Agriculture remains to be one of the foundations of Australia’s economy, as it makes up around 12% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). As of 2015, it — along with other related industries — employed more than 320,000 people.
2. Agriculture remains to be one of the foundations of Australia’s economy, as it makes up around 12% of the
country’s gross domestic product (GDP). As of 2015, it — along with other related industries — employed
more than 320,000 people.
The industry is responsible for providing one of every person's basic needs, which is food. It is, however,
facing different threats. One of these is the decline of soil fertility. It means that there are specific factors
causing the stripping of nutrients from the soil. In the process, it can result to lower or poorer food
production.
What causes this problem? Industry experts enumerate the following:
1. Erosion
Erosion happens for different reasons. In many farmlands of Australia, it may be due to land clearing.
This process may be a precedent to a commercial land development or the addition of irrigation systems.
Either way, with having fewer trees, the soil now becomes loose. Other factors that contribute to it are
excessive tillage and over-grazing.
2. Leaching
One of the main nutrients that soil can lose is nitrogen. Fertilisers, on the other hand, can add them back.
But there is a problem — leaching. It is a natural process where the permeable soil 'absorbs' the
substances that are soluble in water, such as pesticides and fertilisers.
3. In the process, it may prevent the fertiliser from enriching the soil and even strip it further with its
nutrients. To make matters worse, leaching can also lead to the contamination of water supply. Therefore,
it has a much bigger negative impact to the community.
How Can Farmers Reduce the Decline of Soil Fertility?
Soil fertility decline can result in unsustainability. The sooner the farmers manage it, the better the
outcome is. To reduce it, the industry can:
Use the right tools, such as coil packers, harrows, and bars, suitable to the existing soil conditions
and reduce wind and water erosion
Decrease tillage or use low-tech systems
Search for more organic sources of nitrogen, such as manure, compost, and seaweed products
Futurists believe humans will learn to produce food in laboratories. Until that happens, humanity will
continue to depend on agriculture. It, therefore, needs all the support to make it long-lasting and
sustainable.
