by Erica Jobman

Created on: April 27, 2008   Last Updated: May 07, 2008

Production agriculture is a hard life. Not only must farmers take into consideration the future wellbeing of mankind, but the wellbeing of the Earth as well. The global food demand is projected to double in the next 50 years, and with the threats of global warming, rising prices, and droughts it's a wonder how it will get done.

Yes, there are technologies being developed that hope to potentially double the yield of a corn plant while still keeping it top quality for consumers. However, even technology can't take care of the environment. Yes, it can explain what to do and even how to do it, but it cannot complete the action on its own.

To tackle such a problem, it is best done from the ground up.

Soil management is one of the basic steps in agriculture. Farmers understand that healthy soil means healthy plants and a bountiful harvest. However, it doesn't always turn out that way. Erosion, compaction, and repeated farming techniques take its toll.

With all this wear and tear, the nutrients and organic matter have no time to replenish themselves over the short winter season. And when the crops begin to lose their health, farmers turn to the quick-fix fertilizers, which lead to pollution.

Soil management is the answer to several difficulties the farmers face. Low nutrient levels are fixed with a pricy dose of fertilizer and an application of organic matter such as manure. Organic matter is not only less costly, but readily available.

Nutrients are also removed by wind, water, and harvesting. Simple crop rotations and cover crops can prevent erosion, and also allows the soil to replenish itself so that it may produce better crops the next year.

Speaking of crop rotation, this also helps maintain a system that keeps parasites and diseases from becoming huge problems. It does this by creating a diverse population of soil organisms that live in the soil. Some fungi can kill nematodes, while other insects keep harmful insects at bay. It is considerably cheaper and safer to let nature have its way on this one, rather than use several different pesticides.

With the costs of irrigation and the concerns of drought in mind did you know that increased soil health also increases the soil's ability to hold water; therefore cutting down on the amount of water used?

As far back as the 17th century, people began to place importance on the health of the soil, and even understood the significance of organic matter, and the complexity of the organisms in it. Perhaps the past agriculturalists also understood that they held our wellbeing in their hands, and acted accordingly to ensure us a better wellbeing.

Source: Building Soils for Better Crops. Fred Magdoff, Harold van Es. 2000.

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