Conservation Practices

Contour Buffer Strips Planting bands of permanent vegetation across the slopes on the contour.  Use this practice to minimize the amount of a field in hay while maximizing the potential to reduce erosion. Contour Farming Conduct tillage, planting, and harvesting operations around the hill, not up and down.  Increasing the height of ridges after planting creates miniature terraces increasing the effectiveness of this practice. Contour Stripcropping Planting alternate bands or strips of crops on the contour.  Strip widths range from 60 to 150 feet.  Systems utilizing hay are most effective in reducing erosion. Cover Crops Close-growing crops that temporarily protect the soil where major crops don’t provide cover. Crop Rotations Alternating crops grown in a field according to a planned sequence.  Rotations may include annual and perennial crops as well as grasses and legumes. Cross Slope Farming Farming across the slope, nearly on the contour.  This practice is not as effective as contour farming and may result in the need for more waterways. Diversions Cross-slope constructed channel seeded to permanent vegetation used to intercept and safely dispose of surface runoff.  Concentrated flows and sheet flow may be intercepted.  Hay may be harvested.  Diversions also provide wildlife habitat when managed for that purpose. Field Borders A band of grass or legume at the edge of a field used in place of end rows. Filter Strips Bands of grass or legumes that filter runoff and other contaminants before they reach water bodies or sources. Grassed Waterways Shaping if necessary and seeding a natural drainage way to prevent gullies from forming. Pasture and Hayland Planting Grasses and/or legumes are planted for use as pasture and/or to be harvested as forage.  Species are selected based on soil properties and specific use. Planned Grazing Systems Managed systems where forage production and quality is increased by controlling grazing pressure and by providing optimum conditions for plant growth. Residue Management Protecting the soil from erosion by limiting tillage to the prior year’s crop residue on the soil surface.  Includes no till, mulch till, and ridge till. Sediment Control Basins Small earthen dams built across a drainage way.  May be used where terraces are impractical or to intercept long duration flows in a drainage way or in a grassed waterway. Terraces Cross-slope constructed channels which are cropped similarly to adjoining fields.  Terraces intercept sheet and concentrated flows.  Collected water is held to allow for maximum infiltration or is carried to a suitable outlet away from the cropland. Tree Planting Establishing trees in areas adapted to woodlands. Upland Wildlife Habitat Plant species are planted or managed to provide wildlife food and/or cover.  Species selection should be consistent with the type of wildlife being managed for and with the surrounding habitat. Windbreaks Rows of trees and shrubs that protect areas from wind and provide food and cover for wildlife.