1. Sustainable Agriculture Practices

2. Conventional tillage (NOT)
incorporates most of the previous crop’s residue into the ground
leaves the surface exposed to erosion and accelerates the decomposition of organic matter

3. No-till agriculture
involves planting crops directly into the residue of the previous year's crop
minimal, conserving moisture, soil structure, and organic matter and minimizing the risk of erosion

4. Summer Fallowing (not SA)
Summer fallow practice used where farmers leave their field uncultivated for a year to build up its soil moisture, control weeds and restore soil fertility
contributes to increased soil erosion (wind), a reduction in fertility and a build up of salts (Salinization).

5. Green Manures
crops that are grown specifically to be ploughed into the soil, adding both organic matter and nutrients in the process (e.g., clover/legumes)
prevent erosion by covering soil that would otherwise be left bare
add natural fertilizers (nitrogen)
**Green manures can also be planted between crop rows to help ‘take up space’ to avoid wind erosion and to deter weeds. Cover Crop benefits on a no till farm

6. Crop Rotations Rotating crops in different parts of the farm plot
prevent the build-up of pest populations and avoid depleting the same soil nutrients year after year
improve soil structure when deep-rooting or high residue crops are used in the rotation

7. Contour Ploughing (decrease water erosion)
Contour ploughing involves ploughing across hilly fields rather than up and down the slope of a hill.
Each row prevents water from running down the slope and taking the topsoil with it.

8. Shelterbelts/Windbreaker
windbreakers that usually consist of a ‘linear arrangement combining trees, shrubs and plants established for the purposes of modifying the local wind flow through and over the trees and thereby changing local environmental factors such as wind speed, temperature and humidity across neighboring crop fields.

10. Soil Protection
**Could also use lightweight tires that don’t compact the soils down as much as other older heavier tires, by using natural fertilizers rather than chemical ones along with practicing these new proper cultivation techniques
The Next Step: Adding Cover Crop To A No-Till System

11. Now time for a TED Talk
Natural Pest control using bugs Shimon Steinberg 15 mins