"Soil management is the application of operations, practices, and treatments to protect soil and enhance its performance."
The practice of maintaining healthy soil, including measures to prevent soil erosion, maintain soil moisture, and add organic matter.
Soil composition: Understanding the basic building blocks of soils, such as sand, silt, clay, and organic matter.
Soil structure: The arrangement and organization of soil particles, which can affect drainage, water retention, and root growth.
Soil fertility: The presence and availability of key nutrients that plants need to grow, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Soil biology: The living organisms that inhabit soils, such as bacteria, fungi, and earthworms, and their roles in nutrient cycling and soil health.
Soil erosion: The loss of soil through wind or water, and how to prevent or mitigate it.
Soil compaction: The compression of soil particles that occurs through heavy machinery or foot traffic, and how to prevent it.
Soil pH: The measure of soil acidity or alkalinity, which can affect plant growth and nutrient availability.
Soil testing: The process of analyzing soil samples for nutrient levels, pH, and other factors that can influence plant growth.
Soil amendments: Materials added to soil to improve its physical or chemical properties, such as lime, gypsum, or compost.
Cover crops: Plants grown to protect and enrich soils between cash crops.
Crop rotation: The practice of alternating different crops in a field to prevent soil depletion and pest buildup.
Irrigation: The application of water to crops, and how to manage it for optimal plant growth and water use efficiency.
Pest management: Strategies for controlling pests and plant diseases while minimizing environmental harm.
Conservation tillage: Methods of reducing soil disturbance during planting and cultivation, which can increase soil health and reduce erosion.
Agroforestry: The integration of crops and trees to promote soil health, biodiversity, and other ecosystem benefits.
Conservation tillage: It is a system where crops are grown without disturbing the soil ecology, preferably through minimum soil disturbance, weed control, and crop residue retention.
Integrated nutrient management: This practice refers to the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers in an integrated manner to supply necessary plant nutrients, increase soil fertility and support sustainable crop growth.
Crop rotation: The process of growing different crops on the same land in a specific sequence to improve soil health, prevent soil-borne diseases, and mitigate pest issues.
Cover cropping: Planting and growing cover crops between annual crops to protect soil from erosion, reduce wind and water erosion, and increase soil fertility.
Composting: The process of improving soil health, organic matter content, and nutrient availability by decomposing organic materials like farm wastes, leaves, manure into humus-rich organic matter.
Precision farming: Using technology like GPS, sensors, and drones to monitor soil and crop health to optimize crop yield, minimize inputs, and improve sustainability.
Soil amendments: The process of adding amendments like lime, gypsum, and elemental sulfur to alter the soil pH, increase soil fertility, and improve soil structure.
Agroforestry: Integrating trees and shrubs into agricultural systems to increase biodiversity, protect soil from erosion, and promote sustainable farming.
Water management: Efforts to optimize water usage through irrigation systems, watershed management, soil containment systems, and management practices to prevent soil compaction and erosion.
Cultivation practices: Managing soil moisture, nutrient availability, and weed control through various shaping or tillage practices like high beds or furrow irrigation.
"Soil management is needed to prevent agricultural land from becoming poorly productive over decades."
"It includes soil conservation, soil amendment, and optimal soil health."
"Some amount of soil management is needed in both nonorganic and organic types of farming."
"Organic farming emphasizes optimal soil management, using soil health as the exclusive or nearly exclusive source of fertilization and pest control."
"Soil management is an important tool for addressing climate change by increasing soil carbon."
"Soil management also addresses other major environmental issues associated with modern industrial agriculture practices."
"The three major soil management practices highlighted by Project Drawdown are improved nutrient management, conservation agriculture (including No-till agriculture), and use of regenerative agriculture."
"Improved nutrient management is aimed at optimizing the use of nutrients in soil."
"Conservation agriculture, including No-till agriculture, is a soil management practice that helps mitigate climate change."
"Organic farming uses soil health as the exclusive or nearly exclusive source of fertilization and pest control."
"Soil management enhances soil performance, such as soil fertility or soil mechanics."
"Soil conservation is one of the components of soil management."
"Soil fertility is a critical aspect of agricultural productivity."
"Optimal soil health improves agricultural productivity and efficiency."
"Poorly managed soil can result in decreased productivity of agricultural land over time."
"Some amount of soil management is needed in nonorganic farming to prevent land degradation."
"Organic farming emphasizes soil management because it relies mainly on soil health for fertilization and pest control."
"Soil management plays a vital role in achieving sustainable and productive agriculture."
"The use of regenerative agriculture is highlighted as a soil management practice to address climate change."