What is regenerative farming?

Over the years, the soil used for crop farming will degrade due to the current farming practices. Soil is arguably the most important asset, and if not looked after, could make or break a farm. Regenerative farming is the approach of enriching the soil with the nutrients it needs to grow healthy plants. Plants need many nutrients from the soil in order to grow; nitrogen , for one, is a key element that allows for photosynthesis. Regenerative farming practices are not universal, as every farm has different requirements, but there are some key principles. 

The 4 regenerative farming principles 

The practices you can implement into your farm are predominantly split into 4 categories. There are more things that can be done, using new emerging technologies, but these are steps that most farms can implement now. These regenerative farming principles are also linked with the future of sustainability in farming.  

Soil exposure 

Soil can be damaged if it has prolonged exposure to the Sun. Cover crops are used to slow down the rate of erosion, enhances water filtration, helps control pest infestations and increase the biodiversity in the soil. The benefits of cover crops include enriching the soil with an abundance of nitrogen, which is key to healthy plant growth.  

Biodiversity 

By using methods such as cover crops, you can increase the biodiversity in the soil. Certain organisms are needed in order to create the best environment for the crop to thrive. Some of the elements found in soil are crucial to growth, such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Worms are needed in the soil in order to introduce phosphorus without the need for fertilisers; this is achieved from worm castings.  

Soil disturbance 

Tilling soil is a common practice in farming, as it spreads nutrients around and prepares the soil for sowing. Disturbing the soil also speeds up the rate of erosion. This is because it breaks down organic matter, such as leaves and dead plants, which then become easier to erode in harsher weather. If organic matter is eroded, then the nutrients don’t go back into the soil, which will cause the soil to degenerate. Tilling also releases more CO2 into the atmosphere, which will have drastic effects on the climate, leading to worse crop yields.  

Chemical use 

The types of chemicals used in farming contribute to more pollution being added into the ecosystem. Fertilisers and other chemicals can inject much needed nutrients into poorer soil, but will decrease the amount of organic matter present in the soil. Nitrogen applied over time actually damages the top soil, which also reduces crop yield.  

What else can be done to promote soil health and regenerative farming? 

Where technology meets farming; there are solutions that have no long-term energy cost increases, and proven to use less chemicals and water via irrigation. The KYMINASI PLANTS Crop Booster is installed on your existing irrigation system, and uses electromagnetic frequencies to resonate with the plants natural vibrations. You can check out some case studies here.