Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry

Bioremediation:

Crop Rotation:

Companion Planting:

Organic Product:

Humus:

Humus is the organic part of the soil formed by the decomposing action of soil microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) that break down animal and vegetable material.

Compost:

Mulch:

Silviculture:

Naturalization:

Fallowing:

Fallowing, in agriculture, is the mode of preparing land, by ploughing it a considerable time before it is ploughed for seed. (review advantages)

Inter-seeding Grains and Legumes

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Regulations & Regulatory Bodies

PMRA:

PCPA: (lots o’ detail…)

info.)

Basic Requirements for Plant Growth

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The primary environmental factors are:
— / Soil is a reservoir for nutrients and moisture, and provides mechanical support.
— / Sunshine furnishes heat and light.
— / Air supplies carbon dioxide and oxygen.

Environmental parameters that influence plant growth:

Daylength

Daylength is usually the most critical factor in regulating vegetative growth, flower initiation and development, and the induction of dormancy. Plants utilize daylength as a cue to promote their growth in spring and prepare them for the cold weather. Many plants require specific daylength conditions to initiate flowers.

Light

Light is the energy source for plants. Cloudy, rainy days or the shade cast by nearby plants and structures can significantly reduce the amount of light available. Shade adapted plants cannot tolerate the bright light of full sun. Plants survive only where the amount is within a range they can tolerate.

Temperature

Plants grow best within an optimum range of temperatures; and the range may be wide for some species, narrow for others. Plants survive only where temperatures allow them to carry on life-sustaining chemical reactions.

Cold

Plants differ in their ability to survive cold temperatures. Some tropical plants are injured by temperatures below 60°F. Arctic species can tolerate temperatures well below zero. The ability of a plant to withstand cold is a function of the degree of dormancy present in the plant, its water status, and general health. Exposure to wind and bright sunlight or rapidly changing temperatures can also compromise a plant's cold tolerance.

Heat

Heat tolerance varies widely from species to species. Many plants that naturally grow in arid tropical regions are naturally very heat tolerant, while subarctic plants and alpine plants show very little tolerance for heat. High night temperatures are often the most limiting factor for many plants.

Water

Different plants have different water needs. Some tolerate drought during the summer but need winter rains. Others need a consistent supply of moisture to grow well. Careful attention to the need for supplemental water can help you select plants that need a minimum of irrigation to perform well in your garden. If you have poorly drained, chronically wet soil, you can select lovely garden plants that naturally grow in bogs, fens, and other wet places.

pH

The ability of plant roots to take up certain nutrients depends on the pH, which is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of your soil. Most plants grow best in soils that have a pH near 7.0. Most ericaceous plants such as azaleas and blueberries need acid soils with pH below 6.0 to grow well.Lime can be used to raise pH and materials containing sulfates such as aluminum sulfate and iron sulfate can be used to lower pH. The solubility of many trace elements is controlled by pH, and only the soluble forms of these important micronutrients can be used by plants. Iron is not very soluble at high pH and iron chlorosis is often present in high-pH soils, even if they contain abundant iron.

Mineral Nutrients.

Green plants must absorb certain minerals through their roots to survive. In the garden these minerals are supplied by the soil and by the addition of fertilizers such as manure, compost, and fertilizer salts. The essential elements needed in large quantities are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Micronutrients - iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, and chlorine are also needed but in very small amounts.

Growing Medium

…Relationship of Air and Water in the Soil
Soil provides a foundation for tree growth-structurally and biologically. Soil supports a tree's physical weight and resists the forces of wind. Soil also supplies water, air, and nutrients. The value of the soil as structural and biological support is related to soil structure.
Soil structure influences plant growth, because it affects moisture, aeration, heat transfer, and the mechanical resistance to root growth. Most people think of soil as being a mixture of solid elements, such as minerals and organic matter. But, open spaces in soil, called pores, are equally important. The size and distribution of soil pores affect the movement and availability of moisture and air through the soil.
The air-water relationship is a critical one for optimum plant growth. The number of pore spaces must be adequate and the variety of sizes appropriate. Pore size determines the relative amounts of air and water that soil will hold. Gravity quickly drains water from larger pores, making them good sources of air. Smaller pores tend to hold water against the pull of gravity, making them good for water storage. Because plants need both air and water in the soil, a good balance of large and small pore spaces is required for optimum growth.
Sand, with its open structure of many large pores, is called a "coarse" soil. Sandy soils generally drain well. They contain ample amounts of air, but little water. "Fine" clay soils drain poorly and tend to hold water in their many small pore spaces. But, pores in clay soils can be so small and hold water so tightly that tiny feeder roots cannot extract the moisture.
Organic matter in the soil affects both the physical and chemical properties of the soil. A fertile soil rich in organic matter is literally alive. Although insects and earthworms are the most obvious inhabitants, microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, constitute the largest population by weight in the soil community. Organic matter in the soil comes from decomposed plant and animal tissue as well as the micro-organisms themselves. Organic matter enhances the aeration and water-holding capacity of the soil. It also affects the soil's chemical properties by supplying necessary plant nutrients.
The phrase "effective rooting depth" describes the portion of the soil where conditions are favorable for root growth-most often in the top three feet of the soil. Effective rooting depth may be limited by circumstances that restrict soil porosity or hinder plant growth. Four relatively common problems are surface crusting, high water tables, poor sub-surface drainage and claypans or hardpans.