Soil health is vital for a productive farming system and for the health of the wider ecosystem. Building soil fertility leads to improved plant and animal health, water quality and water holding capacity, and reduced pest and disease pressures. Approaches such as minimising soil disturbance, maintaining living roots in the soil and ensuring plant residues on the surface help ensure healthier soils and a higher soil organic carbon, making improved soil health also a key component of combating climate change. We will look at ways in which building soil fertility is managed in different farming systems.
July 2020
