Introduction
The agricultural industry is the key industry that feeds, clothes, and keeps the population of the world comfortable in their homes. Members of this large, yet dwindling industry are faced with the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing population that is expected to reach 8.5 billion people by the year 2030. The major component fueling the agricultural industry is the soil. The very outer layer of the earth’s crust is the very one thing keeping the population thriving. While some theories suggest that the soil is nonliving there are many facts that suggest that the soil is indeed living, and living things must be cared for. While the agricultural industry utilizes mass production to meet the needs of the world, the condition of …show more content…
In the essay “Soil Quality: A Concept, Definition, and Framework for Evaluation,” it is suggested that soil quality should be determined by soil function, and how well the soil functions in a specific ecosystem. The function of the soil refers to the ability of the soil to “sustain plant and animal activity.” There are many aspects that play a role in determining how well a soil can support life, but the major ones include water infiltration, acidity of the soil, exchange capacity, and soil aggregate stability (Doran, Cline et al).
Water infiltration depends on the amount of macropores and mircopores in the soil. Micropores are the pores that hold the water in the soil, whereas macropores are the pores of the soil that allow air and water movement. The more macropores within the soil the better the water can be filtered down to be used by plants growing in the soil. The amount of macropores can be increased by increasing the soil aggregate …show more content…
No-till is when the soil goes completely undisturbed prior to planting as well as through the growing season. This type of system is a very low maintenance system that requires minimal equipment. To control weeds on the crops in a no-till system, materials can be added to kill off the weeds. Since the soil is left undisturbed, one-hundred percent of the organic material is left in the soil. Studies have shown that the C:N ratio in the upper portion of the soil is considerably higher in a no-till system compared to other methods of tillage (Feng et al). This ultimately means that there is a higher amount of carbon and nitrogen in the root zone allowing for soil microbial activity to flourish. The only drawback to this system is that it is not the most economical method to pursue when producing on a large scale
The agricultural industry is the key industry that feeds, clothes, and keeps the population of the world comfortable in their homes. Members of this large, yet dwindling industry are faced with the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing population that is expected to reach 8.5 billion people by the year 2030. The major component fueling the agricultural industry is the soil. The very outer layer of the earth’s crust is the very one thing keeping the population thriving. While some theories suggest that the soil is nonliving there are many facts that suggest that the soil is indeed living, and living things must be cared for. While the agricultural industry utilizes mass production to meet the needs of the world, the condition of …show more content…
In the essay “Soil Quality: A Concept, Definition, and Framework for Evaluation,” it is suggested that soil quality should be determined by soil function, and how well the soil functions in a specific ecosystem. The function of the soil refers to the ability of the soil to “sustain plant and animal activity.” There are many aspects that play a role in determining how well a soil can support life, but the major ones include water infiltration, acidity of the soil, exchange capacity, and soil aggregate stability (Doran, Cline et al).
Water infiltration depends on the amount of macropores and mircopores in the soil. Micropores are the pores that hold the water in the soil, whereas macropores are the pores of the soil that allow air and water movement. The more macropores within the soil the better the water can be filtered down to be used by plants growing in the soil. The amount of macropores can be increased by increasing the soil aggregate …show more content…
No-till is when the soil goes completely undisturbed prior to planting as well as through the growing season. This type of system is a very low maintenance system that requires minimal equipment. To control weeds on the crops in a no-till system, materials can be added to kill off the weeds. Since the soil is left undisturbed, one-hundred percent of the organic material is left in the soil. Studies have shown that the C:N ratio in the upper portion of the soil is considerably higher in a no-till system compared to other methods of tillage (Feng et al). This ultimately means that there is a higher amount of carbon and nitrogen in the root zone allowing for soil microbial activity to flourish. The only drawback to this system is that it is not the most economical method to pursue when producing on a large scale