Major Areas :: Dryland Agriculture

Major Areas :: Dryland Agriculture :: Soil & Water Conservation Techniques

Engineering Measures - Broad beds and furrows:

In a broadbed-and-furrow system, runoff water is diverted into field furrows (30 cm wide and 30 cm deep). The field furrows are blocked at the lower end. When one furrow is full, the water backs up into the head furrow and flows into the next field furrow. Between the field furrows are broad beds about 170 cm wide, where crops are grown.


Broadbed furrow cum sowing	Established crop in Broadbed furrows

Soil and moisture conservation in BBF	Broadbed furrows sowing

Function	To control erosion and to conserve soil moisture in the soil during rainy days
General information	It is suitable when the slope of the land is < 3% The broad bed and furrow system is laid within the field boundaries. The land levels taken and it is laid using either animal drawn or tractor drawn ridgers.
Cost	Approximate cost for laying beds and furrows is Rs. 1000/- per ha.
Salient features	Conserves soil moisture in dryland Controls soil erosion. Acts as a drainage channel during heavy rainy days.