Terracing

Parallel terraces are a recent innovation in conservation farming. This method incorporates land forming or landscaping by moving earth to make the terraces more uniform. The resulting formation allows room for the use of heavy machinery, and prevents "point rows," which are areas that cannot be efficiently cultivated without doubling back over the same area. Modern terrace planning incorporates the use of topological maps, known more simply as contour maps, which take into account the surface variations of an area slated for cultivation. Otherwise, there is no need for special equipment for terracing, which can be done with an old-fashioned moldboard plow or with mechanized rigs like the bulldozer.