By Amy Rose, Jacob Goble, and Amir Bawazir Period 4

 Definition: “make or form (sloping land) into a number of level flat area resembling a series of steps” (dictionary.com)  Explanation: When land is terraced it manipulates water flow so that when it rains, the downhill flow is slowed as to not wash away soil.

 Definition: “plowing along the contours of the land in order to minimize soil erosion” (dictionary.com)  Explanation: Contour plowing makes ridges in the ground that trap some water so rapid runoff is avoided.

 Definition: “farming where the soil is left relatively undisturbed from harvest to planting” (hrwc.net)  Explanation: No-till agriculture is minimalistic in terms of ground surface and removing crop residues when harvesting which distresses the soil.

 Terracing: Farms on just flat ground (farms on hills are worse) are at a much higher risk of runoff but while on terraces, the land is leveled thus making it harder for water to gain momentum and take out more soil.  Contour Plowing: The previous method was simply plowing furrows up and down in straight lines with no consideration to the earth’s natural curves. Contour plowing is better because it holds on to seeds and topsoil more firmly because water moves along the contours instead of splashing over the crops.  No-till agriculture: The more one touches and provokes crops, the more likely they are to fail. Soil breaks up very easily and is sensitive to animals walking over them and eating them as well as humans prodding them. In previous agriculture methods, farmers took no notice to their vulnerability but then again, not all plants are created equally in terms of physical strength.

 Terracing is most practiced in Southeast Asian countries like: China, Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

 In the rural regions of the United States, contour plowing came to use in the late 19 th century.  Plants that use contour plowing include: corn, beans, wheat, grass, and alfalfa.

 No-till agriculture is the most popular and has been being used more and more in the United States since the 1930s.  Plants that use no-till agriculture include: soybeans, wheat, barley, corn, sorghum, rice, oats, and cotton.

Benefits: 1. Terracing protects the land from water which causes erosion. It does so by slowing down runoff velocity. 2. Terracing can also trap rainwater instead of allowing it to wash over soil so this is highly beneficial in areas like China and Bali where aqua crops like rice are popular. Risks: 1. As stated above, terracing can trap rainwater but sometimes it traps too much water and when there is heavy rain it leads to ground saturation and overflow which would carry away soil and nutrients. 2. Terracing requires a lot of labor, construction, and maintenance. If terraces are neglected it can cause mudslides, create gullies, and lead to more soil erosion than before.

Benefits: 1. Increased root development due to increased water infiltration. 2. Prevents water from running down hills Risks: 1. Usually requires heavy expensive equipement

Benefits: 1. Savings (no-till requires less labor and fuel) 2. Less runoff (which can carry pollutants) Risks: 1. Specialized equipment is expensive 2. There is more moisture in the soil so that leads to higher risks of fungal disease.

 Monoculture leads to suppression of ecologically important natural fires  Decreased pH of forest soils  Loss of soil nutrients  Increased soil erosion

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