Regenerative Agriculture meaning :
Its a system of farming that aims to improve water and air quality, increase biodiversity, produce rich nutrients food, and store carbon in the soil to help reduce climate change .It works in harmony with nature while also maintaining and improving economic viability for farmers.
Key Principles of Regenerative Agriculture
1) Minimizing Tillage Operations (minimizing soil disturbance) : This involves significantly reducing or eliminating ploughing and other forms of mechanical soil disturbance , this preserve soil structure, protect microorganisms, reduce erosion and improves water retention. ( this method also help for reducing cost tillage operations and labor cost ).
2) Soil Covered : ensuring the soil surface is covered , many farmers in the summer season put soil free for sunrays this is very bad habit for soil health, as much as possible we need to covered soil with the help of living plants or crop residue, (mulch) at all times , this protects against erosion from wind and rain, regulates soil temperature suppresses weeds, and provides habitat for beneficial organisms.
3) Living Roots In The soil: having plants with active roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. living roots feed the complex underground ecosystem of bacteria and fungi, which are crucial for nutrient cycling and soil health cover crops are often used for this purpose. We saw many farmers do after harvesting crops, they burn crop residues in the soil this method is very harmful for soil health , we need to avoid this types of methods. (e.g. wheat crop)
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4) Biodiversity (plant and animals): promoting a wide variety of plants and integrating livestock into farming system. Crop rotation poly culture (growing multiple crops together) and agroforestry (integrating trees and shrubs) increase biodiversity above and below ground, leading to more resilient ecosystem.
5)Integrating Livestock: carefully managed grazing by livestock can be highly beneficial activity in the soil, and manage vegetation.
Practices Used In Regenerative Agriculture
1) Cover Cropping : Planting non cash crops ( e.g. clover rye, legumes) between main crops to protect and enrich the soil .
2)Crop Rotation : Regularly changing the types of crops grown in a particular area to prevent nutrient depletion and pest and disease build up . (e.g. wheat then sugarcane then peanuts )
3)Composting and organic fertilizers ; using natural amendments instead of synthetic chemical fertilizers to increase soil health , (e.g. crop residues, cow dung , buffalo dung, )
4)Rotational Grazing : moving livestock frequently to different pastures to allow plants to recover soil health.
5)Agroforestry : Incorporating trees and shrubs into farming system for additional habitat, food sources, wind breaks, carbon sequestration . ( e.g. mango , papaya )
6)Reduced or no tillage farming .
Benefits Of Regenerative Agriculture
1)Improved soil health: enhance soil structure , increase organic matter, boost microbial activity, and improves nutrient cycling.
2)Increased Biodiversity : supports a wider range of plants, insects, birds and other wildlife, both above and below ground.
3)Enhanced water cycle: improve soil ability to absorb and retain water, reducing runoff and making land more resilient to droughts and floods.
4)Climate change mitigation : sequesters carbon in the soil, reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels (e.g. sugarcane crop absorb more amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide ).
5)Reduced chemical inputs : less reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, leading to healthier ecosystem and food.
6)Healthier food as compare to other food.
7)Increased farm resilience: farm become more resilient to extreme weather events , pests and diseases.
8)Potential for economic benefits: can lea to reduced inputs costs , improved yield, over time and new revenue streams (e.g. carbon credits, food resources ).
Disadvantages Of Regenerative Agriculture
1)Time consuming :the benefits of regenerative agriculture may not be seen overnight , it takes time for soil health to regenerate.
2)Scaling up implementing regenerative practices on a very large scale can be difficult due to factors like crop rotation needs and land requirements for managed grazing.
3) labor intensive some practices , like managing cover crops or rotational grazing, can be more labor intensive than conventional methods .
4)market challenges product from regenerative agriculture might initially be more expensive , posing a challenge in competing with conventionally produced goods.
Relates Question,
*What is soil health ?
Answer : soil health recognizes soil as a living, dynamic system, emphasizing the importance of nurturing its biological , physical, and chemical properties to ensure its long term productivity and environment benefits.
*What is biodiversity ?
Answer: It refers to the biological variety and variability of life on earth .
*What is Agroforestry ?
Answer: Agroforestry is a land use management system that intentionally integrates trees and shrubs with agriculture crops and livestock on the same land area. Its about combining agriculture and forestry practices to create more diverse, productive, profitable ,healthy, and sustainable land use system .
*What is soil erosion ?
Answer : Soil erosion is the process by which the top layer of soil , which is the most fertile and nutrient enhanced , is worn away and transported from one place to another . it is a form of soil degradation and can be caused by natural forces like water, wind, ice, and gravity , as well as human activity .
*Which is the worlds first country who adopted Agroforestry policy ?
Answer : India was the first country in the world to adopt a national agroforestry policy in 2014.
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