Contour ploughing

Contour ploughing should be used on steep slope areas. The land is ploughed perpendicular to the slope, alongside contour lines that curve around the arable land. Contour lines favor infiltration of rainwater as water run-off is stopped. So the risk of soil erosion and the formation of gullies is reduced and the availability of water for the annual crops is increased. The soil conserving effect of contour lines can be augmented by planting grass strips, bushes or hedgerows alongside them.

Agricultural crops are suffering increasingly from climate change in Tajikistan; manifested among others by shifting rainfall patterns and higher temperatures during summer months, which increases water stress for the plants. Through contour ploughing, rainwater infiltration is improved which in turn increases the available water reserve of the soil and ensures better development of annual crops.

Many farmers are convinced that contour ploughing is an adequate measure for reducing soil erosion and increasing the availability of water for their crops. However, most of them do not have a tractor of their own and have to engage agricultural service suppliers for preparing their land. The latter frequently do not plough following contour lines alleging that this is time-consuming and damaging to their engine. A possible solution could be that farmers interested in contour ploughing will purchase single axle tractors, which are relatively affordable and will allow them doing contour ploughing by themselves.