-8 Other Farm Practices
  1. Technologies For Farm Improvements
  2. Land & Soil Management
  3. Managing Soil Nutrients
  4. Other Farm Practices

Other farm practices

There are various farming techniques that improve soil performance. They are green manuring, Integrated nutrient management, vermi-composting for soil management, micro-irrigation, rainwater harvesting for water management, crop rotation, inter-cropping and cover cropping for crop management. Besides, other farm management strategies, such as: vegetative barriers using marram and lyme grass, and growing maize on bunds, would also be beneficial. Select farm pratices would help farmers to improve the soils, increse fertility and conserve moisture:

ADDING ORGANIC MATTER
Improves soil structure enhances water and nutrient holding capacity, protects soil from erosion and compaction, and supports a healthy community of soil organisms. The organic matter can include residues and roots from the previous crops, animal manure, and cover crops. 		KEEPING THE GROUND COVERED
as bare soil is susceptible to wind and water erosion, and to drying and crusting. Groundcover protects soil, provides habitats for larger soil organisms.
(such as insects and earthworms), and can improve water availability.
AVOIDING EXCESSIVE TILLAGE AND SOIL COMPACTION
by reducing tillage minimizes the loss of organic matter and increases the residue protecting the soil surface. Compaction, which is caused by trampling on wet soil or by heavy equipment, reduces the amount of air, water, and space available to roots and soil organisms 		INCREASING DIVERSITY
as each crop contributes a unique root structure and type of residue to the soil and helps control pest populations reduces weed and disease pressures.
MANAGING PESTS AND NUTRIENTS EFFICIENTLY
by applying only the necessary chemicals, at the right time and place; testing and monitoring soil and pests; and adopting non-chemical approaches such as crop rotation, cover crops, and manure management. 		MONITORING SOIL PERFORMANCE
by making systematic observations of the soil through the soil testing process which describes the composition and physical structure of the soil sample and the soil analysis.