Starting a small-farm vegetable project: Part 6

The importance of building up humus in vegetable fields cannot be overstated. Without achieving this, the soil will not become self-sustainable, writes Bill Kerr.

- Bill Kerr

To build up humus in the soil, we have to combine various strategies. As mentioned in a previous article on this series, we have to adopt a no-till philosophy. Tillage ‘burns up’ the organic content of the soil relatively quickly.

The next step is to apply some form of organic fertilisation that can be compost or manure. It is important to leave this on the soil surface or work it in partially and shallowly into the surface in the process of hoeing out weeds.

A further step that can speed up the process of humus accumulation is to plant a leguminous cover crop. Legumes have bacteria that take nitrogen from the air, which contains nearly 80% nitrogen, and share it with the plant. They form nodules on the roots that are easily seen and indicate that the plant is inoculated.