We have all joined the fight against climate change, looking for new solutions and alternatives. It is good we start at home and change our lifestyle choices, but we should expand our practices as well. When talking about land and its uses, we can think of sustainable practices we can start. This will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sustainability in land refers to “the use of land resources for the production of goods to meet the human needs while ensuring long-term productive potential and these resources”. This may sound great and not that hard to follow, but after reading this you may wonder how to begin with. We will explore together some good practices for sustainable land. Key sustainable farming and agricultural practices will benefit both the environment and your bottom line.

Crop rotation and crop diversity

This practice has been used by farmers for centuries. It is one of the best for sustainable land. Crop rotation is the changing of the species of crop that are planted in a location over several years. This will help replenish the nutrients the previous one has taken out of the soil, and keep the soil healthy. This diversity practice can also help prevent diseases. 

If you are not able to make this happen; you can think about planting diverse varieties of one species. This will make the crop stronger. Genetic diversity will help the soil significantly. It will make it less likely to suffer from diseases or pest problems.

Cover your crops

You can think about planting cover crops during the off-season. Within others, you can consider clovers or hairy vetch. This will replenish soil nutrients, prevent erosion and hinder the growth of weeds. The result will be the protection of the health of the soil and the reduction of the need for herbicides later on.

Till or No-Till Farming

Till farming is an agricultural technique that involves turning over the first 6 to 10 inches of soil before planting new crops. By reducing the till or adopting a no-till farming method you will reduce the amount of soil erosion. You can do this by inserting all seeds directly into the unplowed ground.

Beneficial insects and animals

Another sustainable land practice is to avoid chemical pesticides. They can cause ecological problems and damage soil. One way to do this is to take advantage of natural predator-prey relationships. This will not only help you maintain healthy soil but also reduce your costs.

You can also think about releasing helpful insects, like ladybugs, into your crops to control pests. Or you can think about planting flowers that attract insects along the edges of your crop fields. This will attract and repel birds and bats.

Plant plenty of trees

When trees are planted near a water source, they can help prevent the loss of water. They will evaporate water during dry seasons and help prevent soil erosion at the same time.

Sell directly to consumers

Another sustainable land practice is related to transportation and its greenhouse gas emissions. Selling locally can help you to reduce your carbon footprint. What is more, when you sell food to local customers you will typically need less packaging. So check for local markets or community-supported programs to avoid intermediaries. This will maximize your revenue at the same time!