Abstract
The addition of organic amendments and cover cropping on sandy soils are regenerative farming practices that can potentially enhance soil health. South Florida mineral soils present low soil quality due to their sandy texture and low organic matter (OM) content. Few studies have focused on evaluating the effects of farm-based management regenerative practices in this region. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in soil properties associated with two regenerative farming practices - horse bedding application in combination with cover cropping (cowpea, Vigna unguiculata), compared to the practice of cover cropping only for two years. The soil quality indicators that were tested included soil pH, bulk density, water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, OM, active carbon, soil protein and major nutrients (N, P, K). Results indicated no significant changes in soil pH, but a significant reduction in soil bulk density and a significant increase in maximum water holding capacity for both practices. Cation exchange capacity and the amounts of active carbon increased significantly after 1.5-year of the farming practices. Horse bedding application with cover cropping showed a significant 4% increase in OM during a short period. A significant increase in plant-available P was also observed under these two practices. Based on this study, horse bedding application as an organic amendment in conjunction with cover cropping provides an enhanced soil health effect compared to just cover cropping. As local growers explore farming option to improve soil health particularly during the fallow period using regenerative farming practices on sandy soils, these results will assist in their decision making.
Highlights
Regenerative farming is an approach of farming that focuses on improving and revitalizing soil health
Conventional agricultural practices can lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, while regenerative farming promotes an increase in soil organic carbon levels, which helps agriculture to serve as a carbon sink
Based on the research results, both horse bedding application with cover cropping using Vigna unguiculata and the practice of cover cropping only in general had a positive effect on enhancing soil properties in mineral soils of South Florida
Summary
Regenerative farming is an approach of farming that focuses on improving and revitalizing soil health. Leontino Balbo’s Native Farm in Brazil reported a 20% increase in sugarcane yield due to zero budget natural farming (ZBNF); integrated duck-rice model conducted in Takao Furuno’s farm in Japan reported a 20-50% rice yield increase as well as a tripling in revenue; and a farmer named Rodney Rulon spent about $100,000 on cover crop seeds on his farm in Indiana, but saved about $57,000 on fertilizers and $107,000 in extra income because of greater yields (Nick, 2019) All of these regenerative approaches focus on soil health management, in an attempt to obtain a balanced relationship between the chemical, biological and physical aspects of a soil, which enhance soil fertility for increasingly productive and sustainable agriculture. Conventional agricultural practices can lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, while regenerative farming promotes an increase in soil organic carbon levels, which helps agriculture to serve as a carbon sink
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