The EBM has two keyline ploughs available for lending to local farmers who wish to implement soil regeneration and improvement measures on their farms, contributing to a collective effort towards more sustainable agricultural practices.

Keyline System Overview

The Keyline system, developed in the 1950s by Australian mining engineer Percival Alfred Yeomans, aims to rehabilitate degraded agricultural soils. This system conserves rainwater on a property by distributing it within the soil and progressively directing it from valley areas to ridge areas. The Keyline is a topographic contour line drawn using a reference point where descending water slows down abruptly, resulting in an accumulation area. Using this line as a reference, slightly off-level lines (about 1% relative to the Keyline) are drawn to redistribute surface water or store it in specific locations. This method increases infiltration rates while reducing surface runoff and evaporation, significantly improving soil fertility and structure. By enhancing soil moisture distribution, biological activity is promoted, substantially increasing the total organic matter content.

The Keyline system is designed based on the terrain’s topography, planned agricultural activities, crop distribution, water availability, paths, and fences.

The Keyline design uses a specific plough (keyline plough) that creates furrows in the soil without tilling, decreasing soil disturbance, reducing organic matter mineralization rates, and enhancing water infiltration and natural conduction to ridge areas.

For more information, contact us at ebm@ebmertola.pt.