British Sign Language Glossaries of Curriculum Terms

BSL Environmental Science Glossary - Contour ploughing definition

Definition: Contour ploughing is a type of ploughing used on hilly or mountainous terrain to farm the land. It is used to keep the soil intact on the slopes, rather than being washed down the slopes by rainwater. Furrows are ploughed following the contours of the slopes, so they are level and perpendicular to the slope. Conventional ploughing would be making furrows down the slopes which would be ineffective in keeping the soil intact, leading to soil erosion.