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Erosion Control Measures

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ECM for Cropped Environments - Contour Cropping

Contour cropping:

This management practice reduces risk of erosion by tilling and planting across (i.e., following the curvature of the land), rather than up and down, the hill as shown in the diagram below of strawberries planted on contour in California. Planting done along the contour reduces water erosion by enhancing water infiltration. Water infiltration is enhanced because the contour planting is perpendicular to the slope, slowing water velocity, and allowing more of the water to soak into the ground. If the contour is perpendicular to the prevailing wind, wind erosion is also reduced.

Hillside contour strawberry farming in Monterey County, CA.
Photo by USDA-NRCS

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This project was supported in part by the National Research Initiative Competitive Grants CAP project 2011-68002-30029 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, adminstered by the University of California-Davis and by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Undergraduate Education, National SMETE Digital Library Program, Award #0938034, administered by the University of Nebraska. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the USDA or NSF.