Being able to balance productivity and environmental responsibility in farming is the need of the hour. There are several Eco friendly agriculture practices that can be implemented in the agricultural sector, which can not only effectively reduce the environmental impact, but can also help increase profitability for the farmers in the long run.
Eco-Friendly Agriculture
Eco-friendly or sustainable agriculture is all about meeting the requirements of today without having to sacrifice the needs of tomorrow. Sustainable agriculture practices cover a range of methods and techniques that can be implemented to promote socially, environmentally, and economically responsible farming activities. These practices mainly focus on aspects like soil health maintenance, water conservation, etc.
How Does It Work?
Some popular eco-friendly agriculture practices that can help preserve the environment while enhancing crop yield include:
Using Renewable Energy Sources
The agriculture industry has a significant contribution in the overall greenhouse gas emissions. So, increasing the use of renewable energy, such as solar energy, hydropower, etc., for different agricultural activities is a good step towards sustainability.
Organic Farming
Organic farming does not involve the use of any inorganic products. Farmers can replace chemical fertilisers with biological fertilisers, such as liquid nano urea or compost manure. In addition, biological pest control products and naturally occurring pesticides are also good alternatives to chemicals that are generally used to protect plants.
Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is a popular agricultural strategy that is considered to be very environmentally friendly. In this process, the same land is used to cultivate more than one crop with different nutritional requirements during a year. This allows the soil a chance to regenerate and replenish the nutrients that have been used.
Reduce Soil Tillage
Soil used for growing plants traps high quantities of carbon in the form of SOC (soil organic carbon), which gets released into the atmosphere while tilling. Although this mechanical agitation process helps prepare the land for crop production, excessive tilling can lead to increased environmental pollution. To move towards sustainability, soil tillage management is very important.