Contour plowing1/6/2024 Erosion control protects crops from physical removal by water or wind.Īlternatively, C.F can reduce crop pests, especially when it is combined with crop diversification, rotation, and other practices of sustainable agriculture.īy protecting both crops and soil, C.F improves overall crop yield and productivity in hilly agricultural lands. One of the ways by which it achieves this is by preventing soil erosion. Crop Protection and ProductivityĬontour farming can protect crops on hilly, undulating or sloping agricultural lands. The following table summarizes the characteristics of each synonym and their differences from contour farming īenefits of contour farming are crop protection and productivity, soil conservation and protection, water conservation, and hazard mitigation. The difference between contour farming and step farming is that step farming incorporates a series of steps that are cut across the slope to protect the soil from erosion, while contour farming is farming across the slope without necessary inclusion of steps.Ĭontour farming is different from strip cropping because strip cropping is the cultivation of alternate vegetative strips of different crop types on land while contour farming is more concerned with planting along the contours and may not involve alternate rows of different crop types. While these terms are often used in place of contour farming, they represent unique concepts that differ from C.F. Lastly, contour farming advantages and disadvantages can be used to define the concept, as follows Ĭontour farming is an agricultural practice whose advantages and disadvantages are erosion control, cost reduction, improved fertility, biodiversity, biomass accumulation, improved water quality, hazard mitigation (advantages) labor, low adoption, feasibility, suitability, low production potential, weed control challenges, lack of equipment, knowledge and awareness (disadvantages).Ĭontour Farming Synonyms and their ComparisonĬontour farming synonyms are contour ploughing, contour cropping, contour terracing, contour plowing, contour bunding, contour cultivation, strip cropping, keyline design, step farming, strip terracing or contour terracing. The concept can be defined based on its links to other sustainable farming practices Ĭontour farming is a sustainable practice whereby rows of vegetation are planted at nearly equal level across a slope, and which may be combined with crop rotation, cover cropping or organic faming to increase its effectiveness. The contour farming meaning can be given based on its potential to prevent or mitigate natural hazards Ĭontour farming is the cultivation of slopes across areas of equal elevation, to reduce the risk of landslides among other hazards. The role of labor in contour cultivation can also be used to define the concept as follows Ĭontour farming is a type of farming that requires significant labor to ensure that elevation is put into consideration when carrying out all agricultural activities in an undulating terrain. The contour farming meaning based on geographic requirements or conditions is given below Ĭontour farming is an agricultural method practiced in areas with irregular undulating topography and suitable drainage soil and climatic conditions to allow for cultivation of crops across the slope, along lines of equal elevation.Īnother contour farming meaning based on the purpose of this practice is given below Ĭontour farming is the cultivation of crops across slopes in order to control erosion, increase soil fertility and infiltration, and improve agricultural productivity. The contour farming meaning can be outlined based on agricultural activities involved, as follows Ĭontour farming is a mode of farming whereby ploughing, sowing, cultivation, harvesting, and general soil management are all carried out uniformly along areas of equal elevation. How Contour Farming Prevents Soil ErosionĬontour Farming Meaning: 8 Ways to Define Contour FarmingĪlso known as contour cultivation, contour cropping, terrace farming, and strip farming contour farming is the cultivation of crops and performance of agricultural activities along lines of contour or areas of equal elevation. Contour Farming Synonyms and their Comparison Contour Farming Meaning: 8 Ways to Define Contour Farming This article discussed contour farming meaning, synonyms, comparisons, benefits, and erosion control. Contour farming is a sustainable system of agriculture whereby cultivation is done along areas of equal topographic elevation (contour lines).
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