There are many farming practices that can increase the abundance and diversity of above and below ground organisms. There can be multiple benefits from doing this including improved soil fertility and increased crop productivity, while also potential for supressing weeds and pests which can reduce the need for chemical application. Practices that will be explored to achieve these benefits include intercropping (growing multiple crops in proximity), strip cropping (sowing crops in alternate strips), and integrated pest management (using natural pest control methods), with a particular focus on encouraging and identifying beneficial insects to act as predators.
June 2020
