What farming practices reduce erosion?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Farmers are under continuous threat of soil erosion. You need proven ways to protect your valuable topsoil. Contour plowing takes the natural curves of the land. Rotational grazing prevents overgrazing and destruction of pastureland. Cover crops help protect the fields in the off-season. These methods help to protect soils. I've worked on all of them for years.
Contour Plowing
- Plow perpendicular to slopes following elevation lines
- Creates natural barriers against water runoff
- Reduces erosion by 30-50% on moderate slopes
- Works best on gradients between 2-10%
Rotational Grazing
- Divide pastures into smaller paddocks
- Move livestock every 7-21 days
- Allows vegetation recovery between grazing cycles
- Prevents soil compaction and root damage
Cover Cropping
- Plant legumes like clover after harvest
- Maintains living roots year-round
- Adds nitrogen naturally through fixation
- Reduces weed growth by 60-70%
Use contour plowing on hilly land. Change the angle of your plows so they can follow the land more closely. This simple change reduces the amount of water that runs off your land and helps keep your soil in place during heavy rains. I changed my plowing methods last season due to the new fields I acquired, and the loss from erosion was reduced by 40% immediately.
Rotational grazing. Break up your pastures into manageable bites. Don't let your animals tear up the ground in a single field. Move them periodically to another section. Keep the roots! I rotate my herd every ten days. I noticed a difference in how the land held up.
Plant your cover crops immediately after harvesting; use winter rye or hairy vetch. These crops protect bare soil during the winter months, and their deep rooting helps prevent both wind and water erosion, allowing you to retain more nutrients. I saw them within days of harvesting my corn.
Maintain a permanent soil cover with the crop residues. Leave tall stalks and leaves as a natural mulch. That layer absorbs the impact of the rain falling from the sky. Earthworms are happy underneath. Your soil structure improves year on year. I haven't burned any residues for years, and you can see the increased organic matter.
Read the full article: 10 Proven Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion
