« Symbiotic Relationship Through Nanotechnology | Main | Turn of the aquifer tap: we have enough precipitation »
Wednesday
Oct212009

Raised Beds

A great way to increase water conservation at the farm is byconstructing raised beds. In this diagram we see a raised bed made from bamboo,however, they can be built using several different materials or even nomaterial at all. If material is used, it can easily come from recycled matterfound on the farm (e.g. from the structure).

Benefits of raised beds is not limited to water conservationand includes an increase in SOM (soil organic matter), a decrease in soilcompaction, easy accessibility to crops, improved soil conditions, greateryields, and a decrease in runoff. Water conservation is accomplished in thisdesign by concentrating the water to one area. The best irrigation system touse with raised beds is drip tape, a practice already implemented at thesmartfarm.

Another way in which water is conserved is by the increasein water holding capacity. First, SOM is increased as a result of lesscompaction and an increase in topsoil. SOM is directly linked to water andnutrient uptake. When there is more SOM, plants are able to take up theseessentials. Think of SOM like a sponge...

The confinement of raised beds will also aide in keeping theorganic matter (crop residues, compost, etc) where it needs to be, near thecrops! Organic matter increased SOC (soil organic carbon), which then improvesbeneficial bacteria.

The benefits of raised beds are endless and could serve as agreat tool in conserving water at the smartfarm.

Misha Manuchehri

_________________________________________________________________Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection.http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/

Reader Comments (5)

<p>You will need to do a little bit of Prom Dressesand visit some Cheap Prom Dress to find out the important information you are not familiar with buying Prom Dresses 2010. It's always good to take the Prom Dress and check prices and see Prom Dresses 2010 you can afford. Everybody has a Cheap Prom Dresses taking some time out to check your local <a href="http://www.wholesale-weddinggowns.com/modest-

May 17, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterwedding111

I got bridal gowns an engagement
cocktail dresses ring for Christmas. My boyfriend and I had been dating discount cocktail dress for almost a year and both felt the inexpensive cocktail dresses time was right to join our bridal gown lives together in holy
matrimony. htmlThe wholesale bridal gowns month of January was spent planning wholesale bridal gowns our perfect Alabama June wedding. wedding gown My mother, two sisters and I went to Huntsville, Informal Bridal Gowns the closestFormal Bridal Gowns town with a 2010 Cocktail DressesPlus Size Cocktail Dresses gown that would play the
Inexpensive Cocktail DressesSexy Cocktail Dresses
just being Modest Bridal Gowns together and sharing silly jokes, but the day soon turned serious by afternoon: still no sign of the dress of my dreams. Both sisters Simple Bridal Gowns were ready to give up and try another day in another town, but I coerced them Modest Bridal Gowns into one more boutique.I had a good Simple Bridal Gowns feeling as we entered the quaint little shop filled with the scent of fresh flowers. The elderly clerk showed us several Simple Bridal Gowns beautiful gowns in my size and price range, but none were right. As I opened the door to leave, the desperate shop Simple Bridal Gowns owner announced she had one more dress in the back that was expensive and not even my size, but perhaps I might want to look Simple Bridal Gowns at it anyway. When she brought it out, I squealed in delight.

June 22, 2010 | Unregistered Commenterwedding

The article -Rolex Day Date luxury men watches written by you very good, I like it very much. I will keep your new article.

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.

My response is on my own website »
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
Some HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>