Which method is used to manage soil erosion effectively?

Contour farming is an effective method to manage soil erosion because it involves plowing and planting across the slope of the land rather than up and down. This practice creates furrows that follow the natural contours of the landscape, which slows water runoff and helps in capturing soil and moisture. By aligning the rows with the topography, contour farming minimizes the potential for soil erosion caused by water runoff during rain events. It also promotes water infiltration, enhancing soil moisture retention and ultimately improving crop yield and health.

This method stands in contrast to intensive tillage, which can disturb the soil structure and lead to increased erosion, as well as practices like overgrazing, which can degrade soil and reduce vegetation cover, further exacerbating erosion issues. Vertical farming does not directly address soil erosion since it is primarily focused on maximizing space and resource efficiency, often in urban settings without soil interaction.