S had witnessed contour bunding and contour ploughing while visiting one of the States in India. Identify the State from the options given below.

Contour bunding and contour ploughing are primary soil conservation techniques specifically designed for hilly and mountainous terrains. Contour ploughing involves planting crops across the slope of the land in narrow strips, which effectively reduces the capacity of runoff to erode and carry away topsoil [2]. This method is particularly effective in the hilly and sloppy lands of the Western and Central Himalayas [4]. Himachal Pradesh, being a prominent Himalayan state, extensively utilizes these practices to manage its steep topography and prevent soil erosion [4]. While other states like Rajasthan or Punjab face erosion issues, they are more characterized by wind or gully erosion in arid plains. In contrast, the specific practice of contouring to decelerate water flow down slopes is a hallmark of the agricultural landscape in hilly states like Himachal Pradesh [4].

Sources

1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > 3. Contour Ploughing and Strip Cultivation > p. 23
2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > ii) contour Ploughing > p. 19
3. [4] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > i) Soil Erosion > p. 15