The Practical Permaculture Project: Connect to Nature and Discover the Best Organic Soil and Water Management Techniques to Design and Build Your Thriving, Sustainable, Self-Sufficient Garden by Sophie McKay

Author:Sophie McKay [McKay, Sophie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781739735609
Amazon: 1739735609
Publisher: Sophie McKay
Published: 2022-03-29T00:00:00+00:00

The Importance of Contour

The last technique for soil conservation that we will look at is working with the contours of your land. Contour is nothing more than level lines. By finding contours on the slopes, you can create different types of “buffers” that help to prevent erosion.

If the sloped land is not properly covered, the topsoil will most likely erode during the rainy season. In places like Iowa, which is not too hilly, the topsoil loss we discussed earlier is mostly due to the rain falling on bare soil and running off the land.

To find contour lines on your land, there are a number of simple instruments that you can make at home. The simplest tool for finding the level of the land is an A-frame level (see below for instructions). With this tool, you can quickly and easily mark the contour lines on your land with a series of posts or stakes.

The easiest way to stop erosion is to simply pile up organic material along the contour lines on the slope. Old corn stalks, the brush pile behind your house, a fallen tree, or anything else can be used to stop the soil from washing away. Alternatively, you can plant deep-rooted grasses such as vetiver (khus) grass along the contour line. These grasses form a wall that will stop the soil washing away with the rain. Over time, as the soil builds up along the contour lines, your land will begin to resemble a series of curved terraces, reminiscent of the terraced rice fields of Asia.

Planting trees or bushes on the contour is another way to form a permanent barrier that will help stop erosion in the long run. The trees or bushes planted in rows will also provide organic material for mulching your soil in between the contour lines.

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