Soil Management for Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems
Benefits of Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems
An integrated crop-livestock system is more productive, sustainable, and economically competitive compared to specialized and intensive systems. They provide for a more climate-resilient and productive agricultural systems. Intensive agriculture is a highly efficient and technology-driven cultivation practice focused on maximizing crop yields within limited land areas. It involves the extensive use of machinery, advanced irrigation systems, synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides. Sustainable agriculture as an alternative to intensive specialized agriculture can increase productivity and profits without having adverse impacts on the environment. There are a number of benefits to both the farm and the environment that are seen in mixed animal-crop operations.
Soil Health: Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems
Integrating livestock with crops can be a major plus for long-term soil health. The urine and manure contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients that plants need to grow. By cycling nutrients between animals and crops, particularly nitrogen and carbon, nutrients are better kept on-farm and the addition of inputs like synthetic fertilizers and feed can be reduced. There is some evidence that grazing crops, especially where significant biomass is achieved, may be one of the fastest ways of building soil organic matter and higher microbial functional diversity.
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