How can tillage practices help with water erosion?

Tillage practices can significantly influence water erosion, and tilling across slopes on contours is an effective strategy to mitigate this issue. This method, known as contour tilling, involves plowing or tilling in lines that follow the natural contours of the land. This approach creates barriers that slow down water flow, allowing more time for infiltration into the soil rather than encouraging runoff, which can lead to erosion. When tillage follows the land's contours, it helps to capture and hold water, reducing the speed and volume of water that moves over the soil surface during rainstorms.

In contrast, compacting the soil further and increasing runoff can exacerbate erosion problems rather than mitigate them. Similarly, removing vegetation would leave soil surfaces bare and vulnerable to erosion by water, as vegetation plays a vital role in protecting the soil, stabilizing it with roots, and reducing the speed and force of raindrops hitting the soil surface.