Environmentally Friendly Crop Cultivation Methods or Steps
Until the advent of chemical agriculture, the agricultural systems that existed worldwide for nearly 10,000 years were entirely nature-dependent and environmentally friendly. Humans did not have to exert much effort; they simply rotated crops according to their needs, harvested them, and stored them. This was not an alternative method but the mainstream. Unlike today’s chemical-dependent, hybrid seed, and machinery-based agriculture, back then, farmers were completely independent and free.
Environmentally friendly agriculture will help farmers escape the clutches of monopolistic chemical companies, as this system allows farmers to provide all necessary supplies for their farming themselves.
Ecological farming or environmentally friendly agriculture should be conducted step-by-step to be effective. Otherwise, this system cannot be made sustainable. Without creating a sustainable system in environmentally friendly agriculture, it will never be possible to maintain it. To follow the steps of environmentally friendly agriculture, we need to adhere to the following stages:
- Environmentally Friendly Soil Treatment and Land Preparation: Preparing the soil and land in a manner that does not harm the environment.
- Collection and Preservation of Naturally Produced Seeds: Using and preserving seeds that are naturally produced without genetic modification or chemical enhancement.
- Crop Diversification: Growing a variety of crops to improve soil health and reduce the risk of crop failure.
- Crop Rotation: Alternating the types of crops grown in a particular area across different seasons or years to maintain soil fertility and health.
- Layer-Based Crop Cultivation (Agroforestry): Integrating different layers of crops and trees to optimize the use of space and resources.
- Sequential Cropping (Relay Cropping): Planting different crops in sequence, so the harvesting of one crop coincides with the planting of another.
- Mixed Cropping (Polyculture): Cultivating multiple crops in the same space to promote biodiversity and reduce pest and disease risks.
- Sustainable Farming System: Implementing farming practices that are sustainable and do not deplete natural resources.
- Cover Crop Cultivation: Growing cover crops to protect and enrich the soil between periods of regular crop production.
- Protection and Maintenance of Non-Crop Companion Plants: Preserving plants that do not produce crops but support the ecosystem in other ways.
Elimination of Excess Non-Crop Plants or Weeds: Managing weeds and non-crop plants to prevent them from competing with the main crops for resources.