Permaculture farmer Mark Shepard, author of the book Restoration Agriculture, will explain water handling on the farm from contour farming, grassy waterways and USDA terraces to Australian-borne keyline design and his modified American Keyline methods. Learn how to keep the water high on your hills where it can benefit the farm. Learn more at permaculturevoices.com.

1. WATER! the #1 plant nutrient
Keyline Design and the Restoration Agriculture
Water Management System
Restoration Agriculture Development Inc:
Radpioneers.com
On facebook:Restoration AgricultureDevelopment
Forest Agriculture Enterprises LLC: Forestag.com

7. Water For Every Farm
P A Yeomans p2

8. Water For Every Farm
P A Yeomans p2

9. Yeomans p 2

14. • I. DefinitionUsing ridges and furrows formed
by tillage, planting and other farming
operations to change the direction of runoff
from directly downslope to around the
hillslope (perpendicular to the field slope).
• II. PurposesThis practice may be applied as
part of a conservation management system to
achieve one or more of the following: To
reduce sheet and rill erosion. To reduce
transport of sediment, other solids,and the
contaminants attached to them. To increase
water infiltration.
• www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMEN
TS/nrcs143_026017.pdf
CONTOUR FARMING(Acre) Code 330 Natural Resources
Conservation Service Conservation Practice Standard

17. (bonde msingi)
(Safu ya milima msingi)
(keypoint)
Source: mas humus

18. Source: Mas humus

19. Photo source: Darren Doherty

21. Photo source: Darren Doherty

24. ?

25. ?

28. Some factors influencing Keyline/
water management design:
-Slope
-Soil Type
-Soil permeability
-Intended use
-equipment
Depth, type and structure of bedrock

34. Photo source: Darren Doherty

35. Photo source: Darren Doherty

36. Photo source: Darren Doherty

37. Photo source: Darren Doherty

38. Photo source: Darren Doherty

39. Photo source: Darren Doherty

40. Photo source: Darren Doherty

41. permaculturenews.org/resources_files/KeylineArticle.pdf

42. Every property has a “Sweet Spot”…..
…the line where the most of that property’s water can be
managed with the least amount of earthworks.

44. Photo source: Darren Doherty

45. Photo source: Darren Doherty

47. TERRACE(Feet) Code 600 Natural Resources
Conservation Service Conservation Practice Standard
l. Definition An earth embankment, or a combination ridge and
channel, constructed across the field slope.
II. Purpose This practice is applied as part of a resource
management system for one or more of the following purposes:
.-Reduce soil erosion by reducing slope length.
-Reduce sediment content in runoff water.
-Retain runoff for moisture conservation.
-Improve farmability.
III.Conditions Where Practice Applies This practice applies
where:
-soil erosion by water is a problem,
-there is a need to conserve water,
-the soils and topography are such that terraces can be
constructed and farmed with reasonable effort,
-a suitable outlet can be provided, or
-excess runoff is a problem.

70. • Catchment area X maximum rainfall event ever
recorded = “safest design” swale + pond volume.
• The capacity of the swale and outlet system must be
able to intercept and disperse this catastrophic event
volume to avoid system failure.
• Swales in clay soils can be deeper with steeper
sides.
• Swales in Sandy soils must be wider with gently
sloping sides.
• Safest design volume is influenced by measured
water infiltration rate, saturation point and soil type.

81. Source: Darren Dougherty

82. Source: Darren Dougherty

83. Source: Darren Dougherty

105. http://www.yeomansplow.com.au/yeomans-plows.htm

113. Water movement before
Keyline Patterning & Terraces

114. Water movement
After Keyline patterning
Terraces & ponds