World Food Day: Sustainable agricultural practices worth adopting
The importance of eating healthy foods has led to the gaining popularity of sustainable agricultural practices across countries for both small-scale and large-scale farmers. By implementing these practices, we not only protect our environment but also ensure the long-term viability of agriculture. Here's a look at five such sustainable practices in agriculture and gardening that can help to boost better yields and healthier produce.
Urban agriculture
With improvements in farming techniques making at-home agriculture more accessible, urban agriculture has taken off in recent years. Various cutting-edge and environmentally friendly growing methods are currently in use in different cities today. These practices include rooftop farms, community gardens, backyard farms, indoor hydroponic farms, rooftop farms, urban greenhouses, and warehouse farms where crops can be produced on large scales.
Crop rotation
Crop rotation is the process of growing various crops on one field during different seasons. This method helps to maintain the soil's fertility. Crop rotation is very advantageous to farmers since it lessens the need for pesticide use. It also aids in the eradication of pests that cause damage since it breaks the bugs' life cycles and hence reduces the need for pesticides.
Agroforestry
Agroforestry combines trees and crops in the same area. Trees provide shade, improve soil fertility, and can serve as an additional source of income through timber and fruit production. The idea is to create a beneficial microclimate that keeps crops protected from wind and heavy rain while maintaining a desirable temperature and soil humidity. This is an environmentally as well as economically sustainable practice.
Natural pest management
Natural pest management involves using a combination of techniques like natural predators, crop monitoring, and targeted pesticide use to control pests. Applying or spraying large amounts of chemicals to grow food is not ideal in the long run. Natural pest management helps to avoid artificial and chemical pesticides in agriculture. The practice involves identifying pests, understanding their life cycles and employing them accordingly.
Hydroponics
With no need for soil, hydroponics transforms how crops are cultivated by feeding the plant nutrients directly through the water its roots are growing in. In hydroponics, root systems are either cultivated directly in a particular mineral solution or occasionally in gravel. This helps the plant get the nutrients and water it needs without any soil. Try these hydroponics methods.
