Land Leveling

Land Leveling
Want To Know What Land Leveling Is?

Land Leveling is is essentially as the name suggests: making an uneven area of land even. Uneven lands tend to suffer a lot of soil erosion, due to the various mishaps it contains (holes, uneven bumps, etc.). One of the causes  of soil erosion is too much moisture within the soil, and these "mishaps" collect a lot of water when it rains. Farmers often use various agricultural tools and stone  bunds to fix the land, which in turn reduces soil erosion.

This technique was used in the Naigaon village Pani Panchayat which had only 10 hect of improper land soil (sheet erosion), was a drought prone area; however still needed our assistance.

The Process

Stripping of the mounts and filling the depressions is the goal.

  1. Terracing the lands with required height of soil and stone bunds at suitable contours are necessary. 
  2. For marking contours some survey work is necessary and it can be done by trained personnels
  3. The land between two bunds is leveled with the help of bullocks or by some machines. 
  4. Upper part of the field  where the depressions are situated are excavated and filled in. Drains are also constructed to release the excess water


Benefits

  • Soil along the sloppy fields is protected from erosion due to flowing water. Thus work of soil conservation is done without much technical knowledge.
  •  Huge biomass is generated along the bunds which can be used for cattle as fodder and compost used as a organic manure. 
  •  As flowing water is obstructed, rate of infiltration is increased. At Adgaon, Ralegan Shindi and Naigaon there is good recharge of groundwater. There is substantial increase in moisture retention in subsoil.
  •  Income level from moderately sloppy and eroded land increases
  •  Income generation from the trees in the form of fodder, fruits, fuel, green manure etc. 

Successful Method You Decide

  • Low cost technique. 
  •  External input to the village is less. Sometimes it is in the form of a tractor for removing and relaying earth. 
  •  Participation of villagers in each and every stage of implementation of the programme. 
  •  Some financial assistance to the villagers from state government and from voluntary agency working there.     Huge employment is generated if work done manually. 
  •  Whole work is done considering village as a unit. 


Though this method clearly helps the soil and helps gain some income, many people view this method in a negative manner (just like Contour Bunding), and so tend to stray away from it. Knowledge; however can make a huge impact on people's lives.