Contour ploughing
Topic: Soils of India: Types, Degradation and Conservation · NCERT: Class 7, Ch 1 "The Story of Indian Farming"; Class 10, Ch 1 "Resources and Development"
Meaning
Contour ploughing means ploughing a sloping field along the contour lines, across the slope, not up and down it. A contour line joins points at the same height. Each furrow then works like a small barrier that slows water flowing downhill. Slower water carries away less topsoil. Ploughing up and down a slope does the opposite: the furrows become channels for fast runoff and speed up erosion.
Example
On the hill slopes of the Himalayas, farmers plough along the contours so that monsoon rain does not wash away their thin topsoil.
Don't confuse with
- Contour bunding: this builds earthen walls (bunds) along the contours. Contour ploughing only shapes the furrows and builds no walls.
- Terrace farming: this cuts the slope into flat steps. Contour ploughing keeps the natural slope.
Related concepts
- Soil conservation
- Terrace farming
- Strip cropping
- Shelter belt
- Contour bunding
- Continuous contour trench