Major Areas :: Dryland Agriculture

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

Engineering Measures - Contour Bunding

Function

General information

It helps to control runoff velocity.
The embankment may be closed or open, surplus arrangements are provided whenever necessary.

Cost

Salient features

SPECIFICATION FOR BUND CROSS SECTION
Depth of soil (m)	Base width (m)	Top width (m)	Height (m)	Side slope (m)	Area cross section (sq.m)
Shallow soils (7.5 – 22.5 cm)	2.67	0.38	0.75	1.5 : 1	1.14
Medium soil (22.5 – 45 cm)	3.12	0.60	0.85	1.5 : 1	1.56
Medium deep soils	4.25	0.60	0.90	1.5 : 1	2.18


Contour bunding construction	Contour bunding along the slope

Contour bunding with Maize cultivation	Contour bunding with Grass

Situations for various bunding options:

Bunding options	Soil type	Rainfall (mm)	Slope (%)
Contour bund	Light soil	<600	>1.5
Graded bund	All soils	<600	1.5
Bench terraces	Deep soil	>1000	6.0
Graded boarder strip	Deep Alfisol and related red soil	>800	>1.5

In-Situ Moisture Conservation Techniques :

Soil Type	Rainfall	In-Situ Moisture Conservation Techniques
Red soil	Low	Dead furrow at 3-6 m interval
	Medium	Sowing on flat bed and riding later with eventual cultivation
	High	Graded border strips
Black soil	Low	Contour cultivation
	Medium	Dead furrows at 3-6 m interval
	High	Graded open furrow (0.2 to 0.3 m3) at 10 m interval across the slope