Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #72

Explain in detail the term Fallow?

Source

I have seen someone who left his farmland for some years before farming on the farmland which was the reason why the person did so for the farmland to become more fertile. This is exactly what fallow means in farming which is simply the practice where farmland is left uncultivated without planting anything for a period of time so that the farmland can naturally restore its nutrients and fertility.

During the period of fallow; no crops are planted on the farmland, natural grasses and weeds get to grow on the farmland, organic matter builds up and the soil structure of the farmland gets to improve.

Types:

There are four types of fallow mentioned in this post which are:

• Bare fallow: this is when the land is only kept free of weeds with no crops

• Natural fallow: this is when the land is left to grow natural vegetation.

• Bush Fallow: This is when the land is left for some years

• Improve fallow: This is when farmers plant species crops.

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What is the importance of Fallow?

• Restoring soil fertility is one of the important benefits of fallow because when a farmer continues farming on the same land the nutrients of the land will become depleted, which fallow helps to rebuild nutrients naturally.

• Control pests, diseases, and weeds. It is important because it breaks the pest life cycle, reduces disease spread, and controls stubborn weeds.

• It improves soil structure because the roots of natural plants loosen the soil.

• It helps to prevent soil erosion as it covers the soil surface, protects it from heavy rain and wind, and reduces nutrient loss.