Simple methods of preventing soil erosion
Arid Land Information Network
Method
1. To mark out a line on the contour, always start at the highest point of your field. If there
are small watercourses visible, start each line on the main watercourse and work away from
it first on one side and then on the other.
2. Place one of the poles so that it marks the end of the contour whose alignment is to be
determined. Take the second pole along the suspected line of the contour, moving it up
and down the slope until the water level matches with the position of the rubber marker.
The second pole is now standing on the same contour as the first and a peg should be
driven into the ground to mark the spot.
3. The second pole now remains stationary while the first one is carried forward to look for a
third point on the contour line.
4. Proceed in the same manner until a suitable length of contour has been marked out.
Hints
1. Work during the coolest time of the day because heat causes the tube to stretch, requiring
frequent realignment of the rubber straps which mark the water level. To re-adjust repeat
steps 4 and 5.
2. Raising one end of the tube much higher than the other can spill water. If this recurs
repeat steps 4 and 5.
‘A’ Frame
(Mike Brownbridge for Zaire)
Components
1. 2 pieces of wood (approximately 5 cm by 2.5 cm) 2
meters long.
2. 1 piece of wood 1 metre long
3. 3 nails or screws (5 cm)
4. A short length of string
5. A weight (preferably plumb bob)
Construction
1. Join the two 2 m lengths of wood together at one end
with a nail or screw.
2. Fix the third piece of wood at exactly the mid point of each of the two long pieces.
3. Mark the exact center of the short piece with a saw cut or paint
4. Fasten a piece of string to the top joining point of the ‘A’ frame and fasten the weight to
the string so that it hangs below the cross bar but above the ground. (See diagram)
Method
3