Contour ploughing is a farming practice that involves plowing and/or planting across a slope following its elevation contour lines. This method creates a water break that reduces the formation of rills and gullies during times of heavy precipitation, allowing more time for the water to settle into the soil. In contour plowing, the ruts made by the plow run perpendicular rather than parallel to the slopes, generally furrows that curve around the land and are level. This method is also known for preventing tillage erosion, which is the soil movement and erosion by tilling a given plot of land. Contour ploughing has been proved to reduce fertilizer loss, power and time consumption, and wear on machines, as well as to increase crop yields and reduce soil erosion. The practice is effective only on slopes with between 2% and 10% gradient.

Contour ploughing is a well-established agronomic measure that contributes to soil and water conservation. The soil is ploughed along the contour instead of up and down the slope, which purposely builds a barrier against rainwater runoff that is collected in the furrows. Infiltration rates increase and more water is kept in place. Contour ploughing is especially important at the beginning of the rainy season when biological conservation effects are poor. The effectiveness of contour ploughing decreases with an increase in slope gradient and length, rainfall intensity, and erodibility of the soil.

Contour ploughing is a soil conservation technology that is practiced throughout Grenada to mitigate the negative consequences of natural disasters on soil quality and composition. It is performed by following the natural contours when tilling the soil, planting, and cultivating. This practice describes contour ploughing and contour beds which can be constructed manually using on-farm equipment. Contour ploughing mitigates the impacts of floods, storms, and landslides on the crops by reducing soil erosion up to 50 percent, controlling runoff water, increasing moisture infiltration and retention, and thus enhancing soil quality and composition. The practice is most effective when used as part of a planned conservation system that integrates crop rotation, minimum tillage, etc. .

Contour ploughing should be used on steep slope areas...