Since ancient times, we have been using agriculture to grow a self-sustaining food source without needing to move from one area to another and exhausting food sources. After we have invested a good amount of time and energy into farms, many demographics have now settled down and left their hunter-gatherer lifestyle.
For thousands of years, our ancestors have been perfecting tools and techniques to bring in more yield for farms and rice paddies. Whether it’s through an irrigation system, using fertilizer, or cultivating the soil for better quality, there are various strategies that can help increase the yield of farmers and a subsequently better return of investments.
Throughout the United States, agriculture has been a multi-billion dollar industry. But farming isn’t just a lucrative business; it’s also a business that has to feed an ever-growing population worldwide. That said, the agricultural sector will always be in high demand. Since food is always a necessity, many companies and businesses working in this sector will need to look for advantages, especially in terms of research and development, to increase the yield of crops.
Now that we have more technological innovations, it’s now easier to streamline food and crops’ sustainability. Farming systems that would use the traditional brick-and-mortar solutions were more vulnerable to the natural elements and various factors that could result in the degradation of soil quality and crops. But with more advanced systems that are focused on food security and environmental sustainability, the degradation of crops and the retention of better soil nutrients have helped with better yields.
So what are some scientific strategies and methodical approaches that can help increase the yield of crops? Here’s what you need to know:
Managing Soil Fertility
Soil fertility will usually play an integral role in the effectiveness of fertilizers and crop rotation. Throughout the past few years, many farming systems have been using improved germplasm and ensuring that soil will adapt to the local environment. There are a variety of government divisions in the United States that are developing different technologies that can help improve the quality and the fertility of the soil. This has resulted in the accelerated production of crops.
You don’t necessarily need to own a farm just to increase the soil fertility in your area. Most homeowners will need high-quality ready-made soil conditioners that are great for flowers, potted plants, and crops that you can have in your own backyard. Not only will this make your garden more lively, but this can accelerate the growth of your plants, which can increase the yield of crops that you have in your self-sustaining garden.
Whether you’re working on a farm or your garden, soil fertility can also be improved using cover crops, which are known for adding even more organic matter to the soil. This technique can add more quality to the soil, which can promote the proliferation of nitrogen. Micro-dose fertilizer is also known for helping with plant uptake which can help minimize losses caused by environmental factors.
Isotopic Techniques to Consider
Throughout the past few years, there are new nuclear and isotopic strategies have been used in regulating nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers. Usually, phosphorous-32 and nitrogen-15 have been used in tracing movements soil fertility, providing data on the efficacy of this fertilizer and the residual effects of many of these fertilizers.
The data that’s being collected by many of these isotopes can help in improving and designing better fertilizers. The nitrogen-15 isotope is known for helping with the growth of legumes and other groups that can benefit from biological nitrogen fixation.
When it comes to the carbon-13 isotope, this is known for helping produce fertilizers through the residue of crops. This is known for helping with the fertility of the soil. Much of this technique can also collect information on sustainability measures through the use of soil quality and fertilization. Much of this data can help identify the “preference” of crops based on organic soil matter. This is a great way for farmers in focusing more on the right fertilizer, which can then help with diverting the money, time, and resources towards the right processes.
There are a variety of ways to increase the quality of the soil. Whether it’s through the use of isotopes, crop covering, or using high-quality soil conditioners, it’s important to take a step back and think about different natural factors that can affect your crops. In the next coming years, there are definitely more ways to have a better yield of commodities while keeping the cost of resources low.
