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The residue can be ploughed directly into the ground, or burned first. In contrast, no-till, strip-till or reduced-till agriculture practices are carried out to maximize crop residue cover. Simple line-transect measurements can be used to estimate residue coverage. [1] Process residues are materials left after the crop is processed into a ...
The four most commonly grown agricultural crops worldwide are sugarcane, maize, cereals and rice. [3] The total weight of all these crops is more than 16,500 billion kilograms per year. [ 4 ] Since 80% of this consists of agricultural waste, many tens of thousands of billions of kilograms of agricultural waste remain worldwide. [ 5 ]
Planting cover crops that keep the soil anchored and covered in off-seasons so that the soil is not eroded by wind and rain. Crop rotations [18] for row crops alternate high-residue crops with lower-residue crops to increase the amount of plant material left on the surface of the soil during the year to protect the soil from erosion.
Primary tillage such as ploughing tends to produce a rough surface finish, whereas secondary tillage tends to produce a smoother surface finish, such as that required to make a good seedbed for many crops. Harrowing and rototilling often combine primary and secondary tillage into one operation. "Tillage" can also mean the land that is tilled.
Crop genetic diversity is one method that is used to reduce the risks associated with monoculture crops, which can be susceptible to a changing climate. [138] This form of biodiversity causes crops to be more resilient, increasing food security and enhancing the productivity of the field on a long-term scale. [ 138 ]
Pesticide residue refers to the pesticides that may remain on or in food, after they are applied to food crops. [1] The maximum allowable levels of these residues in foods are stipulated by regulatory bodies in many countries. Regulations such as pre-harvest intervals also prevent harvest of crop or livestock products if recently treated in ...
Fertilizers are used to provide crops with additional sources of nutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, that promote plant growth and increase crop yields. While they are beneficial for plant growth, they can also disrupt natural nutrient and mineral biogeochemical cycles and pose risks to human and ecological health.
Weeds growing in the cracks of a concrete staircase (Epilobium roseum, Chelidonium majus, Oxalis corniculata, Plantago major)A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, growing where it conflicts with human preferences, needs, or goals.