{"id":167540,"date":"2025-05-26T05:00:29","date_gmt":"2025-05-26T09:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/?p=167540"},"modified":"2025-05-20T17:47:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T21:47:01","slug":"contour-planting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2025\/05\/contour-planting\/","title":{"rendered":"Reduce Soil Erosion and Water Waste with Contour Planting"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contour planting involves tilling, discing, and otherwise preparing the land in line with its<strong>\u00a0natural slope<\/strong>, then <strong>planting crops on this same line<\/strong>. When you look at a topographic map, the rows and\/or strips of crops will be parallel to the contour lines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This practice isn\u2019t more difficult than other types of planting, but it <strong>helps conserve valuable resources<\/strong> and <strong>protect the surrounding environmen<\/strong>t.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">History\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167543\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167543\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"828552\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #828552;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167543 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rows-of-tea-plants.webp\" alt=\"A large field of uneven rows of tea plants growing along the slopes, forming circular patterns.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rows-of-tea-plants.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rows-of-tea-plants-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rows-of-tea-plants-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/rows-of-tea-plants-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167543\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Slopes play nice when rows follow their natural sway.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although indigenous communities have been utilizing contour planting for generations, this practice increased in popularity <strong>after the Dust Bowl of the 1930s<\/strong>. This time in history showed us just how bad things could become when adverse weather conditions combined with <strong>poor land management.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In an effort to improve the environment and life for farmers, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-09\/Contour_Buffer_Strips_332_CPS_9-14.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act (SCDAA)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in 1935. This Act implemented payments for farmers who completed <strong>certain conservation practices<\/strong>, allowing them to take some land out of production as they transitioned to more environmentally friendly practices. Contour planting was one of the practices supported by the SCDAA.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the Dust Bowl era, the public saw <strong>how devastating unchecked erosion could be<\/strong>. The newly formed Soil Conservation Service (SCS), now the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), helped farmers implement contour planting to keep soils in place. However, many farmers growing on slopes continue to plant down rather than across the slope.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who Can Benefit ?<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167544\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167544\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"909f45\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #909f45;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167544 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/traditional-farming-at-slope.webp\" alt=\"Traditional farming on the slope, rows of various vegetable crops including cabbage growing in large fields on slopes.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/traditional-farming-at-slope.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/traditional-farming-at-slope-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/traditional-farming-at-slope-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/traditional-farming-at-slope-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167544\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Slight inclines guide the water without washing roots away.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve covered that contour planting involves <strong>planting with a slope<\/strong>, but is it suitable for every type of land and crop?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can implement this practice at any scale, whether you\u2019re working with a <a href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2019\/06\/the-modern-farmer-guide-to-small-space-gardening\/\">small backyard garden<\/a> or thousands of acres. However, it works best when the<strong> land is at a slope between two and ten percent<\/strong>. In most instances, if you can see a slope but it\u2019s low enough to safely drive equipment on, it\u2019s a good candidate for this method.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slopes greater than ten percent are better suited to other practices, like <strong>terracing<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Are the Benefits?<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167545\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167545\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"414832\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #414832;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167545 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Watering-potato-plantation.webp\" alt=\"Water flows through deep irrigation canals between rows of growing potato plants in a field.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Watering-potato-plantation.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Watering-potato-plantation-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Watering-potato-plantation-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Watering-potato-plantation-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167545\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Slower water keeps roots breathing and soil right where it belongs.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contour planting helps <strong>reduce soil erosion and water runoff<\/strong>. When crops are planted down a slope, water flows quickly through the rows, especially during <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2020\/08\/gully-washers\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">heavy rain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Instead of percolating into the ground, the water runs down the row, picking up soil particles and <strong>carrying them down the slope<\/strong>. The soil is like a kid flying down a waterslide, except it didn\u2019t sign up for this ride.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The water and soil keep moving until they reach a low point of the land. When the low spot is the end of the row, <strong>large puddles form<\/strong>, drowning crops and making it difficult for them to exchange gases and absorb water and nutrients. They\u2019re often dead or severely stunted by the time the water makes its way into the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes, the water and soil go to <strong>local waterways<\/strong>, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">polluting watersheds<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with sediment. This pollution harms local wildlife and makes it more difficult to treat water for drinking. Rushing water can also cause fertilizers to run off into local waterways, leading to issues including algal blooms and fish kills. And this wasted fertilizer means higher input costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Contour planting<\/strong> <strong>slows water as it flows down the slope<\/strong>, allowing it to percolate into the soil. That means less wasted water and a reduced need for irrigation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The slower water flow also means soil particles are less likely to be taken along for the ride. Contour planting can <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reduce soil erosion<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by 50% compared to traditional vertical planting along a slope.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Get Started\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_167546\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-167546\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img data-dominant-color=\"6a513a\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #6a513a;\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-167546 size-full not-transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ploughed-field.webp\" alt=\"A large ploughed field with contours and patterns ready for planting.\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ploughed-field.webp 1280w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ploughed-field-560x315.webp 560w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ploughed-field-1200x675.webp 1200w, https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ploughed-field-768x432.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-167546\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">When rows follow the slope, roots rest easy below.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first step to implementing this farming practice is <strong>determining the layout and grade of your slope<\/strong>. While you can use your eyes to start, looking at a topographic map makes the process much easier and gives you a visual reference. You can find a topographic map of your land from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcs.usda.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2022-09\/Contour_Buffer_Strips_332_CPS_9-14.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">United States Geological Survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (USGS). The lines on these maps are <strong>at set elevations<\/strong>, and closer lines mean <strong>steeper slopes<\/strong>. Planting parallel to the contour lines will provide the best results.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To help visualize the contour, you can<strong> lay out a baseline with flags<\/strong>, <strong>stakes<\/strong>, or <strong>other markers<\/strong>. If your slope changes throughout the field, establishing multiple baselines is helpful. Once you have these guidelines set, it\u2019s time to start the planting process.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re preparing your land with a plough, harrow, tiller, or other machinery, <strong>drive the equipment in line with the contour lines<\/strong>. This type of preparation will ensure that tramlines and their resulting compaction are in line with the contour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After your land is prepped, it\u2019s time to <strong>plant in line with the contour<\/strong>. Use the baselines as a reference as necessary. Contour planting will help <a href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2016\/01\/crop-maze-erosion-australia\/\">reduce erosion<\/a> and runoff on its own, but you can also combine it with other sustainable farming practices to help limit erosion and water loss even more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strip cropping, the practice of alternating crop blocks, helps slow water even more. For example, instead of planting an entire field of corn or tomatoes, you can alternate these rows of crops with small grains like wheat or legumes like alfalfa. The <strong>smaller crops will help catch water<\/strong> and improve environmental conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adding contour <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">buffer strips<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also amplify <strong>reductions in erosion and water loss<\/strong>. These unmowed strips of permanent vegetation help slow and capture water as it flows down the slope. The strips can also help provide a home for beneficial organisms that prey on pests.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta agricultural-runoff-pollutes-well-water-a-public-health-crisis-in-the-making\">\n<div class=\"mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta-flex\">\n<p><a class=\"full\" title=\"Agricultural Runoff Pollutes Well Water, a \u2018Public Health Crisis In the Making\u2019\" href=\"https:\/\/modernfarmer.com\/2023\/02\/agricultural-runoff-minnesota\/\">full_link<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex\">\n<p class=\"title mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta-title h1\">Agricultural Runoff Pollutes Well Water, a \u2018Public Health Crisis In the Making\u2019<\/p>\n<div class=\"description\">\n<p><span style=\"color: #122108; font-family: Inter, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; background-color: #fdfff7;\">More than 1 million Minnesotans drink from private wells, but few know if their water is safe, experts say.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"svg mfo-wysiwyg-custom-cta-svg\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re growing on sloped land, it pays to think about your farm layout before you start preparing the land and getting crops in the ground. Planting down the slope may sound like an easy option, but it lets rainwater rush straight downhill, leading to runoff and erosion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2073,"featured_media":167542,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":[],"meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33067],"tags":[],"article-theme":[],"class_list":["post-167540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-farm"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Reduce Soil Erosion and Water Waste with Contour Planting<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover how you can reduce soil erosion and water waste with contour planting!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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