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[[Image:contour ridges icon.png|right]]

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Contour ridges, sometimes called contour furrows or micro watersheds, are used for crop production. Ridges follow the contour at a spacing of usually 1 to 2 metres. Runoff is collected from the uncultivated strip between ridges and stored in a furrow just above the ridges. Crops are planted on both sides of the furrow.

==Construction, operations and maintenance==

The overall layout consists of parallel, or almost parallel, earth ridges approximately on the contour at a spacing of between one and two metres. Soil is excavated and placed downslope to form a ridge, and the excavated furrow above the ridge collects runoff from the catchment strip between ridges. Small earth ties in the furrow are provided every few metres to ensure an even storage of runoff. A diversion ditch may be necessary to protect the system against runoff from outside.