Sustainable farming notes

SUSTAINABLE FARMING


Sustainable farming involves the changing of agricultural techniques in both
industrialised and traditional farming methods in order to provide for the needs
of current and future generations whilst conserving natural resources, in an
economically viable environment
• SOIL: Soil conservation by stopping erosion, water logging and loss of soil
fertility
• WATER: Management of water resources through preservation while
meeting the needs of crops
• ECONOMICS: Must be economically viable
• BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY: integrity of the system must be preserved


Sustainable farming practices
CROP ROTATION:
 Stops steady supply of food for pests
 Breaks reproduction cycle of pests
 Allows plants to replenish nutrients
 Drives down the need for chemical fertiliser


COVER CROPS
 Such as oats and cloves
 Stops soil erosion
 Suppresses weeds
 Improves quality of soil
 Reduces the need for chemical fertilisers


SOIL ENRICHMENT
 Healthy soils increase yields and quality of crops
 Increase enrichment by leaving crop residue and animal manure


NATURAL PEST PREDATORS
 View the farm as an ecosystem and introduce natural pest predators like
birds