www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 what-kind-of-soil-do-you-want What Kind of Soil Do You Want? Soil consists of four important parts: mineral solids, water, air, and organic matter. Mineral solids are sand, silt, and clay and mainly consist of silicon, oxygen, aluminum, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The soil water, also called the soil solution, contains dissolved nutrients and is the main source of water for plants. Essential nutrients are made […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 sources Sources Hills, J.L., C.H. Jones, and C. Cutler. 1908. Soil deterioration and soil humus. In Vermont Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 135, pp. 142–177. Burlington: University of Vermont, College of Agriculture. Montgomery, D. 2007. Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations. Berkeley: University of California Press. Tegtmeier, E.M., and M.D. Duffy. 2004. External costs of agricultural production in the […]
www.sare.org publications building-soils-for-better-crops-3 soil-health-integral-to-sustainable-agriculture Soil Health Integral to Sustainable Agriculture With the new emphasis on sustainable agriculture comes a reawakening of interest in soil health. Early scientists, farmers, and gardeners were well aware of the importance of soil quality and organic matter to the productivity of soil. The significance of soil organic matter, including living organisms in the soil, was understood by scientists at least […]
www.sare.org publications manage-insects-on-your-farm recent-advances-in-ecological-pest-management key-references Key References Altieri, M. A. and C. I. Nicholls. 2005. Biodiversity and Pest Management in Agroecosystems. Haworth Press: New York, NY. Andow, D. A. 1991. Vegetational diversity and arthropod population response. Annual Review of Entomology 36: 561-586. Baliddawa, C. W. 1985. Plant species diversity and crop pest control: An analytical review. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science […]
www.sare.org publications manage-insects-on-your-farm recent-advances-in-ecological-pest-management agroecological-strategies-to-enhance-on-farm-insect-pollinators Agroecological Strategies to Enhance On-Farm Insect Pollinators Adapted from Nicholls and Altieri (2013) Native pollinators, such as sweat bees, can be significant pollinators as long as sufficient habitat and nourishment are available. (Photograph by Joseph Berger, Bugwood.org #5370386) In addition to managing pests and diseases, some beneficial insects play a major role in crop pollination. These pollinators contribute to the productivity of […]
www.sare.org publications manage-insects-on-your-farm recent-advances-in-ecological-pest-management table-6-intercropping-for-pest-reduction-successful-scientific-trials Table 6: Intercropping for Pest Reduction—Successful Scientific Trials The results of many recent pest management studies, which demonstrate the positive impacts of plant diversification on populations of beneficial insects in agricultural systems, are included in the table below. Use this table to determine the intercrops and related management mechanisms that will mitigate specific pests plaguing your crops. See Key References for literature reviews […]
www.sare.org publications manage-insects-on-your-farm recent-advances-in-ecological-pest-management Recent Advances in Ecological Pest Management 2014 Research Update Planting rows of diverse crops, pictured here, mimics the plant diversity of natural ecosystems, usually resulting in reduced insect pest populations and healthier crops. (Photograph by Jerry DeWitt) It is well known that promoting biodiversity and building habitat for natural enemies are two strategies that can lead to reduced pest populations. Plant […]
www.sare.org publications avicultura-rentable introduccion Introducción Como a muchas familias agricultoras, Jason y Melissa Fischbach y sus tres hijos trabajan duro para vivir de su finca diversificada llamada Wild Hollow Farm en Ashland, Wis., integrando la producción de vegetales y aves, y criando sus aves en pasturas. “Existe un buen margen de ganancias criando pollos y pavos en pastos,” dijo Jason, […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms about-nraes About NRAES Editor's note: NRAES, the Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, is a not-for-profit program dedicated to assisting land grant university faculty and others in increasing the public availability of research and experience-based knowledge. NRAES is sponsored by eight land grant universities in the eastern United States. Administrative support is provided by Cornell University, the host […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms references-8 References Note: In the text, reference numbers are given in parentheses.