CONSERVATION PRACTICES
These are practices that contribute to environmental protection and have a positive effect on climate and nature.
Their main aim is to preserve the soil resources and are proposed by the Ministry of Agriculture in the list of good agricultural practices.
Types of conservation practices
Cover crops for green manure
Cover crops are also used for green manure if their residues are left in the soil after termination. In such cases, crops that produce large amounts of biomass and contain adequate amounts of nutrients in the right proportions should be selected.
Strip-till
Strip tillage is an agricultural practice that is characterized by minimal tillage. It combines the biggest advantage of conventional tillage – drying and warming the soil with the advantage of direct planting, which preserves row spacing. This type of tillage is done with special equipment and may require the farmer to make an additional investment
Wind protection belts
Windbreaks are plantations, usually composed of one or more rows of trees or shrubs, planted in such a way as to provide shelter from the winds. In this way the crops are protected from unfavorable dry winds or frosts. Windbreaks are used to retain snow on agricultural land, thus increasing soil moisture retention.
No tillage
No-till (also known as direct sowing) is an agricultural practice for growing crops or pastures without disturbing the soil through additional tillage. It also helps to increase the amount of water that infiltrates the soil, as well as retaining organic matter in the soil. While conventional non-tillage systems use herbicides to control weeds, organic systems use a combination of conservation strategies, one of which is planting cover crops such as mulch to control weeds.
Grazing animals
Regenerative grazing is an agricultural practice that has a proven positive effect on soil fertility. The management of perennial and annual crops maintains the stability of ecosystems, profitability and sustainability of the farm. Regenerative grazing is one of the important approaches of regenerative agriculture.
Livestock and crop production systems are closely linked. They form a closed cycle in which, while the animals are grazing, they deposit manure on the soil.
Wildflowers
Areas rich in wildflowers can provide valuable habitat for pollinators and insects that feed on them. They have many benefits from an agricultural point of view, including integrated pest management and crop pollination.
It is estimated that if 2-3% of arable agricultural land is maintained by flowering plants, it will help increase populations of pollinators, crop pests, as well as the diversity of wildlife. These areas also provide valuable places for shelter, nesting and feeding for a wide range of insects and birds.