Global Warming & Agriculture

GLOBAL WARMING & AGRICULTURE: Oceans and forests sequester a lot more carbon than farmland based on total surface area and other absorbing factors. However, farmers can help reduce global warming while doing a lot more to increase the efficiency of their own farming operation and the quality of their production. The main carbon sequestering involves the production of organic matter in the form of humus as well as the immediate capture of carbon by photosynthesis in the growing crop. From a practical standpoint, the increasing of organic matter/humus may mean more to the grower’s future survival than the larger implication of global warming. Increased humus is going to help provide the soil structure and moisture holding capacity for continued production under adverse weather conditions or decreased availability of irrigation water. Humus is primarily a carbonaceous, amorphous [without form] compound created by bacterial and enzymatic soil processes. Since soil carbon, as humus, holds 5 times its weight in water, its desirability is obvious. 

So how do you increase humus and/or increase water holding capacity and improve structure? The benefits and shortcomings of the Albrecht [CEC] concept concerning soil structure have been discussed previously, so we will concentrate on other aspects in this message. Compost is finally getting its due in agriculture, however, the discussion and agreements of its value far outweigh the actual application. Anything you can do to acquire and apply good compost should certainly be done. Good compost teas are the next choice. Discing down of any plant material with N, sugar, microbes and enzymes results in sheet composting that provides some active humus, but probably not much long range stable humus. Active humus is great food for the next crop. For those of you who don’t have access to good compost or compost tea, what are some other alternatives? 

Humates, which are ancient compost reduced to concentrated humic compounds, offer a reasonable substitute for fresh compost. They can be spread easily and are reasonably priced.

Crop Services International, Inc

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