Soil and water conservation measures for agricultural land

a) Contour bunding:

• Contour bunding consists of constructing narrow-based trapezoidal earthen embankments at intervals along the contour to impound runoff water behind them so that all the stored water is absorbed gradually into the soil profile for crop use.
• A series of such bunds divide the area into strips and act as a barrier to the flow of water.

b) Graded bunding/ channel terracing:

• These are constructed where the excess water is to be removed safely to avoid water stagnation. This water flows in graded channels constructed on the upstream side of the bunds at non-erosive velocities and is led to safe outlets.

c) Bench terracing:

• It is practiced on steep hill slopes ranging from 16-33%.
• Bench terracing which involves converting the original ground into level step-like fields constructed by half cutting and half filling, helps in considerably reducing the degree of slope.

d) Grassed waterways:

• These are associated with channel terraces for safe disposal of concentrated run-off, thereby protecting the land against rills and gullies.
• A waterway is constructed according to a proper design and vegetative cover is established to protect the channel against erosion because of concentrated flow.

e) Strip cropping:

• Strip cropping consists of a series of alternate strips of various types of crops laid out so that all tillage and crop management practices are performed across the slope or on the contours.
• Strips of erosion–permitting crops are always separated by strips of close-growing or erosion-resisting crops.

f) Mulching:

• Mulching of open land surface in a cropped area is achieved by spreading stubble trash or any vegetation.
• These are used to minimize splash, prevent soil from blowing or being washed away, reduce evaporation, increase infiltration, control weeds, improve soil quality, and eventually increase crop yield.

g) Subsoiling:

• This method consists of breaking with a subsoiler the hard and impermeable subsoil to conserve more rainwater by improving the physical conditions of the soil.