There are several traditional ways of controlling soil erosion, such as reforestation, terracing, multiple cropping, contouring and cover cropping. SALT is a package technology on soil conservation and food production, integrating different soil conservation measures in just one setting. The Asian Rural Life Development Program has developed an erosion control technique that is both easier and less expensive to implement than the traditional methods. This technology is known as SALT which stands for Sloping Agriculture Land Technology. SALT is a method of growing field and permanent crops in 3-meter to 5-meter wide bands between contoured rows of nitrogen fixing trees are thickly planted in double rows to make hedgerows.

objectives of SALT

•      Conversion of hilly land to green and stable land.

•      To increase productivity of slopy land.

•      To enrich the soil and reduce soil erosion and replace the eroded hillside with terraced green landscape.

•      To conserve soil moisture.

•      To reduce pest and diseases and reduce the need for expensive inputs such as chemical fertilizers.

Steps in SALT

• Make An A-Frame
• Locate Contour Lines
• Prepare the Contour Lines
• Plant Seeds of Nitrogen Fixing hedge rows or shrubs
• Cultivate Alternate Strips
• Plant Permanent Crops
• Plant Short - Term Crops
• Trim Nitrogen Fixing Hedge rows
• Practice Crop Rotation
• Build Green Terraces