Which term is the practical method used to conserve soil and water on sloped farmland?

Which term is the practical method used to conserve soil and water on sloped farmland?

• A. Terracing
• B. Aquifer
• C. Biodiversity
• D. Desertification

Answer: (A)

Sloped farmland loses soil and moisture quickly because rainwater rushing downhill carries away topsoil and nutrients. Terracing is the practical method used to conserve both soil and water on such land. By shaping the hillside into a series of level steps with retaining walls, each terrace slows runoff, gives water a chance to infiltrate the soil, and creates flat planting surfaces. This reduces erosion, preserves soil depth, and improves moisture retention, making farming viable on steep slopes. For example, rice terraces and other stepped landscapes show how terraces capture and use rainfall more effectively. Other terms refer to different concepts—an aquifer is an underground water layer, biodiversity is the variety of living organisms, and desertification is the spread of land degradation in arid areas—so terraces uniquely address soil and water conservation on slopes.

Sloped farmland loses soil and moisture quickly because rainwater rushing downhill carries away topsoil and nutrients. Terracing is the practical method used to conserve both soil and water on such land. By shaping the hillside into a series of level steps with retaining walls, each terrace slows runoff, gives water a chance to infiltrate the soil, and creates flat planting surfaces. This reduces erosion, preserves soil depth, and improves moisture retention, making farming viable on steep slopes. For example, rice terraces and other stepped landscapes show how terraces capture and use rainfall more effectively. Other terms refer to different concepts—an aquifer is an underground water layer, biodiversity is the variety of living organisms, and desertification is the spread of land degradation in arid areas—so terraces uniquely address soil and water conservation on slopes.