Abstract
Rampant soil erosion of as much as 20 tons per acre per year doesn’t merely affect farmers. The nitrogen and phosphorus contained in the soil affect aquatic life and marine ecosystems, creating the dead zones and cultural eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. Losing topsoil is like losing time—one cannot get it back. Many fear the depletion in topsoil will eventually affect food availability. The authors examine how no-till farming, crossbreeding and domestication of perennial plants, and a purposeful shift toward sustainable intensification and polyculture farming will positively impact future generations. Author Anna Christine Taylor also includes her interviews with professionals who practice sustainable farming or sustainable living. As a millennial, she presents her hope that a focus on communication, education, and economic viability will pave the way for the sustainable future.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Adegboyega ER (2019) The impact of soil erosion on agricultural land and productivity in Efon Alaaye, Ekiti state. Int J Agric Policy Res 7(2):32–40
Backer B (2019, February 7) Marrying socialism and climate change: the shortsighted folly of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Washington Times. https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/7/marrying-socialism-and-climate-change/. Accessed 16 Feb 2019
Blu Sky (2020) https://blusky.me/. Accessed 25 Apr 2020
Crews T, Carton W, Olsson L (2018) Is the future of agriculture perennial? Imperatives and opportunities to reinvent agriculture by shifting from annual monocultures to perennial polycultures. Globa Sustain 1(11):1–18
Dasgupta S, Huang IJ, McElroy AE (2015) Hypoxia enhances the toxicity of Corexit EC9500A and chemically dispersed southern Louisiana sweet crude oil (MC-242) to Sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) larvae. PLoS One 10(6):e0128939
Dornbos D (2012) How should Christians promote sustainable agriculture in agrarian systems? A normative evaluation. Persp Sci Christ Faith 64:51–61
Dornbos D (2018) Personal interview
Glover J, Reganold J, Cox C (2007) Future farming: a return to roots. Large scale agriculture would become more sustainable if major crop plants lived for years and built deep root systems. Sci Am 297(2):82–89
Glover J, Reganold J, Bell L, Borevitz J, Brummer E, Buckler E, Cox C, Cox T, Crews T, Culman S, DeHaan L, Eriksson D, Gill B, Holland J, Hu F, Hulke B, Ibrahim A, Jackson W, Jones S, Murray S, Paterson A, Ploschuk E, Sacks E, Snapp S, Tao D, Van Tassel D, Wade L, Wyse D, Xu Y (2010) Increased food and ecosystem security via perennial grains. Science 328(5986):1638–1639
GPS: National Coordination Office for Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (2018). https://www.gps.gov/applications/agriculture/. Accessed 7 Jan 2019
Huggins D, Reganold J (2008) No-till: the quiet revolution. Sci Am 299(1):70–77
Humes E (2011) Force of nature. Harper Collins, New York, pp 14–23, 87, 160–180
Mann C (2008) Our good earth. Natl Geogr Sep 2008:84–107
Montgomery DR (2007) Soil erosion and agricultural sustainability. PNAS 104(33):13268–13272
Paine V (2012) What causes ocean “dead zones?” https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ocean-dead-zones/. Accessed 2019 June 11
Pretty J, Benton T, Bharucha Z, Dicks L, Flora C, Godfray C, Goulson D, Hartley S, Lampkin N, Morris C, Pierzynski G, Prasad V, Reganold J, Rockström SP, Thorne P, Wratten S (2018a) Global assessment of agricultural system redesign for sustainable intensification. Nat Sustain 1:441–446
Pretty J, Benton T, Bharucha Z, Dicks L, Flora C, Godfray C, Goulson D, Hartley S, Lampkin N, Morris C, Pierzynski G, Prasad V, Reganold J, Rockström SP, Thorne P, Wratten S (2018b) Global assessment of agricultural system redesign for sustainable intensification: supplementary information. Nat Sustain 1:441–446
Pruden W (2019) Second thoughts in the Unicorn Caucus. Jewish World Review. http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/pruden021219.php3. Accessed 16 Feb 2019
Ramos TB, Darouich H, Gonçalves M, Brito D, Castelo Branco M, Marins J, Fernades M, Pires F, Morals M, Neves R (2018) An integrated analysis of the eutrophication process in the Enxoé reservoir within the DPSIR framework. Water 10(11):1576
Reganold J, Robert P, Parr J (1990) Sustainable agriculture: traditional conservation minded methods combined the modern technology can reduce farmers’ dependence on possible dangerous chemicals. The rewards are both environmental and financial. Sci Am 262(6):112–114
Stewart R (2016) Personal interview
The Land Institute (2019) Kernza® Grain: toward a perennial agriculture. https://landinstitute.org/our-work/perennial-crops/kernza/. Accessed 7 Jan 2019
Tully K, Ryals R (2017) Nutrient cycling in agroecosystems: balancing food and environmental objectives. Agroecol Sustain Food Sys 41(7):761–798
Welch R, Shuman L (1995) Micronutrient nutrition of plants. Crit Rev Plant Sci 14(1):49–82
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Taylor, A.C., Korstad, J. (2020). Ecologically Sound and Practical Applications for Sustainable Agriculture. In: Bauddh, K., Kumar, S., Singh, R., Korstad, J. (eds) Ecological and Practical Applications for Sustainable Agriculture. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3372-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3372-3_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-15-3371-6
Online ISBN: 978-981-15-3372-3
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)