Skip to main content

5 Methods of sustainable agriculture practices in USA

Without the conservation of natural resources, it is not possible to sustain the future for the upcoming generation. Most of the things in daily life we use contain a major portion of natural resources. 

Out dependency on natural resources is increased with time. Currently, we can't live without the use of natural resources. Day by day, these natural resources are extinction because of overuse. Hence, the conservation of natural resources is very important, and this is practiced with sustainable farming implementations.   

5 methods of sustainable agriculture practices in USA

Although there are many methods of sustainable agriculture we will discuss here the popular 5 methods.  

There are some other complementary methods of sustainable farming but they are not used in general conservation of natural resources.

5 sustainable farming practices

Following are some of the major sustainable farming practices we can implement to conserve and improve availability of natural resources-

1. Permaculture

Permaculture is the most authentic sustainable farming practice. In permaculture, we use natural resources and use them according to our needs without adding anything from our side. Permaculture is organic and has multiple other sustainable farming methods. 

For example, on a 20x30 square meter land, we can practice, animal farming, agroforestry, and crop rotation at the same time. Animal grazing is so effective if we use the shifting formula. We can use animal dung to make organic compost. 

Agroforestry and crop rotation increase the natural soil fertility and produce highly productive and sustainable results. 

2. Crop rotation

Crop rotation is one of the most important sustainable and soil regenerative methods. In the crop rotation method, we need to study first the season and requirements of components in soil. Then we make a list of season-wise complementary crops before sowing them randomly. 

For example, we take crop A(which needs more nitrogen, less potassium, and iron) in season X. Till the harvesting, it reduces the percentage of nitrogen in the soil. In the next season, we use crop B(which needs less nitrogen and high potassium and iron). Till harvesting, it reduces the percentage of potassium and iron. So, automatically, nitrogen percentage increases in the soil. So we can try the first crop A again in the soil. 

Thus, we can use more than 3 complementary crops of the different seasons in the crop rotation method. 

3. Rainwater harvesting system

Rainwater harvesting can fulfill 80% of the daily requirement of water. Even the rooftop rainwater harvesting system can implement in most houses to conserve water for multiple uses. 

We can transfer rainwater directly into the ground. It helps to increase the overall groundwater percentage in those areas where people are facing water-related issues.

4. Agroforestry

Agroforestry is different from crop rotation and integrated farming systems. Practically, our purpose to practice agroforestry is reforestation and soil erosion prevention. 

In agroforestry, we practice agriculture and forestry together. We practice tree farming, plant farming, and planting vines together. In the gap between trees, we can practice plant farming, and just below trees, we can grow various vegetable vines plants by providing them tree support. 

With this technique, plants and trees hold the soil tightly and prevent the chances of soil erosion. 

It also increases soil fertility and keeps the moisture in the soil. Natural mulching helps to cover the soil and keep the moisture in the soil. Later, this mulching layer gets to mix with the soil and work as a natural fertilizer. It is highly productive too. We can produce multiple food crops and vegetables from this technique. 

Hence, agroforestry is highly sustainable and very important for future agriculture. 

5. Hydroponic farming

In the future, soil-less agriculture will skip soil agriculture. Mostly, in desert regions or less fertile soil regions, hydroponic farming is so effective and profitable as well. 

This soil-less agriculture performs more effectively and precisely. In a hydroponic farm, we use containers filled with a water solution that contains all the required elements that plant need. We use an oxygen pump to keep the water solution to make water fresh. 

We can practice hydroponic farming just in a small room like mushroom farming. It can produce 5 to 6 times more than ordinary crops on the same measured land. 

Although hydroponic farming is highly sustainable it cost too much. It is not easy for everyone to practice hydroponic farming. It asks for regular checkups, unlike any other seasonal crop. 

Hydroponic farming will not be sustainable if you threw its wasted solution outside in the ordinary soil. It can decrease soil fertility. 

Conclusion 

Although the above sustainable practices are a good many people feel happy as readers, and they hesitate to implement the methods. We suggest you try at least one model at your home. 

Sustainable farming should be practiced at least in 1/5th area of the agricultural land. Practically, shifting from traditional farming to sustainable farming is not so easy but still, we have to shift our agriculture to sustainable farming.

Popular posts from this blog

Spirulina farming, project report per 1/4th acre, investment, profit per 1/4th acre, and challenges

There are very less veg options available that have the same or higher percentage of protein than meat. Spirulina is high in protein, quality diet, high in minerals, and we can consume them without cooking. Often, people call it future food.  There are very less farms of spirulina farming so its market price is very high. The spirulina farming business will become more profitable in the future. Let's understand the spirulina farming and project report for 1/4th acre. Spirulina farming  What is spirulina? Spirulina is a sea algae. Spirulina contains one of the highest percentages of protein in all diets. Vitamin B, K, antioxidants, and amino acid are some of the other major components of spirulina. One you start spirulina farming, you can harvest for next 5 months without adding or preparing any new culture.  There are two types of spirulina; human consumption and animal consumption.  We can harvest animal spirulina in the open-air pond but for human consumption, we use either a pol

45 days chicken(broiler) business plan, requirements, license, investment, and profit calculations

With the increasing demand for chicken in the market, it was always difficult to raise chicken faster. In 3 months period, poultry farms' reach was not effective in all the places. But 45 days chicken business plan fulfills the requirement, demand, and supply in the market of chicken.  Let's understand how 45 days chicken poultry farm works and what are the requirements to have a poultry farm. 45 days chicken(Broiler) business plan What is poultry farm business of 45 days? Broiler chickens are one of the fastest-growing chickens. The main reason for the short-term 45 days chicken business plan is demand and supply in the market. Chicken demand is so huge in the market. If we follow poultry farms with more than 3 months of breeds, then it can affect the stability of chickens in the market. It can increase inflation.  One more thing to starting 45 days chicken farm is because it gives a faster profit margin to the owner. Also, 45 days chicken farm is good to raise and handle a hu

Planter machine in agriculture, sections, types of planter machine, and working process

It is a big problem to sow seeds precisely. Sometimes, we scatter multiple seeds in a single spot, sometimes, spots are left empty. Also, it is hard to keep the line-to-line distance and plant-to-plant distance accurate all the time in bigger lands. This irregularity with seed sowing is very common but a big problem in traditional crop cultivation. In small fields, it is possible to check the regular pattern of seed sowing but in big hectares of land, it is almost impossible to count the regularity of seeds at the right spot.  Planter machines are very helpful to solve the problem. Let's understand the working of planter machines and their types. Planter machines in agriculture Planter machines help to sow seeds precisely in agricultural fields. It works automatically in multiple sections and maintains the line to line distance and seed to seed distance with correct accuracy. Planter machines operate from diesel and petrol.  Most of the planter machines are available as complementa

Hydroponic farming setup cost, subsidy, investment and profit margin in India

Some people get suddenly excited by hearing the thumbnail or profit margin that people claim in hydroponic farming. Such people easily become ready to start their own hydroponic farming business at the commercial level. But sadly they don't know the truth of training, setup, investment, and profit margin in hydroponic farming. It is better to get at least a practical idea to start a hydroponic farming business.  The following will help you to get an idea of investment and setup cost(initial and per cycle) in hydroponic farming.  When we talk about Hydroponic farming, we can relate it with  eco-friendly methods of agriculture. Hydroponic farming setup cost/investment in India Hydroponic farming is soil-less vertical farming that is very helpful in urban agriculture. We use water mixture minerals necessary requirements that plants need. We don't use soil in hydroponic farming. Even in a small space, we can practice hydroponic farming.   Its like similar to the working of in a  pr

Onion farming yield per hectare, investment, and profit per hectare

In countries like India, there are several reasons of vary in onion prices. Before mentioning those reasons, let's understand the basic principle of it. Onion farming profit depends on quality of  onions, yield, and the demand of onions in market. If onion is enough in market then profit will be little lesser and vice versa. In India, every year hundreds of quintals of onions waste because of storage and management lack.    To understand the onion yield in a hectare land, first you have to understand structure and project of cultivation.  Onion farming yield per hectare In 1 Hectare(10000 square meters) agriculture land, produced onions yield most of the time varies. This number can't be certain all the time but there is a range between 100 to 120 quintals/hectare/yield.   Let's understand how this number can calculate or report direct from the cultivation side.  Configuration of onion plants Line to line, plant distance must be near 25 to 30 cm, plant to plant distance mus