What is SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE?
Sustainable agriculture is the method of farming sustainably, i.e., presenting needs for the society without evencompromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Manymethods or practices can be done to increase agricultural sustainability and itcan be based on ecosystem services understanding.
Agriculture has a huge impact on the environment and food security. Playingmultiple roles in environmental factors like climate change, food production, degradation ofland, scarcity, deforestation, and many other processes. And it causescontinuous environmental changes and these factors play a major role
In the broader term, sustainable farming or sustainableagriculture is a whole method practiced by constantly considering theecological cycles. It is very sensitive towards the microbes and their relationwith the environment. In short sustainable farming is a method of farmingecologically where they promote sustainable farming methods and practices thatare environmentally sound and also protect public health.
It also focuses on the non-renewable factors and not only onthe economic aspects of farming. This helps in both, growth of healthy foodsand also brings up the standard of living of the farmer.
we need to implement more agricultural practices because our environment nowadays becoming an area of concern thus itbecomes more and more important to implement the more sustainable method infarming to continue without harming the environment. These could be smallinitiatives to save our ecology.
SUSTAINABLE FARMING:
Sustainable farming is one such initiative method offarming and food production. In other words, it's the production of crops and food using techniquesthat are beneficial for general public health and also is economicallyprofitable. It is a better version of organic farming.
It helps farmers to innovate and to conduct recyclingmethods, besides the conventional methods of farming. One such example ofrecycling used in sustainable farming can be animal manure and crop waste. Andthat can be used as fertilizers that will help the soil to enrich organically.
And another term in sustainable farming can be croprotation. Crop rotation helps the soil to maintain its nutrients and keepingthe soil quality intact.
Rainwater collection via different methods like channelingand then using it for irrigation is one such example that can be included undersustainable farming methods which help farmers to grow and also not damagingthe environment by anyway.
BENEFITS OF SUSTAINABLEFARMING:
1. Environment Preservation
2. Economic Profitability
3. Most efficient use of non-renewable resources
4. Protection of Public Health
5. Social and Economic Equity
SUSTAINABLE FARMING METHODS:
Let us see some of these methods that can be applied insustainable farming-
1. MakingRenewable Energy Sources use:
The use of alternate sources of energy is the most importantpractice in sustainable farming. Solar, wind-farm, hydro-power used is Ecofriendly. The solar panels can be used by farmers for string solar energy thatcan later be used in electrical fencing or running heaters and pumps.
Another source of hydroelectric power can be running riverwater and that can be used as power to various machines. Similarly, thegeothermal heat pump can be used by farmers to dig the ground and can use theearth's heat as an advantage to power machines on the farm.
2. Integrated pest management:
A combination of pest control techniques used foridentifying and observing the pest in the initial stage is known as integratedpest management. Now that all pest is not harmful so their co-existence withcrop makes sense rather than spending money to eliminate them from the field.
The targeting spray help eliminating only the kind of pestthat may harm the crops so their elimination becomes more important. This willnot only help farmers to spray in selected are but also help wildlife fromaffected.
3. Hydroponics and Aquaponics:
Plants growing without soil and getting the required nutrientsby adding them in water or other medium is the innovation in farmingtechniques. In this system of Hydroponics, the plants grow without soilas the medium, rather the roots gown while submerged into a mineral solutionthat contains all the essential nutrients for plant growth. And in Aquaponics,the aquatic animals are raised with the growing of hydroponic crops.
Mineralization of water from the waste material ofaquaculture fish is used to nourish the hydroponic plants and thus this helpsin co-existing. Plants using the water help the water gets purified whichhelps the fishes to grow and used by fish. Both systems are used from smallscale to commercial-industrial level.
4. Crop Rotation:
The method of crop rotation is a tested and tried methodthat is practiced since ancient times that help in keeping the soil healthy andnutritious. The logical explanation behind the crop rotation is that thepicked crops are not randomly picked but there's a pattern behind cropselection. The patterns are made to help soil replenish nutrients and otherminerals or salts from the soil that got absorbed with the previous crop cycle.For example like, row crops are usually planted after grains crops to balancethe nutrients used.
5. Polyculture Farming:
Polyculture farming involves multiple crop speciesgrowing in one selected area. The species are complementing species thatcomplement each other, and greater diversity products to be produced in one the area by fully utilizing the available resources. This high biodiversity helps the system becomes moreresilient to fluctuating weather and promotes a balanced diet and preserve soilfertility.
Sustainable farming helps conserve our natural resources andalso is economical for farmers. It also reduces the need for chemical practicesin farming making it more organic helping soil fertility. And these processmakes farming more sustainable and clean.
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