guildfordcycads

As per my understanding, these two systems discourage external inputs like fertilisers and encourage use of stuff like compost that has been sourced from the farm itself.

There is also a notion that food yield would be higher in these cases.

What I am not able to wrap my head around is that the numbers just don’t make sense when it comes to minerals in the soil.

Take potassium for example.

Let’s say, the available potassium in the soil is around 50 Kg per acre. Now, assume growing 2 ton of banana and 2 ton of potato per acre and harvesting it. Both use up about 3kg of potassium per ton, so you are extracting about 12Kg of the 50Kg potassium available.

It feels fairly impossible to be able to replace that amount of potassium back through compost or any means other than synthetic fertilisers.

Given the notional higher yeild than monoculture, you would also end up extracting more minerals from the ground. Also, more of it will be locked up in plant bodies themselves for extended periods of time as there are just more plants in the system

What am I missing here? Feels like the claims don’t match up for yeilds at all. They probably match up for stuff like erosion control, pest reduction, etc. but not for yeilds

It will be several months before I get a system running to pump water from my pond for irrigation. How harmful is using tap water? I’m worried the chlorine will kill a lot of the beneficial organisms. Do the rv water filters really help much?

✨ Join Us in Empowering the Next Generation! ✨

Hi everyone!

I’m working on a Master’s project exploring the vital role of soil microbiomes and how we can help children aged 5 to 8 understand the incredible ecosystems beneath our feet. Our goal is to empower younger generations to advocate for themselves on global warming and the climate crisis and to deepen their understanding of the world they live in.

We hope this project will contribute meaningfully to Scottish policy discussions, particularly with the Children’s Parliament now being a legal entity.

We’re looking to connect with people who have knowledge, insights, or experience in soil microbiology, permaculture, and sustainability. If you’re passionate about these topics and open to sharing your expertise, we’d love to collaborate!

We’re especially interested in:

• The microorganisms that make up healthy soil and their essential roles.
• The risks soil microbiomes face due to climate change, pollution, and human activity.
• How we can care for and protect soil microbiomes, particularly through permaculture and regenerative practices.
• How to effectively communicate these concepts to young children in engaging and accessible ways.
• Your earliest childhood memory of soil and how it shaped your view of the natural world.

Your insights—whether scientific, practical, or personal—can help shape this project into something truly impactful.

✨ This project holds deep personal importance to me, and I believe it could make a real difference in Scotland’s policy landscape. Any guidance, insights, or advice would be greatly appreciated! ✨

To learn more or get involved, feel free to reach out at [a.jonsprey1@student.gsa.ac.uk](mailto:a.jonsprey1@student.gsa.ac.uk).

Thank you for considering being part of this journey! 🌱

P.S. If I’ve overstepped any rules for this subreddit, I completely understand if the post needs to be removed. My apologies in advance.

Planted crimson clover in the fall, and looking for advice on what to do with the dead shoots. The undergrowth seems green and healthy but the shoots from the fall died over winter. Should these dead shoots be pruned off or should they be left alone? Will the plant bloom this spring? I did not have any flowers from fall planting. TIA