Which practice ploughs parallel to the contour of a slope to reduce erosion?

Which practice ploughs parallel to the contour of a slope to reduce erosion?

• A. Terracing
• B. Intercropping
• C. Contour Ploughing
• D. Cover Cropping

Answer: (C)

Contour ploughing is the practice of ploughing parallel to the contour lines on a slope. By shaping furrows along the land’s curves, water is slowed as it moves downhill, increasing infiltration and trapping soil in the furrows instead of allowing it to wash away in sheet or rill erosion. This directly reduces soil loss and protects the hillside from gullies forming after rain. Other methods like terracing, intercropping, or cover cropping help prevent erosion in complementary ways, but they don’t involve ploughing along the contours to create those erosion-slowing furrows.

Contour ploughing is the practice of ploughing parallel to the contour lines on a slope. By shaping furrows along the land’s curves, water is slowed as it moves downhill, increasing infiltration and trapping soil in the furrows instead of allowing it to wash away in sheet or rill erosion. This directly reduces soil loss and protects the hillside from gullies forming after rain. Other methods like terracing, intercropping, or cover cropping help prevent erosion in complementary ways, but they don’t involve ploughing along the contours to create those erosion-slowing furrows.