A project of Volunteers in Asia

World ?e&?ors in Ac;a

vol. 1, No. & Vol. 6, No. 2E (two sam=Li, issues)
Published >y.
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 Veteran Worker eru ommunity
<iaimed By Death
Its Own Water
ln Philippines

I COVER PHOTO
 Wives Are Help-Mates In Kabale, Uganda

i, , ,
,,
es Help C s e r v e Our Soil
WORLD

GUATEMA:AN F A R M E R S A Y S :
 - -.
is “A” Frame looks like when l’inished.

Figure 1 rhows a “soil profile” -a picture of the soil

from top to hottom. The layer of soil an the surface of
the ground - the topsoil - con~istr of decayed vegetation,
manure and Ioo,se~ The topylil is where most ,OO~S
of a plant grow. The crops we grow must obtain the
nutrients that nourish them from this ‘aye, of topsoil.
Because this soil is on the vwface of the ground, it is the
first to wash away if we do not prnfect if.

B&m the loose topsoil is a layer called the subsoil.

In forested areas, this layer of subsoil is usua,,y soft. But
in areas where pzoplc have eieared the iand for growing
their crops. this laye, often has become hard. It is difficult
to grow crop in subsoil after the topsoil bar been
washed away.

Below the rubrail is bard rock. In many weas the

topsoil has washed away and there remains very little sub.
soil covering the hard rock below. This is a serious problem
beeawe, of c0ws.e. crops will nof glow in hard rock. For
thisreason we must learn how fo conserve and even increase
the anw~nf of toproil in our fields.

-3
- 4
,.
 with the “A” Frame that you have built
mark off contour lines on your field. Use
stakes to mark there contour liner. just as
you see here. The contow ditches will be
dug following the contour lines marked off
by stakes. As the ditches are dug, the stakes
can be removed. The spacing between cons
,,,Y,s dapei;d; .,n the steepness of the
grauud. the drainage qualities of the soil and
the amount of rainfall in the area.

: : Here you see contour ditches that have been

!;, ,dug following the contour lines marked off
i, by stakes. The ditches are about 12 inches
3; _ (30 cm.) wide and 6 to 12 inches (20 tc 36
:; ;, ,: cm.) deep. The steeper the land, the closer
& ,t,c+,ether the ditches should be. On steep
k: land the ditches may be just a few feet
$ ‘apart. On nearly ffat land fftey may be 65
; feet I20 meters) apart. On the higher, steep
er part of the bill in dtis diagram dte contow
,, ditches are closer together. On the lower.
flatter part the ditches are further apart:

Grass or other close-growing plants which are

present at all times of the year shwld be
planted on tbe uphill side of the ditch. This
protects the ditch from filiing up with soil
and prevents the soil from being carried down
the hill hy rainwater. The grass can be plant-
ed sparssly, and with time it will dticken to
become an impenetrable barrier for soil. Ob-
how such a barrier has formed in the
on page eight of this issue of
he soil has been held behind the
to create a terracing effect on
 WORLD NEIGHBORS
Volume 6 -Number 2E
Published by World Neighbors
international Headquarters
6116 North Portland Avenw

Guatemalan farmer Toribio Saiazar (left) show farmers from the Chimaltenango area
how much soil has been sazcti by contour ditches and grass barriers aiong their edges.