Introduction to Soil: Ways to Maximize Soil Health for Better Crops
The course is designed to outline the importance behind good soil quality and how to achieve it. The intention of this course is to provide emerging farmers and anyone else who may be interested in agro ecology with information about soil, soil fertility, and soil conservation practices.
This course has been generously compiled by Dr. Mashford Zenda and Stephen Heyns for the Surplus People Project, Cape Town. Mashford Zenda is a researcher with an interest in horticulture, animal science, poverty, food systems, agrarian transformation and rural development. No part of this report may be reproduced without written permission.
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Lesson 1: Introduction
Introduce your lesson with an optional, short summary. You can edit this excerpt in lesson settings.
Introduce your lesson with an optional, short summary. You can edit this excerpt in lesson settings.
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What makes agro ecology a viable alternative?
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What is soil and how is it formed?
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The 3 main types of soil.
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Five soil functions explained.
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There are 2 ways to describe soil fertility. -
Good soil leads to good harvests
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Lesson 3: Linking to Components of Soil Fertility
Generally, fertility is measured by looking at the chemical, biological and physical properties of the soil.
Generally, fertility is measured by looking at the chemical, biological and physical properties of the soil.
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Five things that improve soil fertility.
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Retaining soil by mitigating the risk of erosion
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Using tillage to conserve soil.
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What is composting and how it helps you.
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Dividing large pastures into paddocks with fencing.
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Make your soil more fertile.
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A buffer for your field.
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Establishing fields in nearly level rows which follow slope contours.
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The building of embankments on slopes.
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Bringing trees and crops together.
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You have questions? Here are some answers.
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Important resources
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