Contour Farming
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Following the Contour to Limit Erosion
Tillage, planting and other farming practices performed on or near the contour of the field – not up and down the hill.
Description
Crop row ridges built by tilling and planting on the contour slow water flow and increase infiltration, reducing erosion. Contour farming may be used with strip-cropping, whereby crops such as corn are alternated with strips of crops that grow close together (hay, alfalfa, clover, and small grains). Alternating strips slows runoff, increases infiltration, traps sediment, and provides overall cover. Crop rotation with legumes as part of the strip-cropping measure will add nitrogen to the soil.
Benefits
- Contouring may reduce soil erosion by a much as 50 percent.
- Contouring promotes better water quality.
Planning
- Will more than on key contour line be needed because of steep or irregular slopes?
- Will strip-cropping, crop residue management, diversions, or other practices be needed for steeper slopes?
Tech Notes
- Work with our office to establish this practice.
- Establish a key contour line around the hill.
- The key contour line grade should not exceed two percent, except within 150 fee of a grassed waterway, field border, or other stable outlet. In these instances, the row grade may be up to three percent.
- Perform all tillage and planting operations parallel to the key contour line.
- Replace end rows with field borders to reduce erosion.
- Contour strips of open row crops such as corn should be approximately the same width as strips of close-grown crops, including small grains or meadow grasses.
- Strip widths may be adjusted to accommodate equipment.
Maintenance
- Use grassed waterways to prevent gully erosion.
- Keep strip widths consistent from year to year.