methods of maintaining soil fertility

A lesser-known way to improve soil fertility is to plant different crops in the same field in order to prevent soil erosion and control the spread of soil-borne plant disease. Methods of Maintaining Soil Fertility Cover cropping:. Also, handling wet soils leads to their compaction. An online agro platform to help simplify managing your fields and increase yields, If you are interested in cooperation please fill the form and we will contact you soon, Soil Conservation Methods: Benefits Of Implementation. If you want to see true yield improvement you need to master soil management. The importance of soil conservation also relates to water supply, and earth layers function as natural filters to improve water quality. In fact, onl… Rows up and down the slope provoke soil erosion due to water currents while rows along the contour restrain it. This soil conservation technique is another way to avoid bare soils and additionally benefit from planting cover crops – secondary species – in-between growing cash crops for different reasons like to: These are trees and bushes on the banks of water bodies to prevent sediment, water wash offs. Mineral composition – knowing the mineral composition of the soil, we can predict its ability to retain plant nutrients. Soil Conservation Practices Conservation Tillage. These are trees or bushes to shelter crops from snow and winds planted in several rows. Their roots fix the soil to avoid slumping and erosion, canopies protect from excessive sunlight to water inhabitants and falling leaves are a source of organic matter and food of minor aquatic animals. Another significant aspect is to choose the proper time for field operations, depending on the soil types. Optimal P and K indices. The quality of irrigation water is very important to maintain soil fertility and tilth, and for using more soil depth by the plants. 1. Equipped with credible information on the crop state, they can make prompt and well-grounded decisions. Once the problem is suspected, farmers can assign tasks to scouters via the mobile application to check it with a human eye, monitor the task completion, and take proper actions. 2. The main task in reducing erosion is to cover lands with crops or residues to avoid bare areas since they are highly subject to disruption due to winds, the flow of water, and rain splashes. Different methods of soil conservation help to mitigate erosion, keep fertility, avoid degradation, and minimize nature pollution due to chemicals by applying integrated weed and pest control techniques. It involves the planting of different crops on the same piece of land in a sequence. It is a very slow process of maintaining soil fertility. This method involves the planting of crops that provide shield or covering for soil resources against... Green manuring:. Crop rotation:. Soil conservation is a key concern to farmers since it is vital not only to use land productively reaping high yields but being able to do so in the future as well. Trees have … Try to use deep rooted vegetables, which will improve soil fertility naturally. Some of the important factors are discussed below: 1. This agricultural practice contributes to sustainability in a number of ways: Different types of soil conservation methods ensure long-term usage of land and keep it productive for future generations. When referring to the soil mineral nutrients, there’s a wide gap between the total amount of mineral nutrients in the soil and their availability to the plant. That’s okay; I didn’t for years! Soil Fertility. EFFECT: invention enables to improve the nutritional value of the fodder and to maintain the soil fertility. Permaculture is a design system that applies principles that are found in nature to … In every case, as crops were removed, the fertility levels would eventually begin to … 4. Mixed cropping: It is the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of field. This is determined by the source rock, the climate, biological and chemical processes. This method of farming mainly aims at maintaining nutrients in their natural reservoirs and in bioavailable forms that can be easily taken up by plants thus making the addition of chemical fertilizers needless. The online software assists in field scouting and can point out critical areas relying on satellite-retrieved data. No-till farming assists in soil conservation as well since it implies no or minimum disturbance and planting seeds into the crop residue. The soil conservation technique aims at addressing wind and water erosion by covering the earth... Contour Farming. MAINTAINING SOIL FERTILITY In previous sections of our treatment of sustainable agriculture, we have discussed trophic issues and two broad approaches to decreasing soil losses; the CRP and conservation tillage systems. Windbreak vegetation also provides a living environment for wildlife and eliminates soil abrasion on crops due to strong wind blows. It is thought to contain unknown growth factors which make its mineral content more effe… Different types of soil conservation methods prevent earth runoff, pollution, sedimentation in water objects, and protect bare surfaces from cracking and erosion due to water, wind, and excessive heat. As the name suggests, this soil conservation practice is used to reduce the power of winds and its disruptive effect on soil. Soil conservation methods target long-term use with a thought of the future. Monitoring fields and detecting critical zones. The organic matter is utilized in farms, the better the soil becomes more. Meet the farmers who play their part in improving soil health Mark Pope farms 700 acres of arable land in Somerset, and has allowed coir rolls, which trap soil and water, to be placed in unproductive field corners to help prevent flooding. Crop rotation vs. monocropping farming suggests changing agro species instead of planting one and the same for many subsequent seasons. The key goal of soil conservation is protecting it from degradation in any way, including depletion of fertility and erosion. Ensuring proper conditions for living bodies in the earth is vitally important for vegetation that grows there since microorganisms adjust the organic matter for plant needs. Underground, plant roots are mining the soil, turning organic minerals into leaves, flowers, and fruit. Maintaining Soil Fertility There’s more to maintaining soil fertility than just applying fertiliser and hoping for the best. Some plants proved to be efficient in recent years, and some did not. It is one of the … good, profitable farming, improving or maintaining soil fertility (and the capital value of the farm), and good environmental management, since they all require that soils are maintained or improved. How the Factors Cause Depletion of Soil Resources, Factors that Influence or Cause Soil Erosion, Difference between Soil Erosion and Soil Depletion, Differences between Major Nutrients and Minor Nutrients, Differences between Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers, Effects of Misapplication of Inorganic Chemical Fertilizers on the Environment, Economic Effects of Nutrient Deficiency in Crop Production. Maintaining or increasing soil fertility is one of the most important things farmers have to do to increase output. Following is a description of the major methods of maintaining soil fertility in Kenya, the approach of inorganic fertilization and of integrated nutrient management (INM). These alternatives are biological and cultural options when fertility is restored with green and animal manure, compost, crop rotation, and other methods of non-chemical control. High-tech agriculture tool bringing reliable field analytics to farmers, traders, and insurers! Thus, soil conservation strategies greatly contribute to the sustainability of the environment and resources. The basic idea is not to leave soil bare, as bare areas are highly prone to erosion, and plants keep it in place with their root systems. This avoids over utilization of soil nutrients by a particular crop. You need to start monitoring your fields… hardcore. Log into your account. In this case, farmers combine high-growing crops with low-growing ones for the sake of wind protection, like when corn grows in strips with forage crops. As a result of cropping, a large amount of organic matter and soil minerals are removed and if the normal cycling of mineral elements is retarded, loss in soil fertility … Their presence reduces evaporation of water present in soil. It is at these surfaces that biological activities provide nitrogen fixation and silicon release. Farmers applying this soil conservation method reap numerous benefits. A pH range of 5.5-7 is considered adequate for most plants, and is obtainable through the use of a balanced fertilization program and the addition of products designed to either raise or lower the pH. HYDERABAD: If we keep the soil healthy, in return it will keep us healthy by allowing us to produce nutritious food. After focusing on soil pH, the next step is to aim for a target index of 3 for … Fertilizers can be used on land to supply nutrients to soil. Never heard of a cover crop? An extra benefit is the organic matter material from the low crops. Building Soil Fertility Mark recognises that the environment is key to farming’s productive potential. The biological activities at the basis of self-regenerative soil fertility occur at the surfaces of soil particles where minerals come into contact with water, air, and warmth. The period allowed for fallow is not enough for adequate replacement of lost nutrients. Soil conservation is a set of farming techniques and practices to avoid degradation, erosion and depletion in particular. Soil pH – Maintaining your soil’s pH levels is important when it comes to maintaining proper soil fertility, as the pH levels have a big impact on the nutrient availability in your soil. Using very detailed soil sampling and analysis techniques, farmers utilizing our testing program have tried various products in comparison to the normal methods of maintaining fertility levels. Pests are a great nuisance to agriculturalists and have been a major issue to tackle while chemicals poison nature leaking to water and the atmosphere. Wise usage of land resources ensures its availability for the next generations, and thus affordable prices for food in the future. Specific importance in the chapter is also given to the role of organic matter in maintaining good soil fertility vis-à-vis ensuring good and healthy soil structure. Organic farming enhances soil fertility by improving its physical, biological and chemical properties. Controlling and estimating the efficiency of applied soil conservation techniques. Depending on the number of rows, we can distinguish windbreaks properly (up to five rows) and shelterbelts (six and more). Chemicals application to control weed and pest infestations are harmful to the environment and undesired in soil conservation. When soil is irrigated with high alkaline water, unwanted sodium salts build up in the soil which would make soil draining capacity very poor. Soil analysis and its interpretation is an important management tool in assessing the need to apply nutrients in fertilizers and/or manures to maintain soil fertility. The practice works even better when high-growing crops are intensified in the sides where winds blow most frequently. The soil conservation method proves efficient in slope territories and suggests planting species along the contour. This method involves the planting of crops that provide shield or covering for soil resources against depletion. Permaculture. This is a furrow for water streams covered with grass. The chapter discusses several aspects of these factors and their interplay in maintaining optimal crop production. The current methods of soil analysis assess the plant-availability of nutrients in the depth of soil sampled, RB 209 recommends the top 15 cm for fields growing arable and field vegetables and the top 7.5 cm for permanent grass. It is important to eliminate synthetic herbicides replacing them with organic ones or establishing biological enemies of pests whenever possible, rotating crop species to minimize increasing pest populations in the same field for years, and using alternative techniques in complex. Soil Fertility Factors: Several factors are known to govern the fertility of soil. Since the majority of plants can’t exist without earth, it is significant to use this resource sparingly. Such information is available on Crop Monitoring alongside daily weather and forecasts up to two weeks ahead, including precipitation, min/max temperatures, and anticipated risks. In respect to the conservation of the soil, Crop Monitoring helps farmers to reveal bare territories in time so that they could keep their lands fertile and productive as long as possible. A grassed waterway is just what it is called. If the land cannot produce, encourage farmers to plant trees and forests like our forefathers used to do to maintain soil fertility,” he said. The choice of crops to rotate is specific for each agricultural enterprise and highly depends on historical weather and productivity data. It involves the use of leguminous crops that are ploughed into the soil to provide nutrients to the soil. This is where a piece of land is made to rest without cultivating any crop on it after some period of time so as to make the soil region to fertility. While light and water are essential for this process, there are also some major nutrients that must be in place for proper growth. Since the matter helps increase the level and because of this fertility farmers who add organic matter will notice a gradual increase. Crop Rotation method of maintaining soil fertility in which the fields under cultivation remain the same, but the crop being planted is changed. Planting a Cover Crop. Here are some farming methods and activities that can help you achieve healthy soils. your username. They include bush fallowing, cover cropping, rotation cropping, application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. Obtaining proper knowledge of the land resource use. As trees grow tall, they also keep rooting deeper into the… To maintain the fertility of the soil following natural methods are used: Field fallow: The land is left free or fallow for one or more seasons to naturally regain the nutrients. Soil Conservation- Soil conservation is the prevention of loss of the top most layer of the soil from … This is an excellent fertilizer material in high-value horticultural crops but would probably be too expensive for field crops. It does not suit the increasing demand for land due to population increase. In its turn, water is necessary to dissolve nutrients for plants. Doing this with legumes will have the benefit of adding nitrate to the soil. 3. Furthermore, vegetation indices such as NDVI, MSAVI, NDMI, and ReCI help to inspect crop health at each growth stage. Disadvantages of using bush fallowing to manage soil fertility 1. They help check against soil erosion which might wash nutrients away. Welcome! There are several methods that can be used to maintain the fertility of the soil. It is connected to a ditch, pit, or current to collect water, and the grassroots keep the earth in place, protecting it from water erosion, and thus contributing to soil conservation. Additionally, vegetation accumulates moisture for future crops. The soil conservation technique aims at addressing wind and water erosion by covering the earth with vegetation (either crops or their residues) and limiting the number of tilling operations. Doing so, farmers have to know the characteristics and constraints of their soils and use sustainable agricultural practices and methods for conserving them and making them more fertile. Crop rotation helps them improve the earth structure with diverse root systems, to mitigate pest establishments, and to add nitrogen to the land with legumes known as nitrogen-fixing plants. Soil conservation strategies rely on three basic steps: The earth is the primary condition and environment for crops that nourish humans as well as domestic animals and wildlife. 2 cl, 5 tbl The invention relates to the field of agriculture, particularly the cultivation of long-day annual crops intended for the organization of the early and postrelease green pipeline, obtaining autumn green forage for autumn feeding animals. Taking care of soil fertility is important for food security. The fertility of soil majorly depends on plants, soil organic matter and soil biology. Combined possibilities of remote sensing, mobile gadgets, and the Crop Monitoring software enable agriculturalists to grasp the situation on the spot. We all know that roots of trees firmly hold on to the soil. In nature, soil organisms cultivate the soil. For example, clay ones are better to till after harvesting while other types are better to plow before seeding. 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