What are the most effective ways to restore degraded farmland?

It is attitude, love, and passion above all else. The mechanics of land restoration are well known and can be learned. It doesn't take tech or the latest new method. It takes willpower. To restore agricultural land, you must be ready to go against conventional wisdom. You have to be the crazy one the neighbors talk about. The restoration part is the easy part, going against the grain—standing out...That's the tough part.

From what I have seen, it is our land management practices which are the driver of land degradation. When we deforest, till the soil, when we spray fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, pesticides we kill what is actually supporting the life within the soil. Degraded soils lack life. I see it under the microscope. Deforestation is tough because on slopes of more than 20%, you can't do much but let tree roots hold back the soil. If you cut the trees, the earth will just wash away with rainfall. Bare agricultural fields will also have topsoil wash away. This is where cover crops& no-till become essential. The life has to proliferate to build soil health. Anything that works to kill (-cide) will degrade- it's actually that simple.

There is a need to go further back for point 1. Those identified are not causes. The cause is management with those identified being the result.

Restoring degraded farmland requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses the underlying causes of degradation and promotes sustainable land management practices. It's important to note that the specific approaches for restoring degraded farmland may vary depending on the local context, including climate, soil conditions, and socio-economic factors. Therefore, it's recommended to assess the specific characteristics of the degraded land and consult with local agricultural experts, extension services, or agricultural research institutions to develop tailored restoration plans. Above the commitment and sacrification to do the real work is what is needed.

Implementing the planting or restoration of hedgerows is a highly impactful measure. The benefits range from clearly marking the boundaries of farmlands to offering resources like wood, fruits, and medicinal plants - all depending on the species used. Additionally, hedgerows contribute to minimizing soil erosion and runoff while promoting biodiversity through activities such as pollination and biological pest control (for this last option, a simple stripe of wildflowers would be sufficient to potentially cut pesticide spraying)

The first rule we have at Maisha Earth Solutions is to listen to Mother Earth. The degradation varies from location to location & what is needed is as diverse, but the surroundings will tell you. Look at what’s growing & why? What is the ideal solution for the communities? What’s been removed & how can we get it back into the ground, organically. And most importantly listen to the elders of the region, what has happened over generations & let’s learn & adapt. Then science the shit out of it!! And make a difference.

degraded farmlands can be restored step by step 1- get the information of degradation 2- Choose the best possible ways of farming 3-apply the best techniques 4- continuous monitoring and improvement measure should be done 5- Record keeping is very important with regard to soil sampling and analysis time to time 6- forestation or agronomic crops may be helpful for the purpose

The specific restoration technique will depend on the nature of the degradation as well as the needs and objectives of stakeholders. A general rule is that both inherent soil productivity and water holding capacity are enhanced by improving organic matter content. Sustainable/regenerative practices such as including legumes and other green manure crops in the rotation and minimizing tillage are important cornerstones of restoration.

In Permaculture, we focus on patterns and some are readily obvious. In any situation, before you choose a technique, you need to really observe what is happening, especially as the seasons change. There are often tell-tale signs, but to have the luxury to observe is the very best start. Sometimes, certain restoration techniques are simply not possible due to site, financial or legal constraints, but usually, there are things that can be done on a shoestring budget that will make an enormous difference over time. Having a budget just means the restoration can happen sooner.

Presently one of the key drivers of farmland degradation is agroecosystem simplifcation. In the absence of biodiversity and ecosystem services, simplified agroecosystems require heavy reliance on inorganic fertilizers, synthetic herbicides, fungicides and insecticides to maintain sustainable output. Precision agriculture goals are physiological optimization instead of ecological optimum. As an agroecologist, I did not find a single study where Precision or "Sustainably Intensified" agriculture made agroecosystem self-sustainable. Sad truth is that modern agriculture is oftentimes about minimum input maximum output and much less about maintaining highly functional agroecosystem as a whole.

It's essential to save our environment and farmer lands so there are various approach to implement it - Develop a restoration plan - Allocate resources - Train personnel - Implement techniques - Monitor progress - Adjust strategies - Document changes - Engage stakeholders - Adapt to local conditions - Long-term management Consistent monitoring and adaptive management are crucial for ensuring the success and sustainability of the farmland restoration process.

Context - The view from a national sustainability agenda. With today's real time remote earth observation technology it should be possible to both monitor, provide land management advice, and provide weather predicative services (including pan evaporation estimates and forecasts) to the land managers.

Things are changing so fast that monitoring our work is essential. We have different rainfall amounts falling at different times, which can all lead to massive changes in our landscapes even though the average yearly amounts may not change. Snowfall is a big one since if the snow doesn't collect, there isn't the melt in the Spring which is often contributes massively to the supply of water for rivers! Monitoring lets us see where reinforcements need to be made; which techniques are working better in the local conditions and allows us to witness the positive feedback loops! That's the best part.

Implementing and monitoring the restoration process is crucial for restoring degraded farmlands effectively.By implementing a systematic monitoring and evaluation framework and actively engaging stakeholders, it becomes possible to assess the progress, adapt strategies, and achieve successful restoration outcomes for degraded farmlands.

AGROFORESTRY OR AGROECOLOGY An increase in CO2 sequestering plant life grown in regenerative practice. Farmers can improve diversification of farm systems by planting trees or shrubs alongside rotating crops and?mutually beneficial farm animals?to support multi-crop yield and improve soil health.

Communication can not be underestimated as a powerful tool to scale up restoration. In the end people are doing the work and practices such as FMNR can benefit from inspirational, locally relevant and specifically distributed stories and content that showcase the upside for the farmers and their communities. SMS services, radio formats,movie roadshows, music, murals and much more can really scale this!

To restore and sustain land in nature's image we need to follow several fundamental principles: 1) Reduced/selective soil mechanical disturbance 2) Eliminating spatio-temporal events of bare soil 3) Fostering genetic and species diversity of the agroecosystem 4) Integrating livestock and cropping operations on the land 5) Focus on soil health and efficient water cycling 6) Ensure selective and highly intelligent use of inorganic fertilizers and synthetic agricultural chemicals The last principle could and should be avoided as for every pest there are at least 10 natural predators. We just need to host them in the agroecosystem and they would be in service to us.

Context - The view from a national sustainability agenda. I believe we are witnessing the real time transformation of our economic systems to include ecological accounts. Married with, shall we call it, "Ecological Glasnost" whereby ecological accounts are made visible and data transparent the potential for the investment market to contribute to "nature restoration" could be earth changing (pun intended).

This is the same in every field, but in agriculture, where we've gotten off the track, I think looking at ancient (or even just techniques used 100 yrs ago!) can help us understand better what we should be striving for. There are a lot of things we did in the past that aren't done anymore, and a lot of them were super good! Best practices are something that change constantly, so for me, one must try to understand the logic behind the practice, and if it is sound, give it a try. This is why having a network of people to bounce ideas off is super!

Good drainage. Roots cannot grow without air. PH of soil and adequate calcium. ( calcium is king of nutrients) Start with building P and K then address micros Determine if the site gets adequate rainfall, if not, irrigation may have to be installed .

The contribution of my colleague Erin Weidmer is so important. Previously people worked pragmatically, as do indigenous folk who have not been brainwashed by chemical companies. As Nature improves iteratively so did our forebears. Those of us who are scientists who remain in tune sensitive to Nature may today understand a little more of the reasons Nature is able to maintain her wonderful equilibrium. If the only innovation current generations learn is biophilia, literally loving Nature, first introduced into the practice of psychology in 1960s, and have the humility to copy, the way she works, not just how she looks, we will have made great strides forward overcoming some challenges technology has introduced.

Contemporary real time information sharing, especially via shared video platforms, is catalyzing breathtakingly fast progress/evolution across multiple fields of endeavor. Such open learning platforms should achieve hereto not imagined rates of ecological regeneration.

We always knock on the door of innovation to solve our problems, but I do agree that we sometimes need to go back in history and go back to the basic principles. I am a firm believer and supporter of innovation, but innovation is not always new technology - it could be, but it can be old technology or principles, but used in a total new concept or application!

I could not think of a better example than Synecoculture movement in Japan. Synecoculture is a novel open-field faming system that enhances land productivity using multi-faceted knowledge of ecology to comprehensively improve biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and ecosystem services beyond the natural state. A well-designed synecological system could convert previously low productivity landscapes into high-functioning ecosystems through a smooth ecological succession. Synecological experiment conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa, resulted in 40-to-150-fold increase in land productivity with cost-efficiency being 10-fold greater than national average.

Capital investment in ecological restoration is currently in its infancy. I would say we are perhaps a year or two away from seeing open access investment platforms that identify, project by project, farm by farm, and even down to the field and paddock level, the available ecological "nature positive" investment opportunities.

Here are some steps to help restore degraded farm land for aquaculture/Farming Soil testing: Conduct a soil test to determine its fertility, nutrient content, pH levels, and any potential contaminations. This will provide vital information to guide the restoration process. Soil amendment and fertilization: Based on the soil test results, amend the soil by adding organic matter such as compost or manure to improve its structure and fertility. Use appropriate fertilizers to replenish essential nutrients needed for healthy crop growth. It is also essential to consult with local agricultural extension services, aquaculture experts, and conservation organizations to benefit from their knowledge and assistance in the restoration process.

Restoring Degraded Farmland: Sustainable Practices In addressing the restoration of degraded farmland, implementing effective agricultural practices is crucial. This involves a combination of strategies: Green Manuring: - Involves cultivation of cover crops. - Enhances soil fertility by incorporating organic matter. Summar Ploughing (Conservation Tillage): - Minimizes soil disturbance. - Prevents erosion and preserves soil structure. Opting for Less Nutrient and Water-Intensive Crops: - Promotes sustainable resource management. - Mitigates environmental impact. - Supports the restoration of farmland health.

It involves a common-sense approach—understanding nature's workings and aligning actions accordingly. Data become essential to demonstrate to an economy detached from nature the intricacies of the regenerative process. Despite farmers possessing a distinct understanding rooted in observing natural evolution, incorporating numbers and monitoring enhances the evidence and clarity surrounding the entire regenerative process.

Adoption of soil restoration techniques including use of organic matter, green manure, using green cover and application of appropriate nutrients on the basis of soil ph levels could help restore soil health. Farmers should be trained and motivated to adopt practices like; 1. Employing zero tillage practices 2. Growing leguminous crops 3. Following crop rotations 4. Soil and water conservation techniques 5. Agro forestry Once restored, these practices help maintain soil health and nutrition level.

O uso de plantas de cobertura, sem dúvidas é uma das principais ferramentas de recupera??o de solos degradados! Existem vários trabalhos científicos atribuindo essa estratégia a melhoria significativa da biodiversidade de solo, além de ser uma baita ferramenta de acumula??o de carbono no solo.

Consider the Fallback approach. In the event all the set plans fail to materialise,it is important to have a second plan so that should you get fixed the whole business cannot collapse.