Minimum soil disturbance
Physical soil disturbance, such as tillage with
a plough, disk, or chisel plough, that results
in bare or compacted soil is destructive and
disruptive to soil microbes and creates a
hostile, instead of hospitable, place for them
to live and work (See Photo 1).
The soil may also be disturbed chemically
or biologically through the misuse of
inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides.
This disrupts the symbiotic relationship
between microorganisms and crop roots. By
strategically reducing chemical inputs, we
can take advantage of these soil ecosystem
services to allow plants to freely access
essential nutrients.
Diversify with crops and animals
Sugars made by plants, through the miracle
of photosynthesis, are released from their
roots into the soil as liquid carbon and traded
to soil microbes for nutrients to support
plant growth. This soil ecosystem service is
a vital element of healthy soils and can be
enhanced through the inclusion of as many
different plants and animals as practical.
Livestock utilizing cover crop mixtures, for
example, contribute to this diversity. With
ultra-high density grazing utilizing 30-50% of
available material, livestock can stimulate root
development and recycle 80% nutrients in
the form of dung (See Photo 2). Biodiversity
directly leads towards a diverse array of soil
microbes from a range of functional groups,
which again improves the soil’s ability to
support nutrient dense, high vitality crops,
pastures, fruit and vegetables.
residues, such as straw, chaff, husks, stalks,
flowers, and leaves. Lastly, they feed on other
organisms lower in the soil food web.
Healthy soil is dependent upon how well the
soil food web is fed. The provision of plenty of
easily accessible food (liquid carbon) helps soil
microbial communities to colonise and recycle
nutrients for plants to grow. The functioning
of the soil ecosystem is therefore determined
by the presence, diversity and photosynthetic
rate of actively growing green plants and
roots. Cover crop mixtures produce root
exudates with varying composition and effects,
and have different zones of nutrient uptake,
because they differ in amount, depth, and
patterns of root branching.
Permanent organic soil cover
Soil should always be covered by growing
plants and/or their residues, and soil should
rarely be visible from above. A mulch keeps
the soil cool and moist which provides
favourable habitat for many organisms that
begin residue decomposition by shredding
residues into smaller pieces (See Photo 4).
Biodiversity is ultimately the key to success of
any agricultural system. Lack of biodiversity
severely limits the potential of any cropping
system and disease and pest problems are
increased. A diverse and fully functioning soil
food web provides for nutrient, energy, and
water cycling that allows a soil to express its
full potential.
Grow living roots throughout the year
There are many sources of food in the soil that
feed the soil food web, but there is no better
food than the liquid carbon exuded by living
roots (See Photo 3).
Soil organisms feed on liquid carbon from
living plant roots first. Next, they feed on dead
plant roots, followed by above-ground crop
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
Photo 3: There is no better food for the soil
food web than the liquid carbon exuded by
living roots
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