Soil, while in nature, is a slowly renewable resource. The modern agricultural practices applied not only do not allow its regeneration but highly contribute to its degradation. As soil conservation, […]
Soil compaction is the state in which the pores of the soil become smaller than normal and this is not good. Compacted soils have smaller pores (soil particles are pressed […]
Deforestation is a human-made result of cutting down whole forests to use the land mostly for agriculture. Forest cutting has immediate consequences for biodiversity, aridity, habitat loss, soil health, and […]
Soil degradation is the gradual decline of the quality, health, and fertility of the soil that loses its capacity to support life (plants, microorganisms, and animals). Soil degradation can be […]
Topsoil is the upper 5-20 cm (2-8 inches) of soil containing most of the ground’s nutrients and is responsible for its fertility and sustaining plant life. The thickness of topsoil […]
Water use efficiency (WUE) describes the efficiency of the plant in using the available water to grow and reproduce (e.g., in photosynthesis). WUE is directly linked with yield, and as […]
Water conservation refers to all strategies, methods, and policies directed to the reduction of water losses, needs, and wastes. Irrigation consumes 60-70% of the total fresh water that can be […]
Companion planting is an agricultural practice according to which farmers or gardeners grow plants in proximity. A typical example of companion planting is the combination of beans, corn, and squash. […]
A nurse crop is a crop used to assist in the establishment of the main crop. Typically, growers use an annual plant to support a perennial plant. Nurse plants reduce […]
Multi-cropping is the cultivation of two or more crops in succession on the same plot in the same growing season. Farmers apply this practice as their income is boosted by […]
