Terra Sintrópica’s Post

What does cover crop do…? Take a look Cover crops – plants grown primarily to benefit the successful growth of other future crops – help with soil erosion, improve soil health, crowd out weeds, control pests and diseases, increase biodiversity, and can bring a host of other benefits to your farm or garden, including increased profitability. Strongly believe that everyone is def catching on https://lnkd.in/g4kd4bjs

As part of its Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy, Ethiopia aims to restore more than 20 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, and has been engaged in large-scale tree planting campaigns like the Green Legacy Initiative to help meet this target. In this context, the Government of Norway and CIFOR-ICRAF launched the Provision of Adequate Tree Seed Portfolios (PATSPO) project in 2017 to support the supply of quality tree seed for such tree planting endeavors. PATSPO has since established two types of orchards – some that cultivate breeding seed (BSOs) and others that cultivate seedlings (SSOs). Currently, there are 32 BSOs and 16 SSOs. Both kinds of orchards are set up from seed collected from 125 superior trees found in five different areas where the species in question is growing well. The orchards will produce a huge amount of genetically high-quality seed, leading to better trees providing benefits such as wood, fodder, erosion reduction, medicine, food, and more. Full story: https://lnkd.in/dM88dT_9 #Trees4Resilience

Why are insects so important for the ecosystem? They comprise over 80% of terrestrial species on Earth and include bees, ants, butterflies, grasshoppers, and beetles, among many others. Insects drive the production of essential seeds, fruits, and vegetables via pollination, and are necessary decomposers of organic matter. What is the most useful insect to humans? Honey Bees Honeybees are clearly among the most important pollinators, and their efforts result in an estimated 80 percent of all pollination in the United States. Pollination by Honeybees in the U.S. favourably affects some 20 billion dollars in crops per year, including fruits, vegetables, and many nuts. #ecosystem #insects #pollinators #honeybees

Bed nursery completed for trial plot under Bonsucro Impact Fund (BIF) Project. After germination, buds will shifted in the field. This trial is for 1 canal. Aim of this trial plot is to check the germination rate, No. of tillers, pest attack and number of internodes as a comparison of control plot (Normal Sowing). It's aim is also to motivate the Sugarcane farmers for ratoon gap fillings in the field after harvesting. Preparing a bed nursery for sugarcane is a crucial step in ensuring healthy and vigorous plant growth. Some benefits of nursery are given below: -Healthy, vigorous seedlings. -Improved germination rate. -Enhanced sugarcane yields. #sugarcanelovers #nursery #agrarians

Honey bee rearing is beneficial because it helps pollination of crops and produce honey. However we are careless about their supply of food. Adequate planning is necessary to provide abundant nectar and pollen to the honey bees throughout the year to maximise honey production. Different plants flower in different seasons of the year and the quantity and quality of nectar and pollen of the flower also vary widely. Honey bees prefer some flowers over others. Those plants which produce the most attractive flowers for honey bees and other pollinators are known as pollinator magnet plants. We need a scientific rating and ranking of pollinator magnet plants and we need a system of optimisation of plant community (a portfolio of pollinator magnet plants) to provide uniform supply of food to the honey bees throughout the year.

Technically, okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a fruit, but is perceived and eaten as a vegetable. The colour changes with the variety, and ranges from pale green to pink to dark maroon. A heat-loving, low-care crop that thrives in strong sun and humidity, okra does best in subtropical and tropical gardens. Okra is a fantastic and reliable summer food crop for the subtropics & tropics, as it really loves the heat. Once the daytime temperature rises above 32C (90F), it will start to thrive. Planting your okra in a full sun position will result in strong plants with good pod production. Sow or transplant into rich, well-drained soil with a neutral pH. If the soil is prepared well in advance of planting (i.e. by the addition of compost/manure/fertiliser/blood & bone), you shouldn’t need to amend the soil during the growing season. #vegetables #agriculture #foodsystem

Pollinators play a role in your garden that you might not even *bee* 🐝 aware of! So this #NationalPollinatorWeek, we want to share some fun facts on our flying friends. - Bees are the most commonly-known pollinator (with over 4,000 types in the US), but butterflies, hummingbirds, and beetles are also pollinators - Native Monarch butterflies pollinate many different types of wildflowers and create biodiversity - More than 100 US crops depend on pollinators, such as almonds, berries, and squash Want to see pollinator butterflies in your garden? PHS experts recommend planting milkweed or purple coneflower 🦋

#PollinatorWeek It’s not always easy flying for our fuzzy, winged friends! This busy #bee had a bit of a flip on its way to get pollen. Did you know there are around 400 native species of bees in Maryland, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources? This video shows a #bumblebee, a frequent pollinator of flowers and many fruit and vegetable crops. Unlike native #bees, honeybees were introduced from Europe and now perform the pollination dance alongside our native bees. However, honeybees are not effective pollinators for many native plants and are significant competitors of native bees. Let’s support our native bees by growing some of their favorite plants like rosemary, lavender, and coneflower! Once they flower, hungry bees like this one will thank you. Get “buzzy” planting! Video description: A bumblebee starts to climb up a yellow flower, stumbles and flips over on the way before climbing successfully to the flower's center. Credit: Hannah-Marie Garcia

Celebrate National Seed Swap Day on January 27! This day emphasizes the importance of saving seeds, encouraging biodiversity, preserving heritage seeds, and supporting fellow gardeners. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, seed swaps are a great way to exchange seeds, meet new friends, and learn about what grows best in your area.    Now is a great time to research the various seed swap events in your region. Different organizers have different guidelines for how their seed swaps operate, such as what the seeds should be transported in, what types of seeds are allowed, and how invasive plants are defined.  #AHSGardening #AmericanHorticulturalSociety #NationalSeedSwapDay #SeedSwapDay #biodiversity #heirloomseeds 

Spring has officially sprung, and the pollinators need your help! 🙏🐝 These small but mighty creatures are absolutely critical every spring. That’s because about 80% of the plants we need for food and industrial products require pollination (according to the USDA). What’s more, pollinators like bees and butterflies help produce larger, more flavorful, and more abundant crops. 🌱 But pollinators have been struggling in recent years. Unfortunately, factors like disease, parasites, habitat loss, and environmental degradation have caused a decline in the number of pollinators. You’ve probably heard that the bees, the poster child of the pollinators, are disappearing. Enter: The pollinator garden. 🌼🌷 If you want to provide some much-needed support for your local pollinators this spring, a pollinator garden could be the perfect weekend project. ⤵️⤵️