Preventing erosion is to a great extent a function of management. Crop residue cushions the impact of falling raindrops, which reduces soil detachment. Consider contour farming Wrapping row crops around a slope instead of running them up and down the slope can prevent erosion by limiting easy pathways for runoff. Runoff often flows down wheel tracks from planting or ridges from row-crop cultivation. Contouring channels water in much flatter valleys to slow runoff.
Contour farming can be difficult because of point rows and slope.
It can be worth it to avoid the deep trenches in wheel tracks and rows from running rows with the slope. Reduce slope length and steepness Terraces work by reducing slope length and steepness to limit the energy of running water and its ability to carry soil away. Stopping or slowing the downhill flow of water and dissipating its energy allows sediment to drop out, and prevents gully and rill erosion. Also, terraces with tile line inlets can move runoff into an underground drainage system, where the water's energy is contained within the tile line. Terrace design must be in concert with the kind of soil, slope gradient, and tolerance for in-field erosion, all of which vary throughout the state.