The Importance of a Holistic Approach
Each agricultural operation, from large commercial farms to family gardens, has its own unique set of challenges and solution sets depending on location, labor availability, climate, and crop types. It is important to examine the entire biological system as a whole, rather than focus on single physical components such as fertilizer or pesticide application, typified by most practices.
Biological systems consist of highly complex interactions which must be understood if real progress is to be achieved. For example, focusing on basic chemical fertilizer application is simple and easy, but uses the soil as a sterile media which only serves as a physical support mechanism for the plant. In addition, plants grown by this method tend to have lower nutrient content, affecting human nutrition status.
In reality, soil is a multi faceted living organism that must be nurtured. There is an important and intricate balance between the plant and soil microorganisms, soil fauna, organic matter, roots of other plants, and soil mineral components. Soil fungi, known as mychorizza, form a crucial symbiotic relationship with roots, greatly enhancing their uptake of minerals and water.
Historical Note
A little known fact is that prior to the second world war, much agriculture was sustainable and mostly organic, the majority conducted on smaller family farms. With the advent of chemical commercial agriculture and agribusiness, sustainability simply vanished, and the issues of widespread pesticide contamination and fertilizer pollution became significant.
In addition, the rapid growth of industrial animal agriculture, factory farming, and large feedlots, led to huge increases in water usage and water pollution, as well as producing the majority of greenhouse gasses.
Horse drawn manure spreader before the use of chemical fertilizers
Before the use of chemical fertilizers, growers were truly skilled, and well aware of these relationships, taking great care to "feed the soil" in order to maintain real soil fertility and create long term sustained productivity. In this manner, farmers in China using organic matter and creative nutrient cycling in "permanent agriculture" systems were able to maintain and even increase productivity on the same land for 4000 years. This is an example of true sustainability. Learn more in the online classic book, "Farmers of Forty Centuries".
The above ground parts of a plant also has its own microbiome of fungi, bacteria, algae, and viruses, which determine disease resistance. The microbiome of the root zone and aerial parts can be enhanced providing many plant health and production benefits.
In summary, healthy, live soil produces healthy nutrient rich plants, producing healthy people. And exactly as much research has found true for people, the microbiome of the plant is the key to crop health.
Self mulching Chaya hedgerow with blackberries inderneath
Low Input Sustainable Agriculture Summary
To survive difficult times, agriculture must be dynamic, with the ability to engineer solutions. Local climate can be modified with the use of covered agriculture, live ground covers, mulching systems, and agroforestry (forest farming). Soil is modified with biologics and organic matter. Crops are modified with microbiome enhancement. Irrigation, fertilization and other operations can be modified by design for low maintenance. Perennial crops significantly reduce labor. Utilization of the correct adapted species and varieties of crops is essential for success of the system.
Brief outline of the ten main factors --
1. Use of species highly adapted to local environment
2. Perennial crops to reduce inputs and labor
3. Mulch from on-site or off-site biomass
4. Nitrogen fixing ground cover living-mulch
5. On-site nitrogen fixing tree biomass fertilizer (Available from the LBCAS nursery)
6. Neem trees for on-site organic pesticide production (Available from the LBCAS nursery)
7. Design for low labor, no till, and weed reduction
8. Polyculture systems and mixed multi-level agroforestry for increased production and environmental modification
9. Nitrogen fixing aquatic Azolla for ponds
10. Irrigation design for water conservation
Drip irrigation over layer of mulch
NO ANALYTICS OR SOCIAL MEDIA MALWARE. LBCAS BOYCOTTS SOCIAL MEDIA, CHOOSING TO LOSE BUSINESS RATHER THAN SACRIFICE YOUR PERSONAL DATA AND SECURITY. TAKE A STAND, IMPROVE YOUR LIFE AND QUIT SOCIAL MEDIA. ARTICLE ON THE PRIVACY AND SECURITY DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA