How does sustainable agriculture reduce soil erosion, soil fertility, control pests, save water, cut energy?
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Walmart will provide training to one million farmers and farm workers in areas such as crop selection and sustainable farmer practices. The company expects half of these farmers to be women.
Question by Michael S: How does sustainable agriculture reduce soil erosion, soil fertility, control pests, save water, cut energy?
describe these four things in some detail
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One Response to How does sustainable agriculture reduce soil erosion, soil fertility, control pests, save water, cut energy?
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Using proper agricultural methods to plant crops, trees or grass will reduce the effects wind shear. Wind shear causes erosion of topsoil base. The topsoil contains nearly all of the major nutrients essential for plant growth (phosphourous, calcium, potassium) are stored and found in this section.
Topsoil also contains organic content, which acts as a catalyst, essential for plant growth.
When topsoil erodes due to wind shear, organic matter and nutrients are lost, making it more difficult to plant new crops. The cycle will continue unless efforts to bring in new soil, nutrients and organic matter are fostered.
Topsoil and organic matter will absorb rainwater more than uncultivated land. Abosrption of water will lead to less runoff. Less runoff means less erosion.
Proper crop rotation and occasional addition of organic matter (manure) will assure continued fertility, which are considered in sustainable agriculture.
Good fertile soil will encourage pests but it will also provide a good environment for natural pest predators. This mini-ecosystem provides an enviroment for both pest and predator. Proper placement of pest predator attraction plants in key areas will attract pest predators. Occasional spraying of chemicals when required, also a part of sustainable agricuture, will control pests when this ecosystem is out of balance (too high a pest population).
Propering timing of fertilization, proper use of animal manure and other in-house usage of available nutrient boosters will save energy but reducing the need for transporation and additional resources required to sustain land.
GrassMan
February 2, 2012 at 7:44 am