation, pest & soil management.
Integrated pest management, conservation tillage, crop rotation, organic farming, water conservation, pest and soil management are good farming practices. Contour farming advantages are wide, this post focused on contour farming practices, its meaning and its advantages. Start doing contour ploughing, apply this for agri benefit in the long run.
Sustainable farming practices contour ploughing
Sustainable farming practices include soil erosion prevention, conservation tillage, crop rotation, integrated pest management, organic farming, water saving, pest and soil management.
There are contour farming pros and cons but pros are more. Contour ploughing meaning and its benefits are explained comprehensively.
What is contour ploughing?
Let me define contour ploughing. Contour farming and ploughing both are the same so don’t get confused. It is a farming practice in which crops are planted across the slope, following its elevation contour lines. Contour line makes two variables function; for function two variables it is a curve connecting points where the function has the same particular value.
Contour lines consist of furrows helpful in creating a water break. It reduces the formation of rills and gullies during heavy rain. These lines provide more time for water to settle to the soil.
Contour farming advantages
Advantages of contour farming or ploughing are wide. It is the farming practice of planting across the slope. Contour ploughing increases soil quality by reducing soil erosion, controlling run off water, increasing moisture infiltration and retention.
According to agriculture experts contour ploughing reduces fertilizer loss, power time consumption and machine dependency. It increases crop yield and reduces soil erosion.
Advantages of contour ploughing
Whether it is contour bunding in which stones are kept around slopes or it is making of perpendicular ruts to the slope and curved furrows made around the land.
As per the agricultural experts both are considered sustainable farming practices helpful practice to prevent soil erosion.
Soil erosion prevention is connected with multiple benefits of contour ploughing or farming. Contour ploughing drastically decreases negative effects connected with soil erosion.
A global knowledge base website wikipedia and farming experts say soil erosion leads to reduced crop productivity, worst water quality, flooding, lower effective reservoir water levels and habitat destruction.
This farming model reduces the ratio of all these by preventing soil erosion. So, it is recommended by the Indian agricultural ministry to do it as benefits of contour farming are wider.
To get high quality yields for long term it is good to start organic farming which is a sustainable farming type.
How contour ploughing reduces soil erosion?
In contour farming ruts are made by the plough so anyone can do this. The ruts are made perpendicular to the slope not parallel, furrows that curve around the land and are level. Thus it prevents soil loss and this method is also known as tillage erosion.
Contour bunding is similar practice where stones are kept around the contour slopes. As per the agricultural industry, contour farming is considered an active form of sustainable agriculture.
Apart from contour farming there are some other parameters under sustainable farming practices all are explained briefly below:
Sustainable farming practices in agriculture
Conservation tillage and soil management are already covered above, rest practices are explained below.
Crop rotation
Crop rotation is very important as it increases the soil fertility and quality. Some farmers take a wise move to rotate the concerned crop after researching. It is a foundational agriculture practice involving rotating crops in the same field as per the season.
Integrated pest management
It concludes multiple strategies to manage pests and disease. Crop pre check is done to defeat the disease in the beginning.
Pre pest management defuses the big loss of plants and crops. Organic pesticide making methods are available in STN, use search box to explore that post.
Organic farming
It is one of the top sustainable farming practices that definitely takes care of plants for a long time resulting in high yielding for years. It is also known as ecological and biological farming. It is an agricultural system that uses naturally occurring inputs such as compost, manure, green manure and bone meal.
You can learn the practice of making organic fertilizer in STN which is prepared by experts after meeting the experienced farmers who are already practising it for years.
Water conservation
Water conservation is done through making small ponds beside the farm. Rainwater collection is done in the pond. If you have a small land then you can dig small ruts, try to give them shapes like water storage tanks. It would be good if you can make the inside portion cemented as it stores water easily and works well for a long time.
Making small tanks near or inside farm empty space is worth it. You can attach a sprinkler system with these rain water tanks or make it a sprinkler system with some techniques. It will save irrigation cost and irrigation equipment cost as well.
Agroforestry
It is a system that includes trees with crops, combining agricultural and forestry techniques. Poplar trees grow with other crops including sugarcane, hay, straw, flowers etc. Farmers in Uttarakhand and Punjab used to plant poplar trees in the corners of their farms along with other crops like mustard.
Conclusion – Advantages of contour farming are huge as it primarily reduces soil erosion. When soil erosion is prevented it increases crop productivity, water quality, soil quality and reduces the chances of flooding, it lowers effective reservoir water levels and habitat destruction.