Scientists at Israeli Bar-Ilan and Haifa universities have proposed to revive the 1,000-year-old system of farming known as “plot and berm” for arid areas. Plots were dug in places where the water table was high. Berms are sand barriers, built to retain water and shield against the wind.
https://www.israel21c.org/can-an-ancient-farming-method-improve-sustainability/