How do farmers prevent erosion in crop fields?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.With techniques that stimulate their productivity, farmers combat erosion using tried measures that protect the fields when they are at work. Some crops and lands may require separate stratagem. Common practices are those that offer the greater advantage, such as contour plowing. At the same time, modern measures like cover cropping may be introduced with effect. Here, the key is to combine soil protection with farm work.
Contour Plowing
- Follow natural elevation lines with specialized plow attachments
- Reduces runoff 50% on slopes up to 8% gradient
- Minimal cost beyond standard plowing equipment
- Most effective when combined with strip cropping
Cover Cropping
- Plant rye, clover or vetch immediately after harvest
- Reduces winter erosion 75% while fixing nitrogen
- Seed costs $15-50/acre with termination by roller-crimping
- Improves soil structure for next season's main crop
Grassed Waterways
- Establish permanent grass strips in natural drainage paths
- Filters 90% sediment from field runoff water
- Uses erosion-resistant grasses like fescue or bromegrass
- Costs $10-30 per linear meter to establish
The management of slopes determines the methods utilized. Gentle slopes of less than 5% can be responded to with contour plowing alone. Moderate slopes from 5-12% need buffer strips built along field edges. Steeper slopes require terracing to break the water flow across the fields.
Implement methods to obtain maximum protection. Combine cover crops with reduced tilling to maintain soil structure for the entire season. Utilize grassed waterways where drainage concentrates. The result is a practice that reduces 95% of the erosion and improves your yield by better retaining moisture.
Time interventions to match farming cycles. Install permanent structure like terraces in the nongrowing season (winter dormancy). Plant cover crops within two weeks after harvest. Maintain buffer strips during growing seasons; time interventions are used whenever possible to minimize disruption to the primary crop's production dynamics.
Evaluate outcomes to fine-tune tactics. Look at sediment in runoff collection basins before and after implementation. Observe yield differences between protected and exposed sections of fields, and change techniques based on storm patterns and rotation schedules.
Read the full article: 10 Soil Erosion Prevention Methods That Work
