Dried Papaya Leaves as Organic Mulch for Tomato Plants

Soil turnover - as soil is moved around by digging animals, organic matter is mixed through which distributes nutrients throughout the soil

In fact, stone mulches can actually change the soil’s pH decreasing acidity and increasing alkalinity, which can be detrimental when growing acid-loving plants. They cover a smaller area per bag, can be more labor intensive to install and lighter colored stones can actually increase the soil’s heat and reduce moisture retention. Applied too thick, stone mulches can impede water getting to the plant’s roots.

Permaculture Living Lab site was prepared by cleaning previous construction site. Weeds were cut and cardboard was then used to cover the PPL site. It has been suggested that this technique prevents weeds from growing, also cardboard will decompose over a period of time which provides nutrients to the site (Jacke, Toensmeier, 2005).

Households can recycle and reduce their amount of waste by taking certain biodegradable materials and start a compost bin. It is here that the common wastes such as food scraps, coffee grounds or anything that has a high organic matter can be put together and let nature take its course. “Using composts in agriculture to minimize organic wastes and to reduce the addition of fertilizers and fungicides in crop production is highly effective”. (Stan, Virsta, Dusa, Glavan, 2009 pg 1) So the compost that is produced can be used to help fertilize the ground in which crops even flowers are grown cutting down on pesticides and fertilizers. The organic component, in materials, can be used in compost recycling to help to promote a healthy soil. By having a healthier soil this provides a healthier plant. This

No-till farming limits the amount of anthropogenic involvement, which can contribute to the degradation soil by exposing the upper soil horizon, re-introducing noxious weeds to germination, allowing for leeching and erosion of topsoil which is already in short demand. This paper discusses the benefits of no-till farming with comparisons and studies that suggest the benefits of the no-till system. This paper takes an in depth look at the history of tillage, as well as the topics of nutrients, mulch and stabilization, habitat, aggregation and aeration, and the nutrient cycle. Although in some cases tillage may have similar results when compared to the no-till system, implementation of the right cover crop on a given soil reduces evaporation, limits water and nutrient leeching, builds or enhances the soil ecosystem which has the potential to promote better plant nutrient absorption.

It is already used by many farmers to prevent soil erosion and to help their fallow fields replenish the nutrients in their soil, becuase of its root deep root system that adds organic matter to the soil.

“Strawberry production has several inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, fuels and materials. Plastic mulch, drip tubes, floating row covers and packaging baskets were considered as materials. In addition to these material inputs, field operations require using agricultural machinery

Old milk jugs and juice containers can be broken down into tiny pieces in mulch. Old tree leaves can be collected during each fall to create a temporary organic mulch that needs to be replaced. Grass clippings can also be collected while cutting the lawn. Mixing them with leaves will create a great compost that you can use as a much.

Tomatoes: Have been constructed for longer shelf life and to prevent bacteria and funguses that can cause tomatoes to rot and degrade. In research conducted on the safety of

Land and soil quality is important to agriculture, but so is plant and the animal systems. The can be defined as ecosystems, and agriculture is an agroecosystem. The ecosystem links between the function of soil, water, and air. Changing concepts have been made from management of a single-resource, single species approach to making it a multiple management approach that would involve the structure, composition, and function of the entire ecosystems. Soil quality can be defined as the capacity of soil that is to function with ecosystem boundaries to sustain biological productivity that will maintain environmental quality, and promote plant and animal health (CEQ, 1993).

People use plants in their everyday lives by using things such as lettuce, cotton, and paper. Lettuce is used by people when they eat it or when they feed it to their animals. Lettuce can be used in a salad or put it on a sandwich. Cotton is another frequently used plant. Cotton is used in many things, it can be used in clothing, in food for animals, and in some hygiene products. Paper is a common product used daily in America. We use paper for books, notes,

Although a plant can grow in the wild on its own, when it is tended to and given extra nutrients it can be even more fruitful. Wouldn't you want your plants to grow bigger and stronger for a better crop and one day use the seeds from those successful plants to make an even better crop? This method may take more time and energy but the outcome will be well worth it. It's true that some plants won't grow as big as the others but they are still just as important to the harvest as the other fruits and vegetables. Some recipes call for large tomatoes while others may just need a small tomato to get the job done. If someone were to take away these nutrients these plants may still grow but not to the same greatness.

Since cover crops help reduce soil erosion nutrients stay in the soil instead of running off into streams and rivers. Cover crops also reduces weeds which eliminates the need for herbicides. The use of legumes as a cover crop promotes biological nitrogen fixation. Therefore, the farmer or rancher may not have to apply nitrogen fertilizers (Reynolds). Altogether the participant receives many environmental and financial benefits from the program.

to an additional 600,000 pounds of grade ‘A’ tomatoes could be purchased without affecting the

The biggest problem people have with organic farming is weed control. You canít use chemicals, so it has do be done mechanically. Farmers use different tactics to try and control weeds, like delaying planting until the ground is warmer and using the crop rotations helps out tremendously. One tool that farmers can use is a flamer to get rid of weeds. According to Bowman, ìFlames from LP-gas burners kill plants by rupturing cell walls, not burning plant tissue. Flaming is most effective on broadleaf weeds as small seedlings.î (1997)