What is Agroecology?
When I initially defined agroecology, I took a much broader view and suggested that it was the study of the impact of agricultural industries on the environment as well as the social and economic aspects. While this is true, agroecology also means taking into consideration the biotic and abiotic factors of agriculture and the ecosystems that surround it. These biotic and abiotic factors can include soil quality, weather, temperature, pH, water quality, insects, native species, etc.
During the duration of this class, we conducted a few labs that measured soil temperature, pH, humidity, wind, dew point, nitrogen and phosphorus levels, and potassium. In one lab, we observed five different biomes (Ag, Meadow, Desert, Woodland, and Desert) and the temperature of the soil from the surface to 5 and 15 cm beneath. This was tested at ten different locations in a single biome, with ours being the desert biome.
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Soil temperature is crucial to the root growth, water and nutrient uptake, soil moisture, etc. of the plants. (woodlandhighag) We noted that the deeper the soil was, the more the temperature increased and contained heat energy. We concluded that this was due to the insulation provided by the mulch, a layer of material such as rice, bark, or gravel, which helps contain moisture and improve the health of the soil. In turn, the soil absorbs and traps heat from the mulch which also helps to prevent weeds and breaks down nutrients.
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Best Practices
Another important topic that we discussed during class was the best practices that farmers use in agriculture to help improve crop quality while simultaneously benefiting the environment and promoting efficiency. According to our instructor, the more complicated and integrated an agro-system is, the more stable it is. Stability is essential to the resilience and resistance of a community of plants. A healthy and diverse community should be able to resist any changes or disturbances that may affect it and quickly rebound after any disturbances. A best practice that can be used to help encourage biodiversity and improve the health of the soil is cover cropping. In cover cropping, more than one species of plant is grown within a close range of each other in the midst of a crop. We observed this practice on our visit to the Capay valley where it is seen as advantageous to growing organic crops without pesticides typically used on most commercial farms. Crop rotation, another best practice, is beneficial to soil because it can help prevent disease and replenish nutrients to the soil. Many farmers also use the practice of intercropping, or growing more than one crop in an area, to produce greater yield and to utilize all possible resources. Best practices also include preserving natural habitats that once occupied agricultural land. Although it is impossible to revert the entire land back to its natural state, farmers use a method known as hedgerow to allow at least some of the native plants and wildlife to return to its former habitat. A strip of land is usually set aside in the midst of an agricultural field and it is planted with native plants and trees to help reduce erosion . A final best practice we discussed was drip irrigation, a very effective and efficient method to reducing excessive water usage (if done properly). Many farmers use this method to cut water waste and costs, especially since California is experiencing its fourth year in a drought.
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Photos from Google Images
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