There is no denying that farming is an elemental part of life on Earth, and making it sustainable has become more crucial. Sustainable farming in the USA is also known as sustainable agriculture. In simple terms, it is farming practices that include ecological cycles. It is sensitive to microorganisms and their interactions with the remaining environment, and utilizes practices that are beneficial to the health and longevity of the planet.
Sustainable farming in the USA includes eco-friendly and economically viable methods and protects public health. It focuses on the economic aspects of farming and the efficient use of non-renewable resources. Therefore, it helps grow nutritious and healthy food while also raising the standard of living for the farmer.
Source: Freepik
How to Achieve Sustainable Farming?
There are innumerable farming practices that are a detriment to the environment in different ways. Overssing chemical fertilizers and burning crop residue are some of the most common practices that can be harmful to the environment.. Here are some alternative solutions that can help with sustainable farming in the USA.
Advanced Agricultural Implementation:
There are many different pieces of agricultural equipment used in modern farming. They are used to reduce human labor and enhance the field crop yield.
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Super Seeder:
The Super Seeder is tractor-operated. It is the ideal one-pass sowing solution machine that eliminates paddy stubbles, mixes them with soil, prepares the field, and sows the seed.
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Reduced Use of Chemical Fertilizers:
To ensure higher crop yield, farmers use chemical fertilizers on the soil and the crop. As an alternative, plow crop residue is a way to reduce or omit the use of chemical fertilizers. The objective of plow crop residue is to increase soil organic matter. Plowing at a depth of 20-30 cm fused with the nitrogen fertilizer application makes the soil rich with humus and prevents nitrogen depression. This method helps the soil absorb the recycled nutrients and rainwater much better.
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No-Till Management:
Farmers nowadays use a modern farming technique known as no-till. In this method, new crops are sown directly into the tilled soil, and the crop residue is left on the field. It is crucial to use different techniques. These include cover crops, fertilization, and pesticides. These are required in no-till farming to ensure higher yields and enhance the quality of the soil.
No-till seeding requires special equipment like discs or narrow tine colters to open a narrow slot into the residue-covered soil, just wide enough to plant the seeds and cover them with dirt. The objective is to move less soil so that weed seeds are not disturbed and can develop. There is no additional soil tillage activity. The previous crop residues shall act as mulch on the surface of the soil, remaining undisturbed.
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The Role of Crop Residue:
Crop residue is the crop materials like the leaves, stems, and roots that are left on the field once the harvesting is complete. Farmers considered crop residue as trash that was usually burned. Crop residue management is divided into two approaches. The first one is pre-planting tillage. This includes putting the plant residues into the soil. Another modern practice is no-till farming, where the crop residues are left on the surface, and the planting is done without soil tillage.
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Soil Analysis:
Obtaining high resolution soil information for your field is an almost-guaranteed way of ensuring that you are only applying specifically what your soil needs. A high-density soil map allows you to make precise management decisions for applying inputs across the field, thus reducing over-application and run-offs, while ensuring that your crops are growing productively.
In Conclusion:
Sustainable farming in the USA is required by farmers in this technologically advanced era. It is easy to make farming a sustainable sector with efficient changes in farming practices and implementing advanced agricultural methods.
SoilOptix® offers a completely new and advanced perspective on soil information for farmers through soil mapping. Visit https://soiloptix.com/ to learn the benefits of sustainable farming in the USA and regenerative agricultural practices!
