*4.1.3 Contour and peripheral bund*

The management of shallow ravine by contour and peripheral bund has shown improvement in value of land and crop yield due to soil moisture retention within the field, prevention of soil and nutrient losses from the crop field. The different cross sections of contour and peripheral bunds were tested in ravine lands of Western India [11]. The design cross sections of the bunds were fixed on the basis of the area of the catchment, slope of the land and its location. The bunds were designed on the basis of the vertical interval or horizontal spacing [11]. Usually one bund could only be located in each field approximately on contour so that it can also serve as peripheral control of gully heads. These bunds were sodded with *Dichanthium annulatum* and *Cenchrus ciliaris* grasses. In ravine lands an average cross section of 0.9 to 1.3 m2 spaced at 0.90 to 1.20 m vertical interval was found best [11]. Grass ramps and pipe outlets were provided in the bunds for the safe disposal of excess runoff water. It is further stated that the effectiveness of the bunds would be for a longer period, as with passage of time the rate of reduction of bund height is expected to be slow and can be maintained indefinitely with good stabilized grasses [12]. It is also found that the area lost under bunds could fetch revenue from grasses, which is sufficient as comparable to production in rainfed area [12].
