Integrated pest management (IPM) is a long-term pest prevention program that focuses on ecosystem-based strategies for the control of pest-related issues. This is accomplished through a combination of techniques including biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices and the use of resistant cultivars. The use of chemical pesticides is then restricted to applications only after…
Nature has been doing her thing for billions of years. It is only since about 200,000 years ago that humans entered the picture and it is only since about 15,000 years that humans have figured out agricultural production. It is safe to say that nature may have a few tricks up her sleeves that we Homo…
There is no doubt about it – there are a lot of people in the world: more than 7 billion. The sheer number of humans is probably even too much for our brains to process. Still, we’re all here and more people are coming joining the global population and every day. Feeding so many people…
Irrigation systems offer a variety of benefits. They allow for the growth of a wider variety of crops. They can be timed so that the hands-on portion of crop production is a little less cumbersome. They protect crops from irregular and dry weather conditions. They support leaching, which can remove harmful, crop-damaging salts within in…
Irrigation is defined as the artificial application of water to the soil through various systems of tubes, pumps, and sprayers. Approximately 20% of the world’s agricultural land is irrigated, yet 40% of the world food supply comes from irrigated lands with 70% of the world’s freshwater reserves being used for irrigation purposes. The main…
There have increasing reports of severe weather conditions throughout the world. Certain areas are facing record-breaking water shortages while others are faced with unprecedented flooding. There are a myriad of circumstances that are leading to these conditions. However, the amount of precipitation an area receives is a dominating factor. Precipitation is part of the atmosphere…
We are all living together here on this big beautiful green and blue rock we like to call Earth. She provides us with so many wonderful things – most importantly the raw materials and environmental services that keep us alive. Despite being so lucky as to have these gifts from nature, we as humans seem…
Agricultural drainage plays a crucial role in optimizing land productivity and soil health. It serves two primary purposes: removing excess surface and subsurface water and preventing soil salinity by flushing out soluble salts. Effective drainage enhances crop growth, improves soil conditions, and supports long-term sustainability in farming practices. Types of Agricultural Drainage Systems There are…
Soil. A living, breathing fundamental component of the world. Without it, we would not be able to grow food. There would be no trees and plants growing to provide us with the delicious oxygen so necessary to our existence. Our water would not be purified. We would more or less just be screwed. Yet, we…
Strong Sustainability: Why Protecting Natural Capital is Non-Negotiable The concept of sustainability is still developing. New information provides new insights and the tools to work towards a future more capable of enduring the tests of time. Until recently, humans operated under the assumption that natural resources could be exploited indefinitely without harming the larger system….
