Editorial Team, Author at Smart Agrotech https://smartagrotech.org/author/admin/ Smart Agrotech Mon, 21 Aug 2023 10:21:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://i0.wp.com/smartagrotech.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/favicon_smart_agrotech.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Editorial Team, Author at Smart Agrotech https://smartagrotech.org/author/admin/ 32 32 214842885 Sustainable Agricultural Trends and Practices that are Shaping the Agro Industry in 2023 https://smartagrotech.org/sustainable-agricultural-trends-and-practices-that-are-shaping-the-agro-industry-in-2023/ https://smartagrotech.org/sustainable-agricultural-trends-and-practices-that-are-shaping-the-agro-industry-in-2023/#respond Mon, 21 Aug 2023 10:21:15 +0000 https://smartagrotech.org/?p=560 We, as a community, are faced with the dire need to move towards a greener future, which is impossible without acknowledging agriculture industry sustainability. As sustainability becomes a pressing issue in 2023, sustainable agriculture trends and green farming techniques are shaping the modern agro-industry. Some of these sustainable agriculture trends and eco-friendly farming practices have […]

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We, as a community, are faced with the dire need to move towards a greener future, which is impossible without acknowledging agriculture industry sustainability. As sustainability becomes a pressing issue in 2023, sustainable agriculture trends and green farming techniques are shaping the modern agro-industry. Some of these sustainable agriculture trends and eco-friendly farming practices have been discussed below:

1. Agroforestry:

Advancements in agroecology has established agroforestry as one of the most unique sustainable agriculture trends in 2023. In agroforestry, crops, trees, and shrubs are intentionally intermingled and grown. There are three basic types of agroforestry – namely, forest farming where crops are grown below the canopy of existing trees and forests; Alley cropping where crops are grown between rows of shrubs and trees; and Silvopasture where livestock are left to forage within the agro-forest. Agroforestry does not only filter runoff but also aids biodiversity.

2. Hydroponics:

Hydroponics or vertical farming is a fast-emerging trend in urban farming because in this technique we eliminate the need of soil altogether. In hydroponic farming crops and plants are grown in water instead of soil and are stacked vertically in trays or towers and kept in a controlled environment. Crops grown through hydroponic farming and even aeroponics require less water than traditional crops and can be grown using recycled water. Moreover, hydroponics culture leads to substantial biomass and protein production.

3. Crop Rotation:

Crop rotation is one of the more traditional trends in agricultural production and productivity but is still significant for modern sustainability. When farmers grow the same crops year after year, it depletes their fields of essential nutrients. In crop rotation, different crops are grown in the farmland during different seasons, to cautiously balance the nutrients they add or deplete from the soil. This practice is instrumental in improving and maintaining soil health.

4. Cover Crops:

One of the most common sustainable agriculture trends is the planting of cover crops such as legumes, cereals, and broadleaves to protect soil integrity and improve water availability. They amp up soil health by binding nutrients to it and safeguard soil from surface erosion and runoff. These crops minimize the nuisance of pests and crop diseases but attract pollinators, thus promoting biodiversity.

Sustainable agriculture trends and practices are steadily gaining ground, especially as we become more responsible and aware of our planet and her wellbeing. 

Graphic Attribute: Image by jcomp on Freepik

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Waste Management Methods to Aid Agricultural Sustainability in 2023 https://smartagrotech.org/waste-management-methods-to-aid-agricultural-sustainability-in-2023/ https://smartagrotech.org/waste-management-methods-to-aid-agricultural-sustainability-in-2023/#respond Sat, 03 Jun 2023 04:53:57 +0000 https://smartagrotech.org/?p=549 Waste management and waste management methods on a farm are integral to agricultural sustainability in 2023. Agricultural waste management is an amalgamation of several processes that involve waste collection after generation, waste segregation, waste processing and waste disposal/storage/recycling. Below, we mention some of the waste management methods employed popularly in 2023 to aid sustainable agriculture […]

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Waste management and waste management methods on a farm are integral to agricultural sustainability in 2023. Agricultural waste management is an amalgamation of several processes that involve waste collection after generation, waste segregation, waste processing and waste disposal/storage/recycling. Below, we mention some of the waste management methods employed popularly in 2023 to aid sustainable agriculture practices:

1. Recycling:

One of the most popular methods of waste disposal in sustainable farming is recycling. Recycling farm waste essentially means segregating agricultural waste material that can be reused and repurposed in the future, from the other materials. The popularization of green agriculture and environmentally friendly government policies have made recycling easier in 2023. Nowadays, there are dedicated systems designed for segregating different recyclable materials and transporting them to warehouses for various industrial requirements. 

2. Composting:

Composting is a well-known way of organic waste management for agriculture and gardening. Composting methods for agricultural waste management involve taking organic waste such as fruit or vegetable peels, food waste, or discarded scraps of paper, and letting them decompose in a suitable chamber to ultimately treat and turn into fertilizer and compost. Compost can be added to soil to enhance their quality and replenish natural nutrients while fertilizers can ensure healthy yields.

3. Animal feed:

Another ingenious method of green waste management includes turning farm and food waste into animal feed. This method is especially useful for farmers who are actively involved in animal husbandry. Processing farm waste and organic waste to produce food for the farm animals not only ensures a healthy and well-fed livestock but it also helps farmers to maintain their budget.

The main aim of the waste management methods mentioned above is to minimize the harmful effects of waste on the planet while focusing on sustainability. Through green agricultural waste management strategies, farmers can ensure a better environment for the next generation.

Graphic Attribute: Image by Freepik

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What is Mixed Farming and What are the Major Types of Mixed Farming? https://smartagrotech.org/what-is-mixed-farming-and-what-are-the-major-types-of-mixed-farming/ https://smartagrotech.org/what-is-mixed-farming-and-what-are-the-major-types-of-mixed-farming/#respond Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:17:53 +0000 https://smartagrotech.org/?p=545 Traditionally, mixed farming is an agricultural practice that involves both cultivating crops and raising livestock but mixed farming can also include unconventional agricultural techniques. Crop-livestock farming is carried out in many countries and is usually meant for domestic utilization. Certain countries like the USA, however, use mixed farming practices for internal and cross-border business as […]

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Traditionally, mixed farming is an agricultural practice that involves both cultivating crops and raising livestock but mixed farming can also include unconventional agricultural techniques. Crop-livestock farming is carried out in many countries and is usually meant for domestic utilization. Certain countries like the USA, however, use mixed farming practices for internal and cross-border business as well. Some of the major types of mixed farming techniques have been listed below:

1. Multi-agriculture:

Mixed crop or multi-cropping is an agricultural practice common to horticulture where farmers focus on harvesting at least two yields on similar agricultural land within the same developing season. If separate yields are developed simultaneously, the practice is known as intercropping in mixed farming. One of the major benefits of mixed farming such as these is that it helps farmers multiply their harvest efficiency which translates to better agricultural pay.

2. Shifting agriculture and crop rotation:

Crop rotation is a form of mixed agriculture where a number of different crops are harvested consecutively on similar or the same piece of land to maintain soil integrity, nutrient binding and weed pressure in the farmland. Shifting agriculture, on the other hand, works on a similar premise but in this case, cultivation plots are developed quickly and left unattended after harvest where natural/wild vegetation grow unreservedly while farmers ‘shift’ to another farming plot.

3. Subsistence and intensive farming: .

Intensive farming, as the name suggests, is a type of mixed farming of both crops and livestock that is characterized by higher levels of input and output per unit area of farmland. Intensive farming is used to optimize harvest and maximize yields from the available land. Subsistence farming also works on the principle of optimizing cultivation but in subsistence farming, crops are grown and cattle are reared to primarily fulfill the needs of the farmers themselves, their families, and smallholdings with little or no surplus.

4. Plantation farming:

Even though a type of mixed farming, plantation agriculture is a little different from the farming types mentioned above because it focuses on a single yield, mostly for the purpose of business, that is developed all year long. Plantation agriculture is not only labor intensive but it also requires a huge amount of capital to get started.

Mixed farming is extremely beneficial to farmers, especially in regions that suffer from sporadic seasons. Cultivating mixed crops preserves farmland integrity and becomes a source of persistent pay for farmers, in-between harvesting cycles. Moreover, if yields fail, they can rely upon animal husbandry to manage expenses on the farm.

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