What are the benefits of a terrace system? The major benefit, of course, is the conservation of soil and water . Terraces reduce both the amount and velocity of water moving across the soil surface, which greatly reduces soil erosion. Terracing thus permits more intensive cropping than would otherwise be possible.
What is the advantages of terrace farming?
In particular, terrace agriculture: Increases farmability and land productivity of sloped fields . Contributes to water conservation: slows down and reduces water runoffs, improves rainwater harvesting. Prevents soil erosion by decreasing rill formations.
Where is terracing most useful?
Terraced paddy fields are used widely in rice, wheat and barley farming in east, south and southeast Asia , as well as the Mediterranean Basin, Africa, and South America. Drier-climate terrace farming is common throughout the Mediterranean Basin, where they are used for vineyards, olive trees, cork oak, and other crops.
What is terracing ‘? Also explain one advantage and one disadvantage of terracing?
Level terraces, like those found in parts of Bali and China, can not only reduce the rate of soil erosion but can also trap and hold rainwater. ... Terracing creates flat spaces for crops and canals for water to flow between these areas .
What are the pros and cons of terracing?
The primary advantage of terraces is improved soil erosion control . Secondary advantages of terraces include elimination of grass waterways that can be difficult to maintain and reductions in flooding. Disadvantages include the capital cost of building terraces, and the time required to maintain terraces.
Is terracing good or bad?
Terracing is one of the oldest means of saving soil and water . ... Existing literature and information shows that terraces can considerably reduce soil loss due to water erosion if they are well planned, correctly constructed and properly maintained. If not maintained, they can provoke land degradation.
Why are terraces bad?
The ridges or embankments play an important role in the interception of runoff and field water. But terraces are also at risk of collapse , and the higher the terraces wall, the greater the risk of collapse.
Is terrace farming used today?
Today , modern farmers are returning to the terrace farming practices used thousands of years ago as a more practical and productive way to raise the most food with the least water. Tea farmers also take advantage of terrace farming .
Is terrace farming sustainable?
These new terraced vineyards do not look sustainable under existing environmental conditions . ... The results indicate that the modern terraces are unstable and may lead to a degraded environmental situation.
What crops are grown in terrace farming?
Some typical crops grown in terraces include barley, wheat, potatoes, corn, tea, olive, grape vines, coffee, and rice . A terrace is typically about 2-3 meters wide and 50-80 meters long. Some terraces flood with rain water, such as those used to farm rice.
How are terraces built?
Terraces are made using low walls of Earth up the side of the hills , these allow the farmers to make flat areas for planting their crops – the terraces. ... Terraces are often seen in the rice-growing areas of sour-east Asia, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and so on.
Where do terracing help the most in soil conservation *?
In terrace farming, a terrace is a piece of sloped plane that is cut into a series of successively receding platforms, that resemble steps. This prevents rain from washing away soil on a hill hence preventing soil erosion. Thus the correct answer is option A.
What is called terrace farming?
Terrace cultivation, method of growing crops on sides of hills or mountains by planting on graduated terraces built into the slope . Though labour-intensive, the method has been employed effectively to maximize arable land area in variable terrains and to reduce soil erosion and water loss.
Is terrace farming expensive?
Terraces are one way to control soil erosion. Crop rotation and tillage practices also control erosion. ... Terraces do require high capital investments, however. Costs may range from $100 to $250 per acre , depending on the type of terrace system.
What are the three main types of terracing?
There are three types of terraces: bench terraced farmlands, sloping terraced farmlands and combination level terraced farmlands .
What happens if terrace spacing is too less *?
Terrace spacing is decreased where rainfall amount and intensity are high and where the soil has a low infiltration rate , both of which produce high runoff rates. ... High runoff rates and steep slopes increase runoff erosivity and the potential for rill erosion.
