Importance of Soil Organic Matter

 

The role of soil organic matter in agriculture

It is important for farmers to maintain healthy soil because it produces healthy crops that nourish people. Plants obtain nutrients from organic matter and minerals. Organic matters are plants and animal materials that return to the soil and decompose to produce nutrients, bind soil particles into aggregates, improve water holding capacity of the soil and harbor other soil organisms. These soil organisms convert dead materials, decaying matter and minerals into plant nutrients. Their biological activities depend on the organic matter supply and the type of substrate. The exchange of these nutrients between organic matter, water and soil is vital to soil fertility. Organic matter and soil nutrients need to be maintained for the continuous production of food. The soil fertility will decline if the land is cultivated without restoring the organic matter, nutrients and soil structure. This may further destroy the agro-ecosystem and reduce food yield. Organic matter thus plays a vital role in improving soil productivity and sustainable crop production, especially in the tropics. 

Mulching preserves moisture & organic matter

What is soil organic matter?

Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is a wide range of carbon-containing compounds formed from organic material – the products of on-site biological decomposition which keeps the soil healthy. SOM helps to feed plants, increases growth and yield; improves the soil structure, fertility and acts as a mulch to suppress weeds, protects the soil and reduces water lost. Soil organic matter is key to drought-resistant soil, sustaining food and increasing production. It can also be called soil improver, soil conditioner, or humus.

The soil organic matter is governed by the carbon cycle. The plant grows and adds organic matter to the soil through its roots, fallen leaves and dead plants. Most animals feed on plants and animal matter is also returned to the soil.  When they decompose, the organic matter releases carbon dioxide that is used by the plant in photosynthesis and valuable plant nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus and minerals.

The continuous supply of organic matter also acts as a food source for micro-organisms and helps build up soil carbon in a process called assimilation – which is vital for soil formation, nutrient availability and cycling. Different types of organic matter produce different organic matter fractions because they have different assimilation and decomposition characteristics. So if the rate of decomposition is more than assimilation, the SOM will reduce quickly (e.g. poultry manure); but if the rate of assimilation is more than decomposition, the SOM will increase (e.g. woodchips). The rate at which decomposition occur depends on oxygen, temperature, moisture, the surface area of the particle and its chemical structure. It takes more than 1 or 2 years for most organic matter to decompose and an ideal active soil organic matter contains about one-third of decomposable organic matter.

Avocado planted without tillage 

Why use organic matter?

In a natural forest, organic matter accumulates in soils.  Natural soils contain about 40% more organic matter than cultivated soils. When we cultivate the soil, the SOM declines because planted crops supply less organic residues than natural vegetation and the effects of tillage (digging, hoeing …) further increase the rate of SOM loss. It continues to decline to a level where the soil function is impaired and becomes unproductive. 

SOM influences several critical soil functions. It helps the soil to hold water and nutrient, improves soil structure, enhances productivity and environmental quality, reduces the severity of droughts, soil erosion and atmospheric carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change. SOM binds soil particles into aggregates that hold moisture and nutrients (preventing them from being washed away by rain). When plant roots penetrate these aggregates, the nutrients are released to feed the plants.

What human intervention decreases organic matter?

Repetitive harvesting of crops reduces soil nutrients and SOM. So much effort is needed to replenish these nutrients and restore soil quality. Most agricultural practices like ploughing, tillage and burning of vegetation increase the decomposition of soil organic matter and the soil become infertile and susceptible to erosion. Land use and management practices affect SOM. Below are some human activities that greatly decrease organic matter;

•  Decrease in biomass production such as replacement of perennial crops, replacement of mixed vegetation to monoculture or pastures, high level of harvesting (e.g. corn with stalks) and the use of bare fallow.
• Reduction of organic matter supply like burning of natural vegetation or crop residues (wildfires), overgrazing, and removal of crop residues.
•  Increasing decomposition rate through tillage, draining, fertilizers and pesticide usage.

How do we increase SOM in farms and gardens?

The key to soil restoration is to maximize the retention and recycling of plants' nutrients and organic matter while minimizing the loss of soil components through leaching, erosion and runoff. This will help to maintain, improve and rebuild soil health and sustain agricultural productivity. Farmers or gardeners need to continuously add sufficient organic matter (3-6%) to increase soil nutrients holding capacity, moisture and plant growth. Severe impacts may occur if the organic matter levels fall below 2%. Fortunately, you don’t need to test the soil to know if it needs organic matter or not. Soils that are light in color and compact when wet or dry probably require organic matter.

Some good conservation agricultural practices like zero or minimal tillage, cover cropping, agroforestry, perennial forage crops and crop rotations can help to maintain surface residues, roots and SOM. They can also suppress weeds, enhance soil aggregates and intact large spores which in turn allow water filtration and reduce water erosion and run-offs. The diverse soil organisms in SOM contribute to pests control and other essential ecological processes. Permaculture or well-managed integrated mixed crop-livestock farming systems are able to enhance SOM and restore soil health.

Mango planted with a little digging

Sources of organic matter

There are different sources of organic matter according to the different land use. The most important source of organic matter is biomass production.

•  Agricultural farms can get organic matter from crop residues, animal manure, green manure. The application of livestock manure to agricultural land increases soil organic matter in the soil profile.
•  Home gardens can get organic matter from household waste, commercial waste, old wood, green waste and compost - kitchen compost (from vegetables, fruit and gardening waste) and green compost (from pruning, branches, grass and leaf litter).

Garden compost is less costly and effective. Some compost can be bought as soil improvers or conditioners. Composted animal manure, spent hops from local breweries and spent mushroom compost can also be collected and used. Some councils offer municipal compost to gardeners (beware of weed killer residues). Organic matter can be stored - stacked and cover with rainproof material to prevent nutrients from being washed off by rain.

How to apply organic matter to soil

Into the soil: -Always add only well-composted materials into the soil to avoid soil nitrogen depletion. 5kg of compost per square meter is sufficient.

On the soil as mulch: - Most organic material can be used directly as mulch e.g. shredded wood waste, wood chip, bark, leaves. Coarser materials will take a longer time to break down. 2-5 cm mulch is enough for weed control or no-tillage gardens.

Leaves return to the soil as organic matter

Always wear boots and gloves when handling the organic matter; avoid eating, drinking, smoking and wash hands after application. Apply nutrients a week before planting and don’t over-fertilize to avoid contamination of water bodies.

Organic matter saves on fertilizer costs because manure contains about 0.8% nitrogen, 0.3% phosphate and 0.8% potash. Unlike fertilizers, the nutrients in organic matter are released slowly with little wastage and the organic matter themselves improves soil structure. Organic matter can be applied every 2 years because the nutrients are mainly available in the first 2 years after application and decrease thereafter. Make sure your compost is free of pests, diseases and weed seeds.

 Conclusion

Maintaining levels of SOM and optimizing nutrient cycling is vital in agricultural productivity. Some SOM fractions function as natural plant hormones that improve seed germination, root initiation, uptake of plant nutrients and provide N, P and S. Farmers should aim to achieve optimal agro-ecosystems that are socially, ecologically and economically sustainable by practicing conservation agriculture - a system that is able to convert low-input agricultural systems into a more productive one. Farmers need to understand the linkages between soil life, functions of the ecosystem and the impact of human activities to know how to enhance soil health and capture the full benefits of soil biological activities that lead to a more sustainable and productive agricultural system. A healthy soil ecosystem does the following:

• Decompose organic matter to form humus
• Retain Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulphur, Potassium and Calcium.
• Glue soil particles together into aggregates for the best structure
• Protect roots from pests and diseases
• Make retained nutrients available to the plant.
• Produce hormones that help plants grow
• Retain water moisture

SOM at different decomposition levels

Farmers! Let’s benefit from this knowledge and increase productivity. Take appropriate action now and let’s together feed the growing population while maintaining agro-ecosystems. Leave a comment or question below so we know you were here.

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Polyculture for pest control, high yield & food diversity

 Polyculture - alley, strip, cover, inter, mixed or three sister cropping systems

Polyculture is an agricultural system were multiple crops are planted on the same piece of land to provide crop diversity which mimic the diversity of natural ecosystems. This does not only provide food, but sustain life as a whole. As opposed to raising single crop/animal (monoculture), polyculture is raising more than one species of plants or animals at the same time and place. Polyculture is an old system of farming which is still carried out in sub-Sahara Africa and has regained popularity today because of its environment and health benefits. It is a sustainable form of agriculture because of its ability to control pests, weed and diseases without major chemical inputs. There are different types of polyculture systems such as intercropping, cover-cropping and alley cropping. The type of polyculture carried out depends on the types of plants grown, the spatial distribution and the time they spend growing together. The type of plants or animals that can be raised in a polyculture system has no limit.

Three sister crops (Maize, beans and pumpkin)

Intercropping or mixed cropping – This occurs when two or more crops are planted together e.g legumes and cereals mixtures. The legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soils at its root noddle in a process called nitrogen fixation. This soil nitrogen acts as fertilizer for the other plants and therefore eliminates the need for man-made fertilizers. A typical example is the ‘three sister crop’ system of planting maize, beans and squash (e.g pumpkin) in a group to provide mutual benefits to each other. The maize provides support for the beans to grow on, the beans provide nitrogen to fertilize all the plants while the squash suppresses the weeds. These crops thus sustain each other with little or no human intervention.

Cover cropping: - This is when a crop is grown alongside another plants that is not a crop e. grass & legumes. Cover crops can help to prevent erosion, suppress weeds, improve water retention or fix nitrogen. It can also be called weedy culture if the non-crop element is a weed.

Strip or alley cropping

Strip or alley cropping: - This involves growing different crops in alternating rows. Though it doesn’t involve a complete mix of the plants, it also prevent soil erosion and aid nutrient cycling. 

Permaculture: - This is a polyculture of perennial plants such as cocoa, coffee, timber, fruit trees etc. This system increases soil fertility, decreases soil erosion, conserve soil nutrient and increase soil organism and water retention. Agroforestry is a popular form of permaculture where trees and crops are grown together. The trees provide shade and organic nutrients when they share off their leaves and also provide extra commodities like timber, medicine, firewood etc. Shade loving crops like coffee and cocoa are well suited within such a system.

Advantages of polyculture

Pest and disease control: - Pest are less predominant in polyculture due to crop diversity. Specialized pest that prefers a concentration of a single crop type often gets confused as they find it difficult to locate a favorable host in a polyculture. Common general pest moves from one plant to another within a polyculture system to the surrounding environment because they look alike, thereby reducing the effect on a particular crop. This diversity of plants attracts natural enemies or predators which help to further suppress pest population without causing harm to the plants. Different plants are susceptible to different diseases so the spread of diseases can be contained in polyculture.

Weed control: - the high density of plants reduces available space, sunlight, water and nutrients for weed to develop as resources are fully utilized by crops. The few that do grow can host arthropods (pest enemies) that are beneficial to other crops.

 Sustainability: -

A bunch of plantains at Suzy-Farms

A polyculture system doesn’t depend on pesticide, but can be boosted with minimal use of organic fertilizers as diverse plants are planted together. This greatly reduce eutrophication of fresh water, hence good health and wellbeing. Reduce tillage conserves microbes and soil nutrients. This saves money as farmers can grow multiple crops and animals on same piece of land with little or no machinery. It increases local biodiversity which attract different pollinators, hence increase pollination and fruits harvest. Polyculture addresses human subsistence needs because food security doesn't just depends on quantity, but on diversity and quality of available food. Polyculture is diverse in nature and provides both nutritional and economic resilience  because if one plant fails, the other crops may support the household with food and income.

Polyculture is more effective when the diverse plant species have distinct biological needs such as absorbing different nutrients and requiring different amount of sunlight (no competition). Our modern lifestyle is negatively impacting our land and ecosystems. Restoring these systems will lead to food abundance to support human life and culture as well as restore the ecosystems. It is our duty to secure a rich permaculture for future generation. So let’s do it...

NB: Leave a comment below so I know you were here...

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Companion plants for fruit trees/plants

Companion planting for disease resistant and increase harvest 

A fruit tree guild is a technique of supporting a central element (fruit tree) with a group of plants that are highly useful and multifunctional, with mutual beneficial synergies to ensure a disease-resistant fruit tree with maximum harvest and use of space. Guilds provide a roadmap for developing interconnected ecosystems to reduce labor, cost and increase harvest. This companion planting is a holistic approach and an integral part of permaculture which allows 2 or more crops to be planted together in order to maximize productivity (yield per unit area), nutrients intake, support, space usage, pest control, pollination, biodiversity or attract beneficial insects and/or organisms. Companion planting is a traditional practical planting method covering various strategies that increase plants' biodiversity in the soil and the ecosystem. Plants diversity increases insect diversity and decreases the number of pest in the farm. Most large scale farmers practice a single crops planting system called mono-cropping. This may looks easier to water and care for, but it will need lots of chemicals to control the pests. For example, if you plant only tomatoes, hornworms will be attracted to the farm. But if you plant lettuce along with tomatoes, the tomatoes will provide shade to the lettuce while the lettuce will repel the tomato pests. Bingo!!!  

Daffodils as companion plant for fruit tree

Pollination is a very essential element for fruit formation. All fruits trees should have some pollinator plants growing close to the fruit trees such as flowers and herbs that attract insects to aid pollination. An increase in pollination results to an increase in fruits harvest. Below is a list of some of our favorite companion plants for fruit trees/plants: 

1. Nitrogen fixing plants such as groundnuts, beans, cowpeas and soya beans are beneficial to all fruits plants/trees because they fertilizes the soil and could be planted close to any fruits tree/plant. 

 2. Comfrey is also a wonderful companion to fruits trees/plants because it accumulates calcium, phosphorous and potassium that fertilize plants/trees. It is also a good compost activator.  

 3. Chive repels worms, flies, aphids, mites and nematodes.

4. Lemon balm is a great companion plants because it draws bees that help with pollination and consequently increase yield of fruits. 

5. Stinging nettle sprays are rich in silica and calcium that is use to stimulate growth in plants/trees. 

6. Mint and marigold are very good to repel undesirable pests. Plant at the edge where you can control it as it can become invasive.

7. Marjoram is easy to grow and helps to improve the flavor of many fruits.

8. Lemon grass is good as a border crop to frame vegetables and herbs. 

9. Alfalfa improves nitrogen, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium which are beneficial to enrich soils around fruit trees/plants.

10. Red acalypha and Tithonia plants repel nematodes  commonly known as 'panama' in plantains/banana. 

11. Basil improves fruits flavor and repels bugs especially mosquitoes. 

12. Pumpkin keeps away harmful pest.

13. Daffodil or garlic repels wildlife and fruit tree borer.

14. White clover is a good source of nitrogen which is essential for healthy fruit production.

15. Calendula is useful in repelling undesirable insect, but attract beneficial ones. It also protects and enrich soil nutrients.

Melon and Calendula plants 

Below are some few fruits trees that could be planted close to other plants to provide mutual beneficial synergies: 

Fruits trees - Good companions and bad companions 

1. Avocado (African pear):- Soya beans, cowpeas, groundnuts, comfrey
2. Banana or Plantains:- Beans, legumes, papaya, sweet potatoes, legumes, comfrey, flowers. Avoid cassava competition for potassium
3. Citrus e.g orange, tangerine, lemon: - Beans, basil, oregano, clover, peas. Avoid maize, sweet potatoes, cowpea, sorghum
4. Papaya (pawpaw):- Comfrey, beans, flowers, banana sweet potatoes
5. Passion fruits: - Irish potatoes, beets, carrots, spinach, strawberries, onions, leeks, lettuce. Avoid corn, sorghum, okro, cowpea
6. Melon:- Corn, pumpkin, oregano. Avoid peas and beans
7. Apples:- Garlic, leeks, marigold, comfrey, daffodils. Avoid tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, eggplant
8. Mangoes:- Marigold, comfrey, lemon balm, dandelions, daffodils. Avoid fungal prune plants
9. African butter (Plums):- Marigold, comfrey, lemon balm, dandelions, daffodils
10. Grapes:- Basil, beans, oregano, clover, peas. Avoid garlic and cabbage
11. Pomegranate:- Basil, thyme and flowers. Avoid fennel, celery, eggplant
12. Apricot:- Chives, garlic, leeks, comfrey, basil, daffodils. Avoid pepper, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant
13. Coffee / cocoa:- Potatoes, kale, beans, coconuts. Avoid pumpkin, carrots, cucumber
14. Kolanut / Guava:-  Beans, peas, marigold
15. Kiwi:- Carrots, spinach. Avoid eggplant
16. Figs:- Dandelions, marigold, lemon balm. Avoid eggplant
17. Pineapples:- Daffodils, clover, chives, garlic
18. Tea:- Beans, potatoes, peas. Avoid walnut

Typical fruit tree guild

Companion planting saves cost on pesticides and fertilizers because pests are greatly reduced and the soil is fertilized. I grew up harvesting tons of food from the farm without fertilizers, herbicides nor pesticide applications and I wonder what happens now!!! Have you ever wonder why maize harvested from a maize/beans farm is tastier than that harvested from only maize farm? Try companion cropping and experience harvesting healthier fruits at very low cost. Let’s embrace traditional planting methods and save our soil, water systems and our health. We live just ones, don’t mess it up with unhealthy food. 

Follow this links to learn more about improving the biodiversity of your farm, reducing maintenance, and increasing yield through permaculture. If you wish to live the change, then click here

Learn more about pollinators here

Remember to try your own experiments and share your experience with us. Create your own fruit tree guilds even in your garden or backyard and feedback. Let’s know what works for you. Let’s do it…!

1. Make a list of what you need in your own garden 

2. List out all the elements you’ll need to meet the above needs.

3. Brainstorm the needs and benefits of each element, and note down how they can benefit from each other.

4. Place the elements in a way that maximize the beneficial relationships among them.

5. Share your experiences with us, we would love to hear from you.

Do you have any question about companion planting?

Write them out in the comment section, because I’d love to answer them below....

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Agroecology through Permaculture and agroforestry

 Permaculture - incorporating indigenous knowledge & culture into socio-ecological landscape farming systems

 Welcome to our world of multi-storey mixed integrated organic farming. Suzy-farms adopts a flourishing natural ecosystem model which includes people, animals, birds, insects, fishes, trees, crops, vegetables, fruits, nuts, tubers, medicinal herbs, land and water resources through mutually beneficial synergies – no waste and close loop systems. We incorporate social aspects; culture of the people and indigenous knowledge; to re-construct a modern multi-storey integrated mixed organic farming system as practiced in the 19th century by our ancestors. The farm is managed as an integrated whole of a mixed diversified canopies of trees and crops underneath. Here we work alongside with nature, observing and planting according to the weather conditions (two crop seasons per year) and valuing plants and animals in all their inter-related functions rather than treating any element as a single product system. We try to get a better understanding of the landscape, functions and species assemblies to enable us identify where each element should be place so they can provide maximum mutual benefit to each other and the environment. Our focus is not on an individual element, but rather the relationship among them - where the whole system becomes better than its individual elements. A sustainable system that minimizes waste, pollution, human labour, energy input and maximizes benefits through synergy.

Permaculture

Our principles

Here are some farming principles practiced by Suzy-Farms

1. ·        We do not farm on virgin forest, but rather rehabilitate degraded land by planting long standing fruit trees and crops to sequester carbon dioxide and halt further timber exploitation.
2. ·        We observe and interact with the landscape to design a solution that is suitable for the particular area.
3. ·        We self-regulate and accept feedback to re-strategies toward appropriate activities that lead to project sustainability.
4. ·        We make use of and value nature’s abundance resources thereby reducing our dependence on fertilizers, chemicals and non-renewable resources.
5. ·        We produce no waste as all resources are employed or recycle.
6. ·        We observe natural patterns and society to design our projects.
7. ·        We integrate the natural relationships between elements in our design and align them to benefit each other and enhance yield per unit area.
8. ·        We make use of best available techniques which are less costly, easier to maintain and produce more sustainable outcomes.
9. ·        We incorporate indigenous knowledge and practices.
10.        We enhance biodiversity to reduce system vulnerability to climate change threats and restore ecosystems.
11. ·        We observe the natural ecosystem closely, so we can prepare ourselves for any unpredictable challenges with a timely intervention.

Dr. Nvenakeng Suzanne at the farm, Buea- Cameroon

Multi-storey layers

In our 200ha of land, we have design a sustainable ecosystem model of eight layers with many relationships between its constituent parts – timber, fruit trees, cash crops, crops, climbers, tubers, animals and soil organisms. Diverse community of animals, birds and insects occupies different layers.

• 1.     The first canopy are large timber trees with large canopies, typically 2-3 trees per ha for wood biomass and conservation purpose.
• 2.     The second layer is occupied by large fruit trees such as mangoes, plums, avocado, casa mango, bush mango and cherry planted with a triangular spacing distance of 8m*12m. Then coconuts and palms to demarcate, section each 2ha of planting space (for better management) and provide shade on roads (8m wide) within the farm.
• 3.     The third layer consist of fruit trees like oranges, apples, kiwi, guavas - planted at 8m*9m spacing. Then plantains planted at 3m*5m triangular spacing to shade coffee and cocoa.
• 4.     We have coffee (3m*2m) and cocoa (3m*4m) as under-storey because they can flourish under canopy. Then plantains 
• 5.     Next is the shrub or herbaceous layer with plants such as hibiscus, bitter leaves, scent leaves, culinary and medicinal herbs.
• 6.     The ground cover includes plants that grow close to the ground like pineapples, agave sisalana, pepper, vegetables, egusi, melon, flowers and cover crops. They fill bare patches, help to retain soil moisture, reduce erosion and add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
• 7.     The rhizosphere includes the soil, soil organisms, plant roots, tubers, fungi, insects, worms, etc.
• 8.     The vertical layer include vines like vanilla, black pepper, beans, passion fruits etc.

  Guild concept

We use the guild concept to carefully bring together compatible animals, insects and plants that form symbiotic relationships which results to healthier plants, ecosystems and resources for humans. Some plants are grown to produce food, fertilize the soil (legumes), attract beneficial insects (flowers for bees to aids pollination) or repel undesirable pest (Red acalypha, marigold and Tithonia plants).

Our mutual support guild group include sister or companion crops that complement, support and provide mutual benefits to each other. Examples include planting maize and beans together, where the root nodes of the beans fix nitrogen for the maize plant and the maize support the vines of the bean. Lady beetles are introduce as predators for aphids, mites, caterpillars, and scale insect. Wasps are introduce to control aphids, worms, caterpillars, borers, bugs, weevils and flies. Other predators that are commonly used to control pest are dragon flies and praying mantids. Flowers are planted to attract insects that act as pollinators. Coconuts and cocoa are good examples of resource partitioning guild group because coconuts has a shallow root system while cocoa is a tap-rooted plant, so they can draw nutrient from different levels.

People and culture

Indigenous people are very much bonded to their soil and landscape, so much that their health and mental wellbeing depend on maintaining these ties with their local home site. Preserving indigenous knowledge and plant species may create an environment for enhancing community welfare and inclusiveness – the Ubuntu mindset.

We are using a holistic approach to life and work to create a land management approach; that depends on cultural values, local knowledge and indigenous species; which enhances the socio-economic and environmental aspects of the landscape - people, planet and profit. A blend of modern and indigenous knowledge can make people and local communities to be self-reliant and resilient to threats. We are taking local actions in solving global issues like climate change, food security, employment, poverty alleviation, hunger, pollution, biodiversity and species preservation amongst others.

Practices

Earth worms

 We are relying on the benefits from combining timber, fruit trees, shrubs, crops, livestock and fishes through agroforestry and permaculture to create a more diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable ecosystem. We incorporate indigenous knowledge, processes and relationships that are valuable in landscape ecosystems. Our multi-storey model helps to maximize space for food production and effective use of resources like sunlight and nutrients. Dead leaves, shrubs and woods are buried to increase soil water retention. This local technique enable us to practice only rain feed farming as the shrubs and woods absorbs water to sustain crops during the dry season. Thus nutrient are naturally being recycle in wood, leaves and shrubs as they decompose. This leads to high water holding capacity of organic matter which enhance the soil structure and drainage systems. Our zero burning practice preserves soil organism and earthworms - which break up green and dead leaves to produce nutrients and worm castings respectively. These castings fertilize the soil, increase plant growth, decrease heavy metals, aerate the soil and improve water retention.

Our houses are built from locally available natural materials (lime mortared stem walls, thatch, wood, sticks etc.) that produce healthy living environment and better air qualities without jeopardizing human comfort, health and wellbeing.  Rain water is harvested and use for livestock, fish farming, drinking and irrigation of vegetables.

Animal husbandry

Animals are a critical component of Suzy-Farms. We rear goats, sheep, chicken, ducks, rabbits, geese, pigs, snails and fishes. They forage to recycle nutrient, eat fallen fruits and left-over crops and in return produce waste that are used as manure to fertilize the farm. Animal waste can also be used for biogas production. Water from our fish ponds are used to irrigate and fertilize vegetables. We use dry grass and leaves to mulch. Mulching absorbs rainfall, reduces evaporation, provides nutrient, increases soil organic matter, creates favorable habitat for soil organism, suppresses weed growth and reduces erosion. Thereby generating a more low maintenance, healthy, efficient and productive ecosystems. Let’s all cooperate with nature to care for the earth and its people.

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