Odette Menard
2022
Scholar
Recognize and Understand the Behavioral Changes Required to Adopt Soil Health Practices for the Long Term
The world of soil is fascinating. While it teams with life and resources, we persist in imposing our machines, our chemistry, our seeds, our demands, our way of life on it.
Practices focused on soil health and conservation meet four essential criteria:
C for Cover. A minimum coverage of 30% after sowing must be achieved to adequately protect the soil against erosion (both wind and water) and the sun.
R for Roots and Rotations . Roots are essential for maintaining microbial life in the soil and thus ensuring both a better structure and better structural stability. We essentially have to talk about two main types of rotations. The commercial rotation which ensures the economic survival of agricultural businesses and the fertility rotation which protects the health of the soil. By combining these crop rotations it will be possible to maintain and increase the level and quality of organic matter and ultimately reduce the use of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides.
O for Oxygen and living soil organisms.
P for porosity. The porosity of the soil for its part the movements of air and water throughout the profile of the soil. Maintaining the wheel load below 3,500 kg is necessary to maximize soil porosity.
No-till and cover crops, among others, have been proven to control runoff and soil erosion AND are effective and accessible to everyone.