The issue of soil nutrient depletion is one of the crucial problems facing agriculture.
Soil plays a vital role in crop production but if this soil is not well maintained there would be a serious problem resulting in poor crop yields.
Most times, the fault is not from the seeds that refuse to germinate or grow well, it’s about the condition of the soil on which the seeds are planted.
Soil nutrient depletion takes place when the elements required to contribute to soil fertility are lessened or removed with no replacement.
Causes of soil nutrient depletion include soil erosion ( the wearing away of the topsoil by forces like wind, water, or tillage), inappropriate fertilizer use, lack of proper cropping systems such as overgrazing, etc. Regardless of what the cause is, it can be managed.
As a grower, once you notice the nutrient depletion in your soil, it is advisable to act fast in improving the soil with organic amendments such as compost for an upgrade of nutrients.
One of the ways out is soil conservation which simply means the prevention of loss of the topmost layer of the soil from erosion or prevention of reduced fertility of the soil which could be as a result of land over usage, acidification, salinization, or other chemical soil contamination.
There are many techniques for improving soil fertility, they include;
- Reduced tillage also referred to as minimum tillage: this is a way of minimizing soil disturbance, thereby helps in preserving the soil’s nutrients as the soil is resistant to erosion.
- Crop-rotation: This is the method of cultivating a series of various types of crops in the same field across a sequence of growing seasons, it helps in improving soil health and nutrients in the soil.
- Planting of cover crops: Cover crops such as soybeans, millet, and cowpea help in improving soil nutrients, manage soil erosion, suppress weeds, and control pests and diseases.
- Using the right fertilizer properly: Using the right fertilizer is as necessary as knowing when to fertilize as this will have an effect on the soil… Follow manufacturers’ instructions on fertilizers packages is important.
- Mulching: This simply is the process of covering the soil which is beneficial to the plants as well as the soil as it protects and maintains soil nutrients.
- Using early maturing varieties of seed as they utilize available nutrients better (Get this from us at The Seed Hub).
The issue of soil nutrient depletion should not be taken for granted, it requires great attention by the growers to maintain soil fertility to enhance crop productivity.
