Keylines
Keylines are man-made trenches positioned along the contour lines of the terrain.
Like swales, keylines capture runoff rainwater; they also distribute it across the plot. Keylines are often constructed in combination with food forests. The crops benefit from the improved distribution and extended infiltration time of rainwater.
By intercepting the runoff, the peak water level in the valley is reduced. Keylines are covered with vegetation.
Natural solutions
- Developing natural grasslands
- Developing natural forests
- Food forest
- Making space for beaver activity
- Making room for natural floodplains
- Making room for meandering
- Raising the stream bed
- Lowering banks
- Removing drainage systems
- Planting scrub hedges and copses
- Standard orchard
- Wide infiltration strip
- Grafts
- Swales
- Keylines
- Converting (maize) fields on slopes into grassland or woodland
- Wadi
- Intercepting runoff on (sunken) roads