Soil management practices help to improve the soil nutrients. They include a) cultivation b) crop rotation c) fertilization d) liming e) inter-cropping with leguminous crops and f) mulching
Soil cultivation
One of the best ways to improve the soil is to dig it using a spade or fork.
Digging will aerate the soil, kill the weeds and break up some of the subsoil so that the layer of topsoil is gradually increased.
It should be done once a year.
Autumn or early winter is the best time.
Digging should be done in small spadefuls.
The roots of persistent weeds, such as couch grass, bindweed, dock, thistles or nettles should be removed and later burned.
Crop rotation
If the same crop is planted year after year in the same plot of land, the diseases and pests of the particular crop get multiplied manifold.
If rotation is followed with another crop, which are not an alternate host, the diseases and pests are gradually eliminated from the plot.
Materials used on the soil to cover and protect are called mulch.
It helps to conserve soil moisture.
There are various types of mulches such as bark, wood chips, leaves, conifer needles, lawn clipping, straw, corn cobs and peanut shells that are classified as organic mulches.
Inorganic or synthetic mulches include black polythene, asphalt and aluminum foil.
Mulches are used to conserve soil moisture, to reduce soil erosion, to increase fertility, to control weed, to reduce soil compaction, to reduce salt build up and to moderate soil temperature.
Organic mulches contribute to the humus content of soil while they undergo decomposition.
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