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When we cultivate, we're growing plants more intensively than nature ever meant, and this presents a problem.
If we continually crop our soil, the soil organic matter slowly declines as the soil microbes decompose it. Every time we remove a crop from the soil, whether it be carrots or cabbages or potatoes, we also remove the nutrients with those crops, and our soil can become slowly depleted.
So we have to make sure that, firstly, we maintain organic matter, and secondly, we maintain the supply of nutrients.
If we continually crop our soil, the soil organic matter slowly declines as the soil microbes decompose it. Every time we remove a crop from the soil, whether it be carrots or cabbages or potatoes, we also remove the nutrients with those crops, and our soil can become slowly depleted.
So we have to make sure that, firstly, we maintain organic matter, and secondly, we maintain the supply of nutrients.
RNZIH - Horticulture Pages - Healthy Soil
By planting a cover crop, you are giving your soil a break. You get more organic material into the soil and you look after its fertility — the nitrogen, the phosphates and the potassium.
More importantly, cover crops are short term — two to three months — and they come in various mixtures.
More importantly, cover crops are short term — two to three months — and they come in various mixtures.
RNZIH - Horticulture Pages - Cover Crops
