Topic
Soil health
From the archive
Reporting from earlier editions of The Agrotech Daily. Figures, prices and policies may have changed since.
- Soil, water & climate, Global4 ways to improve soils without boring fertilisersA gardener's guide to improving soil by adding organic matter and compost, using slow-release fertiliser sparingly, timing nutrients and avoiding humus-free soil mixes.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalPrecision nutrient management and soil healthPrecision nutrient management uses soil mapping, sensors, remote sensing and precision applicators to put fertiliser where crops need it, cutting costs, leaching and emissions.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalAgricultural waste management and compostingExplains where agricultural waste comes from, how composting turns manure, crop residues and food waste into a soil amendment, and what it offers farms.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalSustainable agriculture and the circular economyExplains the circular economy and how sustainable farming practices such as conservation tillage, cover cropping and integrated pest management apply its principles.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalIs there harmful metal in your food?Heavy metals from industry, fertilisers, manure and polluted irrigation water build up in soil and enter food crops, and biological and chemical methods can be used to clean contaminated soil.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalPermaculture: is it actually beneficial for the planet?Permaculture is a design system that copies natural ecosystems, built on co-dependence, natural limits and diversity, to create sustainable farms and habitats.
- Soil, water & climate, United KingdomSoil health revolution: how UK farmers are using biological testing to increase organic matter and reduce inputsUK arable farms are adding biological soil tests, covering microbial biomass, fungal to bacterial ratios and enzyme activity, to chemical analysis to guide cover cropping, reduced tillage and organic amendments.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalNavigating the transition to organic farming: challenges, benefits, and successful strategiesSwitching to organic farming can improve soil health and earn premium prices, but brings costs, lower early yields, certification demands and market access hurdles.
- Soil, water & climate, Europe4 reasons that are impacting soil health and climate change for the worseExplains how a warming climate, land use, flooding and urban soil sealing affect soil's ability to store carbon, with examples from Europe.
- Soil, water & climate, GlobalCultivating sustainability: the mission to save our soilsSoil health is under strain from heavy fertiliser and pesticide use, monoculture, deforestation and climate change, and practices such as cover cropping, crop rotation and reduced tillage can help restore it.