Drought 5 ways to protect your farmland
With the increasing frequency of agricultural droughts and heatwaves, the management of agricultural soils is becoming a major challenge in maintaining crop yields and limiting water stress in crops. Degraded, dried-out or compacted soil leads to:
- Less water available in the reserves needed for crops
- Reduced biological activity
- A gradual decline in yields
Conversely, well-managed soil acts as a natural water reservoir, capable of storing water and releasing it to plants during dry periods.
Here are 5 practical solutions to effectively protect your agricultural soils against drought.
1. Never leave the soil bare
Bare soil in the height of summer can reach very high surface temperatures, greatly accelerating water evaporation. This results in rapid loss of soil moisture, partial destruction of biological life, and an increased risk of soil compaction and runoff following a storm.
The first solution to address this issue is ground cover. By establishing ground cover, “there can be a temperature difference of up to 15°C compared to bare soil. This varies depending on the plants and their biomass”
2. Minimise tillage in dry conditions
Tilling soil that is too dry can have detrimental effects on its structure. Indeed, when the soil is too dry, tillage implements tend to break up clods into very fine particles, which disrupts the surface soil layers. This excessive fragmentation undermines the soil’s natural cohesion and destroys the aggregates that play a vital role in air and water circulation. When exposed to rain, these fine particles cause soil compaction, which limits water infiltration and promotes runoff. This can also hinder seedling emergence.
Conversely, working the soil when it is cool and well-drained helps to preserve a crumbly structure, which is ideal for maintaining porosity and ensuring water infiltration.
3. Promoting water infiltration and reducing runoff
In summer, rainfall often takes the form of heavy downpours. Under these conditions, the soil’s ability to absorb water quickly becomes a key factor. Soil that is poorly structured, compacted or deficient in organic matter does not allow for optimal infiltration and retention. The water then runs off the surface and is therefore unavailable to crops. This phenomenon can cause significant erosion, particularly on bare soil, washing away fine particles and nutrients essential for fertility.
To limit these effects, it is essential to improve soil structure. Compacted soil, often caused by repeated passage of machinery, has low porosity. Good porosity not only promotes infiltration but also water retention, thereby building up reserves that are useful for crops during dry periods.
Thus, maintaining well-aerated and well-structured soil is essential to make the most of every millimetre of rainfall. This requires appropriate practices, such as limiting compaction, adding organic matter, or maintaining ground cover. These measures help to improve the soil’s resilience and its ability to absorb and retain water, whilst reducing the risks of erosion and water loss.
4. Adapting farming tools and practices
The choice of tools is crucial for preserving soil structure, improving water management and ensuring long-term soil fertility. Indeed, inappropriate tillage can disrupt soil layers and accelerate desiccation, to the detriment of soil life.
THE ACTISOL ADVICE: Actisol’s crackers are designed to work at depth whilst respecting the natural structure of the soil: they operate vertically without turning or disturbing the soil layers, thereby improving aeration and water infiltration.
Certain practices are recommended:
- The use of lightweight equipment operating vertically, which corrects compaction without disrupting the soil structure
- Superficial work limited to the top few centimetres to avoid disturbing deeper soil layers
- Targeted interventions, carried out only when necessary
Suitable tools and a measured approach enable the restoration of porosity without disturbing the soil layers.
Results:
- Improved infiltration
- Improved water retention
- More resilient soil
5. Preserving soil life
Soil fertility depends largely on its biological activity, that is, the living organisms it harbours: bacteria, fungi, earthworms and other micro-organisms. These organisms play a vital role in the decomposition of organic matter, the release of nutrients and soil structure. However, harsh climatic conditions, particularly high temperatures and water shortages, can have a significant impact on them.
To protect them, it is essential to retain organic matter on the surface: crop residues or plant cover provide a source of nutrients for soil organisms and help form a protective mulch.
It is important to avoid unnecessary disturbance, such as repeated passes with tools, which can destroy natural habitats and disrupt biological cycles. A living soil is a more stable soil, better able to withstand climatic fluctuations. It infiltrates water more effectively, stores more carbon and supports crops even under stressful conditions.
In summary, how can we improve water retention in agricultural soil?
To improve soil water retention in a sustainable way, several approaches must therefore be combined:
- Permanent plant cover
- Reduced tillage
- Increased organic matter
- Limited compaction
It is the combination of all these practices that helps build soil resilient to drought.
THE ACTISOL ADVICE: Each plot reacts differently depending on its texture, history and organic matter content. Observation remains your best ally. Adapting your practices at the right time not only protects your soil in summer, but also prepares the ground for subsequent crops under better conditions.