Soil Amendments
Turn your Soil into the Foundation of a Successful Farm
Using Soil Amendments to Address Food Insecurity in Haiti
Facts:
- Only 58% of Haitians have adequate access to food.
- About 65% of Haitians experience malnutrition.
- About 60% of rural Haitians are farmers
- Only one-sixth percent of Haiti’s land is suitable for agriculture.
Haitian smallholders who own less than 2 hectares of agricultural land have faced food insecurity for a long time.
There are many factors, both biological and anthropogenic, that contribute to soil infertility or erosion in Haiti. They include land gradients, rainfall patterns, soil types, and impoverished smallholders’ unsustainable farming practices.
Synthetic fertilizers cannot adequately replenish the soil minerals lost in Haiti. Haiti’s poverty contributes to low fertilizer applications, leading to almost zero mineral replenishment and an overall shortage of soil nutrients.
Therefore, a new approach is necessary to address soil infertility in Haiti, and soil amendments may be the answer.
Soil Amendments as a Solution
Your soil is the foundation of your farm. Improve soil health, and you will improve your productivity and profitability.
The key reason for adding soil amendments is to provide a better environment for roots and plant growth. This includes improving soil structure and water-holding capacity, the availability of nutrients, and the living conditions for soil organisms, which are for plant growth. A better soil texture and root growth prevent soil degradation during extreme climatic conditions, such as heavy rainfalls or windy regions.
Soil amendments are used to promote soil health and plant growth. They can help improve the structure of your soil, increase water retention, and make nutrients more available for your plants. They provide tremendous amounts of organic matter, known as humus, which leads to better soil structure and water-holding capacity.
Soil health plays a critical role in crop growth and productivity. Healthy soil is a foundation for profitable, productive, and environment-friendly agricultural systems.
Soil amendments are mixed into the topsoil to promote soil health and plant growth.
Mixing minerals additives improves soil structure, adds organic matter that feeds microbes, nutrients, and water to plants, and promotes seed germination and root growth. Improving the soil improves plant productivity and health, will increase your profits, and will improve your overall farm’s condition.
Interested In Volunteering?
Help build the foundation of Haiti’s growth by clicking below!
