Sustainable Practices in Agriculture Flashcards
Name 7 Sustainable practices in agriculture.
Crop Rotation and Intercropping
Cover crops
Balanced application of chemical and organic fertilisers
Compost or Biochar
Reduced Tillage
Plant perennials in degraded or marginal land
Agroforestry
What is crop rotation and intercropping?
Planting a variety of crops grown together or changing each crop every yield
Benefits of crop rotation and intercropping. (3)
It creates a microclimate that favours the survival of each plant.
Maximises potential yields.
Maintains soil fertility.
What are cover crops?
A mixture of plants (usually nitrogen fixing plants) sown in after harvest and between main crops
What are the benefits of cover crops? (3)
Soil benefits- getting nitrogen and organic matter
Soil erosion is reduced
Mulching to prevent bare soil (reduce erosion)
What is mulching?
Layer of material applied to soil surface
What is green manure used for?
Benefits?
Fast-growing plants are sown in to cover bare soil, their foliage smothers weeds and their roots to prevent soil erosion. When dug into the ground while still green, they return valuable nutrients to the soil and improve soil structure
Why is compost useful?
Enriches soil in gardens
What is biochar?
An organic material that is burnt slowly under limited oxygen
Why is biochar useful?
Produces a stable form of carbon and increases SOC in the long term
Enhances fertiliser use efficiency
Improves soil physical properties
WWhat is tillage?
Preparation of land for growing crops
Why reducing tillage is important? (3)
Benefits SOM build up.
Reduced compaction of the soil.
Less emissions from agricultural practices (use less fuel).
Why is planting perennial grasses important?
Increases biodiversity (hedgerows)
Why is agroforestry and selective felling useful? (3)
Felled trees can be replanted with young seedlings.
Tree trunks remain in the soil to decompose to add carbon to the soil.
Maintains the stability of the soil.
Consequences of soil compaction. (4)
Root growth is impeded causing shallow roots.
Oxygen deficiency.
Water transport is restricted.
Decrease in yield.
