Soil fertility refers to the soil’s ability to support plant development and maximize agricultural output. Organic and inorganic fertilizers to the soil can help with this. Nuclear approaches give information that improves soil fertility and agricultural yield while reducing environmental impact. In this article we will be discussing some of the best ways to increase soil fertility.
Adjusting soil fertility is a crucial aspect of successful management, but you won’t get a return until your crop rotations, selection of suited cultivars, legume cover crops included regularly in the rotation, tillage, weed control, and other variables are all in order. Increasing food security and environmental sustainability in farming systems necessitates an integrated soil fertility management approach that maximizes crop production while minimizing soil nutrient mining and degradation of physical and chemical properties of soil, both of which can lead to land degradation, including soil erosion. We have curated a list of some of the best ways to increase soil fertility below.
Take a look at our list of 10 ways to increase soil fertility:
1. Manure
Depending on the animal type, diet, bedding, and manure storage procedures, animal manures provide varying quantities of nutrients. The amount of nutrients accessible to the plants is determined by the time of year the manure is applied and the speed with which it is integrated into the soil. All three components are found in greater abundance in poultry manure.
2. Compost Tea
The NOP is challenging compost tea, which has long been preferred by organic gardeners and biodynamic farms, since badly produced compost tea has the potential to transfer food-borne viruses onto plant portions designed to be eaten raw by people. It is still a hot issue of conversation among federal authorities. If you’re not sure whether your compost meets all of the standards, especially if you’re using store-bought compost, the raw manure timing constraints will most likely apply.
3. Egg shells
Instead of tossing away egg shells, break them and add them to your soil or vermicompost. Its nitrogen, phosphorus, and, most importantly, calcium will assist your plants. Even the water used to cook eggs is calcium-rich. Tomatoes, squash, peppers, and other vegetables prone to blossom end rot benefit the most from eggshells.
4. Soft rock phosphate
Phosphorus is found in rock phosphate, but it also contains calcium, carbon, and a variety of trace elements, the majority of which are beneficial to plants. Unfortunately, some naturally mined phosphate sources include large levels of heavy metals. When organic phosphate materials are applied to a growing cover crop a year or more before the crops require the nutrients, they are most effective.
5. Kelp meal
The majority of seaweed fertilizers are made from collected, dried, and pulverized kelp. Kelp meal can be used as a starting fertiliser or straight on the soil. It has a good flow and may be applied with most fertilizer spreaders. It can be used with other dry additives and fertilizers. Kelp meal is most typically utilized on high-value crops due to its high cost.
6. Fish meal and fish emulsion
Like other animal by-products, fish meal and fish emulsion are high in nitrogen. Fishmeal has a nitrogen content of 10% and a phosphate content of 6%. It’s most commonly used as a feed supplement, but it may also be used as a fertiliser. Synthetic preservatives, stabilizers, and other compounds forbidden by the NOP may be present in fish products.
7. Coconut Coir
The coconut coir or the egg box packing cushioning creates excellent mulch, acting as an extra soil layer to save soil, retain water, decrease weed development, and improve aesthetics. It’s high in carbon and may be used to make compost. It is one of the cheapest and best ways to improve soil fertility.
8. Colloidal phosphate from clay
Soft rock phosphate is more readily accessible than hard rock phosphate, while clay-based phosphates are more readily available than rock phosphates. Synthetic phosphorus fertilizers are created by converting rock phosphate into a water soluble form by reacting it with acids and other chemicals. Bone meal generally has a total phosphate content of around 27%, with virtually all of it easily accessible.
9. Granite dust
Granite dust is frequently offered as a “slowly available” source of potash for organic farming. Granite dust generally includes 1 to 5% potash, depending on the total mineral composition of the rock; however, because granite is mostly feldspar, a very insoluble mineral, only a small amount of the potassium is readily accessible.
10. Lime and gypsum
Lime and gypsum are suitable material for balancing the pH of the soil and supplying calcium. When increasing the pH of the soil and adding calcium, we should avoid using high-Mag or dolomitic lime. Better options include high-calcium lime or gypsum, which is calcium sulphate. Gypsum is also a good source of sulphur, which is important for the health of plants and the animals that consume them.
Integrated soil fertility management attempts to improve crop output by increasing the efficiency of agronomic nutrient usage. Some of the best ways to increase soil fertility.
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