Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell
Research team makes surprising discovery after planting multiple crops in the same field: ‘It’s a promising combination’

 

Today’s good news comes from The Cool Down newsletter. Thank you, Noelle Granger, for spotting it and making me aware.

Research team makes surprising discovery after planting multiple crops in the same field: ‘It’s a promising combination.’

Leslie Sattler,

A new study from the University of Alberta points to an exciting way farmers can grow better crops while spending less on fertilizer.

The secret? Planting certain grains and legumes side by side in the same fields.

Researchers from the university planted two perennial grains—rye and wheatgrass—alongside three legumes—alfalfa, white clover, and sainfoin. According to the results published in the Journal of Animal Science, this combination produced high-quality crops that could more effectively feed livestock.

“The legumes naturally supply nitrogen to the soil, improve the organic matter, and improve the forage quality for livestock. At the same time, perennial cereal plants have deep root systems, which helps sequester more carbon and makes them more drought-resistant than annual crops, which is important in Alberta’s dry climate,” Cosmas Ugwu, who led the study, said in a post by the university.

“It’s a promising combination that can potentially help crop performance, reduce dependence on synthetic fertilizers, lower costs for farmers, and promote environmental sustainability,” Ugwu added.

This planting method offers several benefits for farmers. The combined crops are more drought-resistant and provide better nutrition for cattle, making them easier to digest.

The research team tested two planting patterns across Alberta. Both methods worked well, but planting in alternate rows yielded slightly better results, producing about 5% more crops in the first year of harvest in 2023.

This farming approach could help build a more sustainable food system. When farmers spend less on fertilizer, food prices can stay lower. Plus, reducing synthetic fertilizer use helps clean our air and water, creating healthier communities.

The research team continues to study how this planting method affects soil health and carbon storage. It’s working closely with farmers to help them adopt these practices, which could start showing up in fields across North America in the coming growing seasons.

The good news in this story is that more effort is being put into finding more natural ways of growing healthy crops. Today’s JohnKu talks about farming. I hope you have a beautiful weekend.

Crops by John W. Howell © 2024

We need to feed all,

But there seems to be some room. . .

For more natural ways.

 

Thanks for the story, Noelle.

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Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

78 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News”

  5. Wonderful that this research is being done. It reminds me of listening to the audio version of “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, in which she talked about planting the “three sisters” of corn, beans, and squash.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. As always, you’re cool, John! 😊 I mentioned you, River Dixon, and some other indie authors from WordPress on Substack today 🙂 I hope you gain more readers soon! It’s always fun to engage with new readers. 🎢✨🫖🐕 ps. When ppl asks there about good books I always mention those I read (+ indie) 🤓

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Who’d have thought? I guess it makes sense, seeing as how different plants grow alongside one another in the wild, but what a cool idea, planting them that way! Farmers have to be innovators, don’t they?

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Wonderful news all around. The Native Americans called the combination of beans, corn, and squash “the three sisters” and were growing food in the arid canyons of NM for centuries. I love it when the old wisdom of growing diverse crops together comes around and provides solutions for current problems. Great post, John.

    Liked by 2 people

      1. I think so too. We’ve discovered that mono-crop agriculture depletes the soil of water and nutrients until it can’t grow anything at all. Big agro won’t like diversifying but in the long run it may help them too.

        Liked by 1 person

  23. It is a great discovery and good news. I should say it is not the first time I learn about crop mixing making for more sustainable growing. The Native Americans often mixed three crops, they called it the three sisters, which are able to provide most of the nutrition we need, corn (carbohydrate), beans(protein), squash/pumpkin(vitamins). In addition, these three crops also sustain each other and keep the soil in good shape instead of draining it. For example, beans create nitrates/ammonia (fertilizers) and squash protects (insecticide).

    Liked by 1 person

  24. I like to see that agriculture continues to look at new and improved ways to improve their harvest. My daughter-in-law’s father is a corn breeder, always looking for new strands.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Great post, John. I’ve followed this practice a bit (probably because of my farming family), and it makes so much sense. Thank you for sharing! Loved your JohnKu as well! 😊

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