Providing for the Increasing Human Population: Soils' Sustainability and Potential Must be Maintained and Replenished for Increased Food Production

Abstract

To provide for the growing population, soil’s sustainability and potential must be replenished and maintained for increased food production. Solutions must be implemented to increase and sustain the soil’s potential, and sustainability so that plants are able to grow and produce for this increased production. A few methods that will be discussed are crop rotation, soil management practices, the introduction of healthy bacteria, and the increasing of nutrient availability. The main solution we are trying to propose is the reduction in soil erosion. With the reduction in soil erosion, soils will continue to improve and be able to continue with the production needed. Some methods of reducing soil erosion are cover cropping, crop rotation, stubble mulch, no till management, etc. Cover cropping is the practice of planting a crop to cover the soil so that soil erosion agents, water and wind, will be less severe on soils. Crop rotation is a method that many farmers implement to increase nutrients in the soil as well to provide cover. Stubble mulch is a management practice that allows for the residues of past crops to be left on the top of the soil to provide a cover for the soil, as well as a nutrient boost. No till management is the practice of using no tillage and minimal to no mechanical implements, which leads to a reduction in blow off of soils and other erosion techniques. This implementation must be done, not just by a few individuals, but by all to have effectiveness. The problems of the past were created by all, so the solutions of the future need to be implemented by all to ensure a viable world. There is only one Earth so we must take care of it and its soil or increased food production will be a dream only thought of, not realized.