what are these tracks ?

[smstonypoint]

just shadows from contour farming see how much wider the dark is along the river because of the trees

Is the sunlight coming from the upper left of the photo?

Steve

 

[lockhaven]

I think so if you notice the shadows are darker from that direction

 

[jinman]

I thinks it's water collecting on the high-side of field terraces. Those terraces look just like what we see here on sloped farmland. I think they are showing up due to lighting and maybe standing water at the terrace.

 

[kevin37b]

Any idea where in NM this is ?

 

[jinman]

Is the sunlight coming from the upper left of the photo?

Steve

It sure is, Steve. You can see the long shadows of trees along the creeks. It also looks like one terrace running toward the upper right along the zig-zag creek has had some recent work (added soil) that stopped and the older grass covered soil just shows a faint outline of this very long terrace.

 

[orezok]

It looks like terraced planting. The lines follow a fixed elevation allowing for "flat" fields. You see this a lot in foreign countries with hillside planting.

 

[smstonypoint]

I thinks it's water collecting on the high-side of field terraces. Those terraces look just like what we see here on sloped farmland. I think they are showing up due to lighting and maybe standing water at the terrace.

Jim,

I buy into the terraces, but I have my doubts about standing water given my perceptions about the lay of the land.

Steve

 

[jinman]

Jim,

I buy into the terraces, but I have my doubts about standing water given my perceptions about the lay of the land.

Steve

Yep Steve, my money would be on late or early morning shadows rather than water. After all, terraces are meant to manage and shed water rather than catch and hold it.

 

[GYPSY]

etch a sketch

 

[Depmandog]

I pretty sure what your are seeing is where the farmer has disced or plowed along the water control berms. Pretty typical around my neck of the woods.

This time of year once the crops are out, they will work the ground along one or both sides of the terrace to restore the original height, depth or slope of the contours. It's a yearly maintenance procedure.