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Loamy, or sandy, red or brown soil is one of the most important resources for man. Although it can vary in texture, color, and property type, soil represents the foundation for global crop production. The factor that makes it so vital for crop production is its composition. So, what is hidden inside of it? The soil is alive. It is home to a great number of living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, algae, mites, worms, ants, maggots, and other microscopic insects and animals. These are all important for the creation of humus, the main part of soil organic matter. Soil Management Practices Because soil is a primary resource for crop production and the most important asset that farmers can hold, it requires special care and management practices. We all know that the essential elements for plant growth are soil, water, sunlight, and preferable temperatures. But these elements are not always sufficient in achieving high yields in crop production. Specific management practices, which provide healthy and fertile soil, must also be developed and implemented with fidelity. These practices include: Proper soil tillage Balanced fertilization management Sufficient water, whether from rainfall or irrigation systems Proper protection management against various insect pests, weeds, and diseases.   Since each crop has its own growth requirements, its total yield performance depends on a factors such as its given growth media, weather conditions, and the individual farmer's knowledge of crop production. In aiming to achieve his planned yield, the farmer must have a good understanding of soil requirements and abide by good farming practices. Soil management practices differ from farm operations and crop growth stages. The first step in growing crops includes a set of activities for soil preparation. These field activities that will benefit soil management are: Undermining or mole drainage – where standing water and soil porosity problems occur Plowing - classified as very shallow, shallow, or pre-sowing plowing; this will depend on crop type, previously grown crops, and the time of sowing Disking Harrowing Rolling. Consequences of Poor Soil Management Soil is a non-renewable natural source, which means that it cannot be regenerated during a lifespan. Therefore, care should be taken to preserve and sustain the soil in order to provide proper media for plant growth. Improper soil management practices and heavy tillage can lead to soil erosion, which can futher lead to: Loss of topsoil Reduced crop productivity Pollution of watercourses, wetlands, and lakes.   Healthy Soil- the Key to Sustainable Farming Proper soil management practices ensure the soil's health and also prevent the aformentioned pollution. It also reduces input costs and enhances yield and crop quality. Let's not break the connection between human and nature. Preserve our soils to ensure valuable food sourced for future generations. TRY NOWfor free  

Successful farm production starts with quality soil. The soil is one of the farmer’s most important and valuable tools. It provides a reservoir of water and nutrients that is required by crops. Each type of soil has a variety of properties that cannot be changed, such as texture. However, soil quality can be improved by following exceptional farm management practices, i.e. a soil analysis. Soil analysis is a valuable farm practice that determines the exact amount of available crop nutrients that are in the soil, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, humus content, available lime, and organic matter. It also provides a visible snapshot of various chemical, physical, and biological soil properties. Why Is Soil Analysis so Important? Soil analysis presents information that is essential for the improvement of soil quality. By tracking the exact amount of soil nutrients, a farmer can easily adjust fertilization in accordance to soil and crop requirements. Additionally, soil analysis facilitates fertilization management, by also revealing the current soil pH level. Soil pH is important due to its influence on the uptake of soil nutrients. The intention of managing soil pH is to be able to adjust the acidity, as needed, to the point where there are no toxic metals exposed to the crops, as well as to ensure that nutrient availability is at its maximum. Every crop has its own optimal pH range. Because of this, some crops grow better and can achieve their full potential in acid, while for others, this takes place in a more alkaline-based soil. The optimal pH levels for the most common crops are shown in the table below. The Best Time to Complete Soil Analysis A quality and balanced soil leads to higher yields. A farmer should collect soil samples frequently to detect any changes that could affect crop yields. It’s recommended to perform a soil analysis every 3-4 years. However, considering improvement of soil quality, it is ideal to execute an analysis as often as possible, especially when growing annual crops in a crop rotation. In this case, it is recommended that analysis of the soil should take place after every third crop in the rotation. Other important aspects to consider are the best time to complete an analysis, as well as the amount of time that should be allocated to do so. For example, soil sampling for annual crops should be taken after the harvest. In doing so, a farmer is left with plenty of time to plan for sufficient fertilization management. On the other hand, the best time for a soil analysis of perennial crops is during the dormancy stage. What Happens After the Soil Analysis? Depending on the analysis results, a farmer can easily manage the soil requirements for a certain crop, with the results indicating to him whether he needs to add lime to manage soil acidity. Liming rates are usually determined by taking into account soil type, depth of tillage, and limestone quality. The following table shows the lime rates according to the measured soil pH and its structure. Alkaline soil can be managed by adding elemental sulfur or nitrogen fertilizers. Aluminum sulfate also lowers pH, but its use is not recommended because of potential harmful side effects (aluminum toxicity to plant roots). Although a chemical soil analysis is an expensive farm measure, it is the only way to ensure the management of proper soil nutrients, leading to eventual achievement of higher yields. Fertilizing crops without knowing their requirements and available soil nutrients is equivalent to driving a car while blindfolded. Finally, how often a farmer analyzes his soil depends entirely on him; whether he is ready to invest in soil quality and a higher yield or not. Do you know the levels of your soil pH? TRY NOWfor free   Text and image sources: Ontario || FAO || NSW DPI

Climate changes, as one of the biggest threats to a global food security, highly influence natural resources that are essential for crop production. Farming is not only affected by the impact of climate changes, but it's also a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions. Intensive farm practices that include both farm production and change of land use, directly affect the global carbon, water, and nutrient cycles. Farming, as a direct driver for 80% of global deforestation, also releases significant amounts of greenhouse gasses. Furthermore, as forests continue to be cleared, the land is directly exposed to wind and water soil erosion. Agroforestry as a Solution Agroforestry, as the bridge between forestry and farming, is a diversified set of farm production systems that integrates trees in the farms. There are three different types of agroforestry: Agrisilvicultural systems; the combination of crops and trees Silvopastoral systems; the combination of forestry and grazing of domesticated animals Agrosylvopastoral systems; the combination of trees, animals, and crops.   Tree cover on farms has the potential to make an important contribution to climate change mitigation. There are many benefits of incorporating the planting of trees in farm management such as: Improve carbon sequestration; during the photosynthesis process, the tree absorbs carbon from the atmosphere. Studies have shown that a tropical tree absorbs about 22kg of carbon each year. By using this practice, farmers can significantly mitigate climate change; Reduce soil erosion; farmers who plant trees as a natural barrier could prevent wind or water erosion; Improve soil management; deep-rooting trees improve soil stability; trees increase the soil's ability to absorb and retain water, produce nutrients, improve and maintain organic soil matter and manage soil temperature; Trees attract vital pollinators and birds, which supports integrated pest management; Improve water management; surface water run-off is reduced, trees protect nearby water courses by trapping farm pollutants; trees capture, filter, and store water and manage water supplies Provide shelter and shade for livestock and crops Lessen the risk of salinization Provide additional revenue or food for farmers who grow trees that produce fruit, nuts or leaves The felled trees or their residues can be used as a firewood Leaves can serve as a fodder for livestock Certain trees are an important source of natural remedies.   Often underestimated, forests and trees make an essential contribution to global food security. The following picture gives you a brief overview of agroforestry as a good farm practice that has many advantages in mitigating the climate changes and farm production improvement. Sustainability of integrating trees in farming While the size of world's forest is declining every year, the number of trees on farms is increasing. Studies have shown that 43% of all agricultural land has at least 10% of the total tree cover. Distribution of tree cover is broadly followed by bioclimatic zones; high tree cover is found in humid regions. In the period between 2000 and 2010, the global tree cover increased significantly.. Global tree cover on agricultural land in 2000 and 2010 As the world population continues to grow, farmers are challenged to produce more by using sustainable farm practices that mitigate climate changes. One of the practices that offer a solution for a sustainable food production is the incorporation of trees in farming. Another solution for meeting the food demands of the global population in a sustainable way is Agrivi farm management software. With a knowledge base for over 100 different crops, Agrivi provides the opportunity to embrace the best farm practices. With Agrivi, farmers are able to track all of their activities in a user-friendly way. Powerful analytics and field utilization, together with smart pest alarms are one step towards to sustainable farm production. Embrace sustainable farm practice, use Agrivi and leave the mark on the world food production! TRY NOWfor free   Text sources: FAO || Nature || Woodland Trust || FAO Image sources: Vi Agroforestry || Woodland Trust || Nature

World hunger is a constant problem. It has been one of the most widely discussed topics in recent years. Rapidly increasing global population, limited natural resources, and climatic changes, has resulted in the need for a sustainable increase in food production. Scientists, governments, and organizations across the world are working together to bring innovations and good farming practices which will improve food production and farming, thus feeding the world. Unfortunately, despite all of those efforts, we are still faced with feeding 795 million people. This means that one out of every nine people go to bed hungry every night. Intensive farming has been used as a practice for achieving higher yields and improving food production for many years. However, today's solutions are turning towards the sustainable practices such as organic farm production. Hunger and malnutrition, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, can be reduced with a new way of farming: keyhole gardens. What is a Keyhole Garden and How to Build It? Named according to its shape, keyhole garden is round raised garden supported with the stones. This new way of family farming is a perfect solution for hot and dry areas as well as for rocky, compact, shallow and arid soils. A keyhole garden The farmer who builds a keyhole farm can feed a family of eight people for five to seven years. These sustainable small farms are built with low-cost locally available materials. Here is a brief guide of how to build a keyhole garden: Choose a place with enough sunlight, located near water, with no weeds On the ground, draw a circle with 3 meters in diameter with a marked triangle entrance that will facilitate access to the compost bin in the middle of the keyhole garden The compost bin allows you to add water and biodegradable trash to serve as a compost which is placed in the middle of this little farm Over the entire garden's surface, the first layer of the soil needs to be removed and then layered with wood, cardboard, ash and manure On the top of the compost there will be fertile soil The garden is bordered by a wall made of rocks, bricks or wood so the farm is compact.   Farm management of keyhole garden is very simple and sustainable; kitchen and garden waste serve as a fertilizer to bring nutrients to the soil, and water for irrigation comes from household waste water. The scheme of this farming practice significant for developing countries can be seen in the picture below. Influence on the future of growing crops Usually built near houses, keyhole gardens enable anyone to farm easily, which is especially suitable for elderly and physically challenged farmers. With this farm practice, there is no need for tillage and less need for water. In the keyhole garden, farmers grow a variety of plants of which some have insect-repellent properties thus decreasing pest occurrence and also eliminating the costs of pesticides. Another beneficial farmer’s practice is following crop rotation which helps manage crop demands for nutrients thus eliminating the cost of fertilizers. The purpose of keyhole farms is to increase the positive impact on food and nutrition security. Three keyhole farms could supply a large family with a variety of crops during a year. The system also involves vulnerable groups of people in the food production process. The aim of this sustainable farm practice is to encourage family farming as well as give allow everyone to become a farmer and to take responsibility for their own food production. Awareness of the need for a sustainable approach to the food production has been increased. All forces are oriented towards achieving food security. Keyhole farms are an excellent example how small step could change the world. Agrivi farm management software also tends to the change in the global food production. With belief that knowledge must be available to all farmers, Agrivi gives strong knowledge base of the best practices for over 100 different crops. The software allows farmers to monitor all their activities; from fertilization, crop protection, work hours of workers, machinery, to finance and powerful analysis of complete farm production. The purpose of keyhole farms is to increase the positive impact on food and nutrition security. Three keyhole farms could supply a large family with a variety of crops during a year. The system also involves vulnerable groups of people in the food production process. The aim of this sustainable farm practice is to encourage family farming as well as give allow everyone to become a farmer and to take responsibility for their own food production. Awareness of the need for a sustainable approach to the food production has been increased. All forces are oriented towards achieving food security. Keyhole farms are an excellent example how small step could change the world. Agrivi farm management software also tends to the change in the global food production. With belief that knowledge must be available to all farmers, Agrivi gives strong knowledge base of the best practices for over 100 different crops. The software allows farmers to monitor all their activities; from fertilization, crop protection, work hours of workers, machinery, to finance and powerful analysis of complete farm production. Agrivi changes the way food is produced. Be the change and sign up now! TRY NOWfor free   Text sources: FAO || Nifty Homestead || Texas Co-op Power Image source: Nifty Homestead

Agriculture plays an important part in the world economy. One-third of the economically active population obtains its livelihood from agriculture. In Asia and Africa, millions of small-scale farmers, fishermen, and indigenous people produce most of the food consumed worldwide, in most cases on very small plots of land. Agriculture is increasingly called upon to address a wide range of critical needs: nutritious food for 9 billion people by 2050, higher and more resilient incomes, and environmental services. If we want to feed a rapidly growing world population, global productivity needs to increase. There are more than 570 million farms in the world. More than 90% of the farms are managed by an individual or a family and rely primarily on family labor. Family farms occupy a large share of the world’s agricultural land and produce about 80% of the world’s food. Global distribution of farms (in millions) over and below 10 hectares Smallholders can be highly productive. They only need to follow farm practices to enhance their productivity and to produce more on the same field area. This is where Agrivi software helps; it provides knowledge about the best farming practices in order to direct food production towards durable farming, that is observant of the environment, and results in the production of good quality food. The main objective is to bring awareness to farmers about the importance of implementing knowledge and best practices to improve the production system to yield more food. With Agrivi software, farmers can find best farm practices in the form of tasks which guide them chronologically what to do during a growing season. The software provides tasks for the 100 most common crops, such as apples, bananas, corn, manioca, tomatoes, potatoes, wheat and others. Tasks are principles and technical recommendations of all processes of crop production such as: Soil management; to have fertile soil and a good crop yield, it is necessary to use adequate soil conservation techniques such as timely and proper tillage, crop rotation and regular monitoring of soil pH Water management; sufficient water amount during the growth stages in which water is the most crucial to achieve planned yield Cropping system management; agroforestry system integrates, on the same farmland, crops and trees together for farming, producing fruit and raising livestock Fertilization; regular addition of manure and other biological fertilizers to enhance soil matter; adding of plant nutrients (N, P, K and micronutrients) according to crop needs and phenophases Planting/sowing; sowing of certified seeds, resistant varieties and proper planting time and care Crop maintenance; regular maintenance of plant and row space in orchard or weed cultivation in the fields of vegetables and arable crops Protection management; on-time insect pest, disease and weed protection with biological, mechanical or chemical products Harvesting; harvesting of fruits in physiological and technological maturity with proper fruit handling; care should be taken on waiting period after pesticide treatment Storage; fruits must be stored in adequate temperature, humidity, and space conditions.   Whether you farm in a conventional, organic or integrated way, Agrivi gives you a knowledge base for your crop production. The additional value of farm practices in the form of tasks makes it possible to enter and track usage for every farm activity; work hours of workers and machinery; insect pest, weed or disease protection, irrigation, fertilization, and harvesting. Every usage can be distributed on the geographical locations of fields on which a particular crop is being grown. The Agrivi reporting feature will ensure that the produce is linked to real data illustrating how it was treated throughout the growing season by location. This will ensure a competitive edge and easier access to buyers of harvested produce. TRY NOWfor free   Text and image source: Global Agriculture

With shorter days and cooler temperatures, fall has officially arrived. It's the perfect time to go outside and do a seasonal orchard maintenance, as well as enjoy the abundance of delicious fruits. However, right after the harvest, only empty and exhausted trees are left. Their winter survey and next season fruiting depend primarily on the farmer's knowledge, effort, and overall tree dormancy management. A few simple practices will help the trees through the winter dormant period and ensure their vitality for spring flowering and fruiting: 1. Orchard Sanitation If there were any disease or insect pest signs during the vegetation, all infected fruit should be removed from the trees. This is because they can be a source of inoculum the next spring. The best practice is to remove infected fruit during the harvest. When leaves start falling from the tree, they should be mowed in order to speed their decomposition and to spread leaf compost in order to boost the populations of microbes, which also decompose leaves and help to reduce overwintering inoculum. This mass of dead leaves actually contains a high concentration of nutrients that can be very beneficial to plants. This can harness the nutrients held in the leaves by converting them to mulch. When 50-70 % of the leaves have fallen, farmers can spray the trees with copper based fungicides to reduce overwintering inoculum and to prevent disease occurrence during the next season. The spraying is repeated at the end of the winter period, usually before vegetative bud break. These fungicides can also be applied in an integrated and organic farm system as well. 2. Winter Preparation  The most important orchard chore to prepare for winter is protecting the tender trunk bark on trees from hungry meadow voles. Voles can seriously damage or girdle and kill young trees by eating the bark and cambium layer at the base of the tree. Once the tree is girdled, water and nutrients can no longer move up and down the trunk, and the tree will die. To avoid losing a young tree, farmers can place vole guards around the trunks. This will prevent the voles from eating the bark. Care should be taken to remove this spiral plastic guard wrap in spring since they can harbor insects and diseases. If the farmer uses a plastic or metal mesh guard, they can stay on year-round as long as the farmer can enlarge them as the tree grows. A useful trick is to compact the snow around trees with snowshoes so that it freezes into a hard ice pack. Voles will not be able to tunnel through this to get to the trees. 3. Fertilization A fall application of fertilizers can be beneficial for several reasons. Proper nutrients at this time allow the plants to recover from the fruit load that was removed from the tree and to get prepared for the winter period. At post-harvest time, it is recommended to apply fertilizers with a lower ratio of nitrogen and a higher ratio of potassium and phosphorus. Newly planted and young trees shouldn’t be fertilized. This will avoid their abundant growth before winter begins. Fertilizers for fall application can be a combination of micronutrients (zinc, boron, magnesium). The plants need them to start the process of acclimation, which provides the ability to withstand cold temperatures and other physiological processes that occur in winter. 4. Planting of New Trees Cool temperatures during the fall are ideal for tree replanting and the raising of the new orchard. If they are planted in the fall, young trees have enough time to create roots and harden before winter. Due to better rooting and faster tree growth, fall planting and/or replanting is recommended. Immediatelly after planting, young trees shouldn't be pruned. If it is necessary, only minor pruning is allowed before winter. Otherwise, pruning may encourage the tree to continue its growth. As a result, it won't harden before cool tempertures come and cause winter injuries. Major pruning, therefore, can be performed in the early spring, after cool winter temperatures and before tree vegetation starts ie. plant sap starts to flow. Fall is the best time to prepare your orchard for the next season and to ensure a high quality yield. You can track all of the necessary activities for your farm and orchard using Agrivi farm management software. This includes the work hours of workers and machinery, the usage of fertilizers and pesticides for each field, money for buying farm materials and the selling of delicious fruit, cost-benefit analysis of whole farm production and weather forecasts to plan orchard activities. TRY NOWfor free   Text sources: Fertilizer Magazine || MOFGA Image sources: J. Nikon || Lankava || NC Alternative Crops and Organics

Plant residue are crop materials such as stems, leaves, and roots, that are left on the field after the harvest. In the past, farmers considered crop residue to be trash, that was usually destroyed by fire. However, today this practice is not recommended and highly is not used by farmers. There are two different ways to manage crop residues. The first method is tillage prior planting when plant residues are incorporated into the soil. Another modern farming practice is reduced tillage or no-till farming, where crop residues are left on the surface and planting is carried out without soil tillage. Crop Residue Incorporation into the Soil The main purpose of plowing crop residue is to improve soil organic matter. Plowing at a depth of 20-30 cm together with adding of nitrogen fertilizers (Urea, CAN) enriches the soil with humus and also prevents nitrogen depression. Farmers who manage their fields with this practice, rely on the following crop residue advantages: Recycled nutrients removed by a growing crop Maintained or increased soil organic matter that provides a substrate for soil microorganisms and increases the organic component of the soi Better absorption of rain drops that decreases erosion potential.   In addition to the plowing of crop residue, a farmer can also include in his farm management, the plowing of cover crops i.e. green manure. It enriches the soil with organic matter, improves its biological activity, provides better accessibility of nutrients, and enables biological water drainage on heavier soils. It also has a favorable impact on both heavy and sandy soils and is strongly recommended on soils fertilized only with chemical mineral fertilizers. Crop Residue - No-till Management No-till is a modern farm practice, mostly used by farmers in the US. Nearly 40% of cropland acres are no-tilled and more than 10 million acres of cover crops have been seeded across the country. The practice is based on leaving the crop residue on the field and the sowing of new crops directly into the untilled soil. No-till farming requires different practices to preserve higher yields, such as cover crops and fertilization and pesticide use, to achieve better soil properties. No-till farming has also many advantages on the soil: Crop residueon the soil surface are responsible for cooling the soil, increasing the soil moisture and limiting evaporation; crop residue protects the soil from erosion and serves as a source of carbon Heavy machinery passes are reduced; no-till farming uses only a sowing machine, thus preventing soil compaction and surface crusting. This makes it easier for plants to sprout and grow deep roots. It, therefore, results in reduced disturbance to the soil Farming costs such as labor, machinery costs, and fuel are reduced.   No-till requires special no-till seeding equipment with discs (low disturbance) or narrow tine coulters (higher disturbance) to open a narrow slot into the residue-covered soil which is only wide enough to put the seeds into the ground and cover them with soil. The goal is to move as little soil as possible in order not to bring weed seeds to the surface and to not stimulate them to germinate. No other soil tillage operation is done. The residues from the previous crops will remain largely undisturbed at the soil surface as mulch. Special no-till sowing machine Decisions as a Part of Farm Management Every farmer faces some doubts and struggles in making decisions about the best farm management practices. When deciding on his crop residue management, a farmer needs to know that both crop residue plowing and no-till are good farm practices with different advantages. It is important to avoid burning of crop residues because they play a significant role in improving soil management hence it may damage the soil properties. Agrivi farm management software supports all farming techniques. By using Agrivi, you can track all farm activities from sowing to harvesting as well as inventory and finances. No matter how a farmer manages his crop production, Agrivi software is always provides helpful support. TRY NOWfor free   Text sources: Plant & Soil Sciences || Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation Image sources: The Hawthorns Estate || Iowa Agriculture Literacy Foundation || Monotec

The sowing of winter crops is reaching its deadline. Therefore, it's time for farmers to finish field preparations and start to sow winter cereals such as wheat, barley, oat, rye, triticale or fodder crops like legumes and kale. Farmers from all over the world work hard throughout the year. However, in moderate climates such as Europe and the USA, farming is seasonal. These farmers have separated sowing periods into spring and fall sowing. After the summer harvest is finished, farmers immediately start with farm practices for the sowing of winter crops. Farmers often have concerns about the right time for the sowing of winter crops. The time for sowing primarily depends on the crop variety, its requirements, local climatic conditions and soil type. Therefore, it's a common practice among farmers to choose the earliest recommended sowing time in order to maximize the full crop potential. By following good farm practices and proper sowing management, a farmer can increase yields and reach the highest overall farm profit. Soil Preparation High quality and healthy soil is the basis of successful farm management. By using the best soil preparation practices, farmers can ensure that they have well-prepared soil that manages weeds, recycles plant nutrients, provides a soft mass for sowing and a suitable surface for seeds. The soil preparation includes: Liming, which is a practice to improve soil quality in case the soil analysis shows a lack of calcium ions, i.e. the soil is too acidic Very shallow plowing, a practice used if the previous crop was cereal. The purpose of this practice is to break the system of capillaries in the surface layer, to prevent the growth of weeds and to introduce crop residues into the soil which enhance the activity of microorganisms Shallow plowing, should be applied when the previous crop wasn't cereal. The plowing to depths of 10-20 cm encourages the destruction of sprouted weeds Final surface soil tillage (including disking) cuts, crushes and mixes the soil Harrowing brakes crust to an average depth of 6 cm, aggregates soil structure, aligns the surface and destroys weeds.   Final surface tillage: disking and harrowing Fertilization Fertilization with manure is recommended for the improvement of microbiological soil activity. In conventional production, farmers should apply manure every 3-5 years to enhance soil properties and humus levels. The best practice is to first apply manure and then, during the soil tillage, add mineral fertilizers. One part of mineral fertilizers is added before sowing and the other part after crop emergence, during crop maintenance. Sowing Sowing is the final phase before the new crop cycle starts. The final preparation practice that creates a straight, grained, structural and moist sowing layer is pre-sowing plowing. It can be combined with fertilization. After the soil preparation is finished, a farmer has to determine canopy density. This depends on the soil type, crop and the purpose of sowing a certain crop. Once all farm preparations are completed, sowing can begin. Fall sowing of winter crops The complete preparation and sowing process takes from 3-4 weeks, depending on the farmer's management capabilities and weather conditions. It's important to avoid mistakes at the start because sowing is the most important part of farm production. To ensure proper management practices for sowing, farmers can rely on Agrivi farm management software. With Agrivi, they can easily plan the whole crop season for any crop and manage their farm activities. The software provides the knowledge base for soil preparation in the form of tasks for more than 100 crops for all production types. With Agrivi, farmers can also keep records of soil analysis and crop rotation. Manage your new crop season successfully, by using Agrivi! TRY NOWfor free   Image sources: Stonny Hill || Tupanjac || E Zadar

Today, when every farmer is facing a battle of food production for a growing population, crop production has become much more intensive. These farm practices, which usually include monoculture, harm soil nutrient composition and deplete this valuable natural resource. Using the same crop on the same field keeps draining the soil of essential nutrients. Monoculture combined with intensive farm production also increases crop-specific pests and causes soil erosion. This has resulted in the need for sustainable soil management practices that enhance soil properties with the use of crop rotation. Crop rotation, known as an ancient farmer's practice, is the changing of different crops on the same piece of land during the season. It also has many benefits on plants and the soil including: Improved soil quality Enhanced soil nutrition Reduced pests, weeds, and pathogens Improved soil structure.   Planting the same crop in the same area for a long period of time leaves the soil low in nutrients, causes stunted crop growth and results in lower yields. Crop rotation mitigates that effect because a different type of crops requires different types of nutrients, thus enriching the soil with other beneficial nutrients. Crop rotation is a practice that is commonly used in vegetable and arable crops farming. Examples of good crop rotation practices are shown in the pictures below. As one of the oldest strategies of soil management, crop rotation is one of the most effective farm practices. However, its effectiveness primarily depends on farmer's knowledge of crop rotation rules and on farmer's crop production record keeping. Agrivi farm management software simplifies the tracking of crop rotation, which is especially useful for farmers with many fields and seasonal crops. By changing the crops by field and entering of all the farming data, a farmer has a clear insight into the crop's rotation at any moment. The Agrivi crop rotation module allows him to easily see which field is empty and to decide what to sow next. Crop rotation overview using Agrivi farm management software Have an overview of your crop's rotation with only one click; start using Agrivi software today! TRY NOWfor free   Text sources: Wonderopolis || OISAT Image sources: Science Horticulture

One of the main goals of every organic farmer is to build long-term soil fertility and tilth by feeding the soil with a variety of natural amendments. The regular addition of compost is one of the best ways to enhance the soil's organic and humic content, which helps to build a fertile soil structure. This soil structure makes better use of water and nutrients. It is easier to till and, overall, is better able to achieve optimum yields on a long-term basis. Since compost has already decomposed, its impacts are much more long-lasting than crop residues and green or animal manures that rapidly degrade when added to the soil. Composting also gives farmers a way to recycle manures and plant residues that otherwise might present some environmental problems. Compost is produced through the activity of aerobic (oxygen requiring) microorganisms. These microbes require oxygen, moisture, and food in order to grow and multiply. When these factors are maintained at optimal levels, the natural decomposition process is greatly accelerated. The microbes generate heat, water vapor, and carbon dioxide as they transform raw materials into a stable soil conditioner. Compost has the unique ability to improve the properties of soils and growing media physically (structurally), chemically (nutritionally), and biologically. Other compost benefits include: Improves the soil structure, porosity, and density, thus creating a better plant root environment Increases infiltration and permeability of heavy soils, thus reducing erosion and runoff Improves water holding capacity, thus reducing water loss and leaching in sandy soils Supplies a variety of macro and micronutrients May control or suppress certain soil-borne plant pathogens Supplies significant quantities of organic matter Improves cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils and growing media, thus improving their ability to hold nutrients for plant use Supplies beneficial microorganisms to soils and growing media Improves and stabilizes soil pH Can bind and degrade specific pollutants.   Although the most common way to produce compost is using microorganisms, compost can be also produced using worms. This is called worm compost or vermicompost. This kind of compost is a highly valued, and is often called black gold. This is because there are not many farmers involved in worm compost production and it takes time to produce. What is Vermicompost? Vermicompost is the product or process of composting using various worms, usually red wigglers, white worms, and other earthworms, to create a heterogeneous mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials, and vermicast, which are also called worm castings, worm humus or worm manure. It is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by an earthworm. These castings have been shown to contain reduced levels of contaminants and a higher saturation of nutrients than do organic materials before vermicomposting. Containing water-soluble nutrients, vermicompost is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner. While there are nutrients in worm castings, the real benefit to worm castings are the millions of beneficial microbes that they contain. Those microbes eat organic matter in the soil and release available plant nutrients. Fungi in the castings form symbiotic relationships to transport water and nutrients to the roots. They can also hold water in the soil and help with water management. Worm castings have at least 10 times more microbes than soil or regular compost. While vermicomposting is generally known as a nutrient rich source of organic compost used in farming and small scale sustainable, organic farming, the process of vermicasting is being studied as a treatment for organic waste in sewage and wastewater plants around the world. Worms eat food scraps, which become compost as they pass through the worm's body. Compost exits the worm through its tail end. This compost can then be used to grow plants. Vermicompost is good for plants because the worms are eating nutrient-rich fruit and vegetable scraps and turning them into nutrient-rich compost. Manual and machinery fruit harvest The Idea of Using Worms to Produce a Compost For millions of years, worms have been hard at work breaking down organic materials and returning nutrients to the soil. Worms could eat any organic material. However, for the compost the best sources are raw fruit and vegetable scraps. Orange rinds and other citrus fruits, which are too acidic, and can attract fruit flies, should be avoided as well as cooked food and meat. In addition to compost, the worms produce worm juice. This juice is also loaded with beneficial microorganisms which can be watered down and added to any kind of crops, even flowers. Some farmers are using the juice in modified hydroponic systems and calling it vermiponics. Earthworms leave soil 5-11% richer in the essential plant nutrients of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium than when they first ingest it. As an organic fertilizer, vermicompost is a substitute for synthetic fertilizer in soil-enriched vegetable production. As a soil conditioner, vermicompost is superior to traditional compost due to its ability to improve the soil structure and to increase its water-holding capacity. TRY NOWfor free   Text sources: NC State University || SF Gate Image sources: LilliWorm Organic Endeavors

The soil, as the primary resource for food production and the most important tool for every farmer, is crucial for farming. Successful farming begins with the quality soil, which provides water and essential nutrients to the crops. Rich and healthy soil, combined with the appropriate amount of water and sunlight can significantly contribute to global food production. Proper soil management protects and enhances soil performance. It also reduces input costs, prevents pollution and improves yields and crop quality. Before planting, the soil should be in the best physical condition for the crop, to encourage rapid and successful root growth. Every farm and crop have different soil requirements, but there are a few common practices that could encourage healthy soil biology. Soil Analysis In order to follow good practices for sustainable soil management, it’s essential that farmers regularly perform soil analysis. By testing their soil, farmers can see the exact amount of soil nutrients, humus content, and pH value. According to the content of nutrients in the soil and the crop requirements, it’s easy to determine the necessary amount of fertilizer, to achieve higher yields and fruit quality. Organic Fertilization Organic matter consists of all living soil organisms and the previous living organisms in their various degrees of decomposition.   The formation and role of organic matter in the soil It has a major role in soil management practices carried out before planting. Organic matter improves soil structure, enhances water and nutrient holding capacity, protects the soil from erosion and compaction, and supports a healthy community of soil organisms. Proper Tillage Proper tillage practices and type can significantly improve the quality and performance of the crop. There are various tillage systems, depending on production type, soil condition, crop planted and farm practices. The following picture summarizes tillage operations for both conventional and conservation tillage.   Tillage systems used for crop production   Conventional tillage is full-width tillage which disturbs the whole soil structure and includes various tillage operations before and after crop planting. On the other hand, the reduced and no-till tillage systems minimize soil disturbance andmaintains a high level of surface residue. Biological, Physical and Chemical Soil Protection Measures In order to manage plant pests, farmers apply different protection measures: crop rotation, crop isolation, tillage, mixed farming, proper planting time, organic soil coverage and barriers, mulching, row maintenance in orchards, green manure, chemical and natural soil and plant treatments. Proper Drainage and Irrigation It is important to ensure good soil drainage as well as optimum humidity for young plants. Soils with less drainage may accumulate higher amounts of water than is needed and thus negatively affect seeds or young plants. On fields where the water is insufficient, irrigation is required. Immediately after planting and during the first stages, irrigation is the crucial farm practice. By following these practices, farmers can adjust the water needs according to the crop requirements.   Without fertile and nutrient enriched soil, farmer's efforts in farming would be futile. As a person involved in the food production process, a farmer needs to understand soil requirements and to follow good practices before planting. In addition to these five main practices, Agrivi software can also help farmers to get the best out of their fields. With Agrivi, farmers can plan their crop rotation, keep soil analysis records and follow all their tasks, including tillage, fertilization, pest protection and irrigation. The software also guides you on how to prepare the soil for planting by giving you best practice processes in the form of tasks for over 80 different crops, for all types of production. To prepare your soil for planting, use these five good practices together with Agrivi software! TRY NOWfor free   Text sources: University of Minnesota || Channel || Soil Quality || Noble Foundation Image sources: Slide Share || Science Horticulture

Micronutrients are essential for plant growth and play an important role in balanced crop nutrition. The importance of micronutrients is equal to macronutrients and a lack of any of them can limit plant growth. Micronutrients that can impact crop yields are boron (B), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), zinc (Zn), and chloride (Cl). Micronutrients Facts and Deficiency Symptoms Boron (B) is essential for cell wall formation and rapid growing points within the plant, such as reproductive structures. Symptoms of deficiency vary across crop species and deficiencies are more pronounced during drought periods. Copper (Cu) activates enzymes and catalyzes reactions in several plant growth processes such as chlorophyll formation, vitamin A production and protein synthesis. With a lack of this element, plant leaves lose turgor and develop a bluish-green shade before become chlorotic and curling. > Iron (Fe) is a component of many enzymes associated with energy transfer, nitrogen reduction and fixation and lignin formation. Iron deficiency causes pale leaf color (chlorosis) with a sharp distinction between green veins and yellow interveinal tissues. Manganese (Mn) activates several important metabolic reactions and plays a direct role in photosynthesis, accelerates germination and maturity while increasing the availability of phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca). Deficiency symptoms first appear on younger leaves, with yellow between the veins. A series of brownish-black specks sometimes appear. Molybdenum (Mo) is vital for the process of symbiotic nitrogen (N) fixation by Rhizobia bacteria in legume root nodules. Deficiencies are relatively rare. Symptoms are yellowing and stunting of the plant and sometimes marginal scorching and cupping or rolling of leaves. Zinc (Zn) promotes certain metabolic reactions, protein synthesis and growth regulation. Symptoms are the shortening of plant internodes and stunted leaf growth, which appear first on the younger leaves. Chloride (Cl) participates in stomatal regulation (water stress), osmotic adjustment, and the transport of nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium within a plant. Micronutrient Application The lack of certain micronutrients in the soil and their availability for the plant is affected by the following soil properties: Soil type PH Organic matter content Water and oxygen content Temperature Levels of other elements.   Therefore, appropriate micronutrient fertilization requires soil analyses. Plants also differ in their requirements for certain micronutrients so it’s important to combine plant requirement knowledge with given soil conditions to determine the exact amount of applied fertilizers. Micronutrient application can be performed as soil fertilization or as a foliar spray. A foliar application has proven to be an excellent method because foliar feeding targets the plants which show the signs of micronutrient deficiency. Foliar feeding can also be an effective management tool to favorably influence pre-reproductive growth stages by compensating for environmentally induced stresses of adverse growing conditions. Foliar micronutrient applications before visible signs of their deficiency can make a crop even better, either by stimulating more vigorous re-growth or maximizing the yield potential growth stage period. Advantages of foliar sprays rely on much lower application rates than for soil applications, as well as on immediate plant response to the applied nutrient. This method also requires caution due to high salt concentrations of the sprays which can result in leaf burning. How can Agrivi help? Agrivi farm management software helps farmers keep track of their entire crop production. Through tasks, farmers can record all their activities in the field, e.g. chemical soil analysis, fertilizers consumption, and whether they are applied to the soil or as foliar sprays and other activities. All data that farmers enter into the system can be automatically analyzed and printed out in the form of reports. In that way, farmers have a complete control over their farm production and the overall farm health. Boost your farm production by using the Agrivi system. TRY NOWfor free   Text sources: Crop Nutrition || Clemson || MidWest Labs Image sources: Thompson Limited ||Pioneer||IPNI||MTVernon||Yara||University of Idaho ||Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs||Crop Nutrition||Department of Agriculture and Food||Lotus Export