Trash lines are the incorporation of lines of organic materials spread across contours of hilly agricultural fields - strips of heaped straw or weed materials that have been collected during primary cultivation of the land. Trash lines have been found to direct runoff in field and act as an erosion control method. Through decomposition, the trash line material acts as a type of compost adding nutrients to the soil, adding more organic material year on year, should the farmer continue to build this line. This is a climate smart approach as it contributes to soil health, capturing more nutrients and carbon in the soil, and in turn promoting sustainable agricultural productivity. In changing climates, implementation of this practice can contribute to adaptation strategies.
To effectively undertake trash lines:
- Step 1: Collect straw, stalks, picked weed or other organic materials from field or surrounding area.
- Step 2: Establish contour lines using method identified in contour planting (Technical Brief 16).
- Step 3: Contour lines for trash lines should be spaced between 5 to 10 m apart.
- Step 4: Heap straw along contour lines on hilly or sloped fields to be approximately 0.5 m wide and up to 0.3 m in height.
- Step 5: Trash should be piled on annually or as the field is prepared. Lines can be maintained for a few years and then decomposed materials can be mixed into the soil.
- WOCAT, 2011. Improved trash lines. Uganda.
- The Food and Agriculture Organisation, 2001. Conservation Agriculture Case Studies in Latin America and Africa. Rome, Italy.
Benefits
- Low cost option for soil and water conservation on sloped fields.
- Increase of organic materials in fields.
- Green manure (Technical Brief 02) production in the field.
Drawbacks
- Increased workload to implement trash lines but low effort to maintain.
