9AMRE3RR

3258

24 décembre 2020 15:43

12 avril 2021 17:18

Worldwide, water is becoming scarcer and more expensive due to the eff ects of climate change. Signifi cant adaptation will be necessary to ensure adequate supply and effi cient use of a diminishing resource. Th is reduction in the supply of water will aff ect agriculture and will require a change in focus from increasing productivity of land to increasing productivity per unit of water consumed. Th e need for increased water-use effi ciency will be arising in a changing climate that will create abrupt fl uctuations of temperature, precipitation patterns, drought, heat waves, stronger storms, fl ooding, wild fi res, and pest outbreaks. Our soils, and our soil management, are not ready to meet these additional stresses. Too often, the approach to dealing with water defi cits has focused on better technology: deeper wells, better drip emitters, more effi cient micro-sprinklers, and variable-speed drives on pumps—all of which are important. However, a diff erent approach to dealing with the oscillation between too little and too much water uses an appropriate technology that focuses on maintaining healthy soils by following fi ve basic principles discussed in detail in the following sections. Healthy soil, with its thriving biological activity, creates a system of air and water pores that both allow water to infi ltrate the soil and hold that water in place. Th ese pores help plant roots grow deep, holding soil in place while allowing water to infi ltrate deep into the soil profi le. As the amount of organic matter, or carbon, in the soil increases, so does the ability of that soil to hold water, release nutrients to the crop, and prevent erosion (Funderburg, 2001).

None

• AB - Utile à l'AB
• FREDO biologie et travail du sol
• FREDO environnement
• GEO Etats-Unis
• eau

8

11/2019

1 novembre 2019