Bench terraces on loess soil
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2010-12-31 14:42 Updated: 2019-09-04 15:51
Compilers: Fei WANG
Reviewers: David Streiff, Alexandra Gavilano
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: China
- Region/ State/ Province: Shaanxi Province
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Yanhe River Basin
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
A Terrace is a structural SLM practice with a raised flat platform built on the slope to reduce soil loss and runoff on the slope, increase the rainfall infiltration and yield.
Detailed description of the Technology
A terrace is a leveled section of a hilly cultivated area, designed as a method of soil conservation to slow or prevent the rapid surface runoff and erosion of topsoil. Often such land is formed into multiple terraces, giving a stepped appearance.
Purpose of the Technology: To change the landform for better agricultural condition of operation of tillage and harvasting, reduction of soil erosion and water loss and finally for higher production.
Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: The building of a terrace in the loess plateau takes long because loess is very soft and deep and the severe soil erosion and shortage of water in agriculture hinders the process, as well. Previously, terraces were constructed by hand. These terraces weres narrow and damaged by the great storms. Now, the machinery is used to build wide terrace with high bank size in the loess plateau. The establishment of terrace needs a lot of money but it is a long-term investment. The maintenance of terrace is considerable economic because the major efforts are the annually improvment of terrace bunds.
Natural / human environment: The soil erosion is very severe because of the cohesionless loess soil and very intensive rainfall storms in the summer and autumn that would destroy the land surface into broken hilly area. Terrace is a kind of measure to resolve it combining with crops. The human activities here is very intensive because they must plant on the slopes that would make the soil erosion greater.
Photos of the Technology
- 📍 Yangou Watershed, Baota County, Ansai County, Shaanxi, China
- 🗓 2008-07-12
- 📷 Wang Fei (Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China)
- 📍 Mazhuang watershed, Baota County, Shaanxi Province, China
- 📷 Yangling, Shaanxi Pr
- 📍 Yangou Watershed, Baota County, Shaanxi Province, China
- 🗓 2008-07-12
- 📷 Wang Fei (Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China)
- 📍 Wangyao Town, Ansai County, Shaanxi Province, China
- 🗓 2003-11-06
- 📷 Wang Fei (Yangling, Shaanxi Province, China)