Skip to content

SciTech

Crop diversification may help protect farmers from climate change

by Colin Ricketts 02 Mar 2011
Crop diversification may help protect farmers from climate change

Agricultural monocultures have long been a bete noire of conservationists, who hate the huge, characterless fields so beloved of what's become known as industrial agriculture for aesthetic reasons if nothing else.

Now scientists have come up with a very good reason for farmers to grow a wider diversity and variety of crops to protect themselves from the changes likely to result from climate change.

The survey is published in the March issue of BioScience and has highlighted simple changes to farming practice that can help agriculture respond both to temperature increases and an increased frequency of extreme weather events.

Brenda B Lin of the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization is behind the survey which backs the idea of mixed planting to protect crops.

She found that rice and other cereals, alfalfa, and coffee, responded better to growing in mixed company.

Mixing crop varieties and species in rotation or alongside each other helps crops by making it harder for pests and diseases to settle in too comfortably.

Lin also found that there was some effect on reducing the harm done by climate extremes.

However, it's not simply a case of sowing some sunflowers with your soya and hoping for the best. Lin's work found that mixing crops doesn't always work and that farmers need to make use of the latest crop modeling developments to make sure they are benefiting.

She is hoping to continue her work and build up more knowledge that will help farmers find the most effective mixing techniques for their land.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9