Modern farming is designed to maximise yields, whether it is for crops or livestock. While these practices can increase productivity, it comes at a cost: destroyed habitats, reduced species diversity, and disrupted ecosystems.
One technique is monoculture crops, which reduces plant diversity for bee habitats. This is contributing to the decline in the bee population; however, planting trees could help stop this decline. Another is using fast-growing grass for livestock, which reduces the number of species in fields.
Intensive farming also damages soil. Around 33% of the soil on the planet is degraded to the point where growing crops in the future might be impossible. One way to help save the soil is by planting trees as windbreaks to help prevent the topsoil from eroding.
However, there are ways in which we can reduce the impact of these practices, one being Conservation Agriculture (CA).
What is it?
CA is a more sustainable approach to agriculture. The aim is to protect the soil from erosion, improve biodiversity, help to preserve natural resources, and optimise yields. It is based on three principles:
- minimise soil disturbance;
- maintain permanent soil cover; and
- use crop rotations with a variety of species.
What does it do?
There are numerous benefits to CA, especially for the environment. These include:
- reducing erosion and improving soil quality;
- increasing carbon sequestration and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions; and
- reducing water pollution and reducing the number of floods.
CA involves minimal soil disturbance, so annual crops are farmed to reduce tilling. The ‘no tillage’ (NT) farming method means that at least 30% of the land used for crops must remain covered. New crops are then planted using machines that can get through the remaining plant material.
It also involves using ground-cover (GC) with perennial crops to help protect soil that is not protected by tree cover. Cover crops ensure favourable soil structure and habitat for soil dwelling creatures. Depending on the conditions of the site and crop rotation, cover crop mixtures can achieve the above, as well as:
- fix nitrogen;
- prevent nutrients from leaching; and
- suppress weeds, pests, and diseases.
As a result of these methods, the soil will be healthier and more nutrient-rich. This can result in improved yields. Typically, conventional, intensive farming is associated with high yields. However, CA has comparable yields, which can increase over time. With conventional farming methods, yields tend to decrease instead.
NT helps with CO2 sequestration by keeping CO2 in the ground and reduces the amount of greenhouse gases. It also means means that farmers need to use tractors less, reducing emissions from machinery as well as reducing soil disturbance.
Worms are vital for the soil. NT methods helps protect worms, which is important as they make tunnels in the soil that help with the soil structure and facilitate root penetration, improve bearing capacity, and facilitate drainage.
What does it mean for farmers?
CA leads to higher yields and can increase profit margins as less inputs are needed, such as fuel. Unfortunately, CA does not mean organic farming, which typically has 40–70% smaller yields. However, farmers practicing CA use a limited amount of fertilisers and pesticides. It does not mean that farmers cannot grow produce organically.
Organic farmers usually use tilling to remove weeds, but farmers practising CA use permanent GC. GC can be used to suppress weeds alongside inorganic fertilisers, but this can be reduced or completely phased out slowly.
