The subject of rotating crops has been around since I was a kid, now we know why it's important.  Cornell Cooperative Extension's Jeff Miller explains why that and many other soil conservation tactics can mean better crops.

Phil Nye already has the "science guy" moniker, so maybe we can call Jeff the "farm science guy."

What role do micro and macro organisms play. If we take one example the rhizobia that are in the nodules on the roots of our leguminous plants like alfalfa, red clover, white clover and ladino clover. These bacteria fix nitrogen from the N2 gaseous form into nitrate nitrogen which can be taken up by the legume itself as well as companion grasses in our hay swards. Nitrogen is a nutrient that is needed in large quantities by these plants to produce growth and development that creates good hay yields and also protein for our livestock.

Another example is the mychorrizae fungi that attach themselves to the root systems of our crop plants like corn and act as extensions of the root system enhancing their ability to take up nutrients and water. Ground beetles use the soil as their home. They eat large amounts of weed seeds reducing the number of potential weeds that would compete with our crops. Earthworms are , by far, the most commonly known macro-organism that plays a vital role in breaking down organic materials into forms that make their nutrients available for uptake by plants. Earthworms also leave channels in the soil that help improve porosity of the soil providing needed air exchange and reducing surface erosion.

So how can we support these organisms that help us produce our crops.

  • Protect their home by using conservation practices that reduce soil loss
  • Reduce our disturbance of the soil- so use reduced tillage and no tillage practices where possible
  • Reduce compaction of the soil: maintaining the pores in the soil that hold the moisture and air that they need
  • Grow a variety of crops in a rotation to provide a variety of nutrients that will support a diverse group of organisms
  • Have live plants in the field as long as possible to provide the nutrients that these organisms need

We should provide a good soil environment which will support the soil organisms that help our crops to flourish which in turn provides our food.

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension - Jeff Miller

 

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