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QSoilHow can I raise soil fertility and retain more moisture?
Expert answer
In short: Every percentage point of humus holds more water: return residues, add organic matter, grow legumes and cover crops.
Fertility and water are one task: every percentage point of humus increases the soil's water-holding capacity. Four accessible practices:
| Practice | How to apply it | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Returning straw and residues | Chopped and incorporated shallowly or left as mulch — never burned | Organic matter for soil life, better structure |
| Farmyard manure and compost | 2–3 t/daa, with the effect spread over several years | Humus, nutrients, microbial activity |
| Cover crops and legumes | After harvest or in the rotation — pea, vetch, chickpea, lucerne, mixtures | Natural nitrogen, erosion protection, better structure |
| Mulch and minimum tillage | Residues stay on the surface; fewer and shallower passes | Less evaporation, soil life preserved |
According to the literature, conservation tillage and residues increase available moisture by 5–15% in dry periods and give 5–10% higher yields in drought, while rotations with legumes improve nitrogen use by 10–20%.
Humus builds up slowly — results show over several years, so start now and track with a soil analysis every 4–5 years.
Material: Training Module 1, section 3 "Soil health and fertility"; Brochure 1, section 7.