Soil Management in Sustainable Agriculture

*Koç Mehmet Tuğrul*

### **Abstract**

People need food to live, and this is largely due to natural resources. However, time is also required to meet these limited resources and increased consumption demands, and for a renewal cycle. This cycle can be traditional, industrial and commercial, as well as be sustainable. So, what is sustainable agriculture? Sustainable agriculture is the way to increase productivity in agriculture and to increase the level of economic prosperity by protecting all living things on earth, living spaces and natural resources. It is clear that the continuity of all the living things is possible with the food provided by natural resources. At this point, sustainable production, consumption and preservation of the natural balance are of great importance. Today, the world population is rapidly increasing and resources are consumed at the same rate; creating awareness about sustainable food, transferring this consciousness to future generations in a more permanent way, increasing the number of conscious producers and consumers, strengthening awareness for sustainable foods, respecting the natural balance, and gaining a sense of responsibility, saving consumption habits should be our main target.

**Keywords:** sustainable agriculture, new approaches, natural balance, soil management, cultivation

#### **1. Introduction**

Today, the greatest success in agriculture will be to achieve the desired increase in production by reducing the negative environmental conditions. This can only be achieved by implementing sustainable methods and sustainable solutions in agriculture. The fact that the agricultural activities and practices are compatible with the environment and being permanent is great importance in terms of contributing to the sustainability of the ecology. There are many definitions and explanations about sustainable agriculture [1]. Sustainable Agriculture includes all of the systems and practices that will improve the protection of the environment and natural agricultural resources necessary to ensure the production of adequate and high quality foodstuffs at affordable costs which the rapidly growing world population needs. To be fully selfsufficient for sustainable agriculture is not a requirement. Long-term stability and efficiency is required. For this purpose, the minimum and most economical and fastest way of implementation of each application in agriculture is one of the priorities that should be focused on the protection of agricultural areas and natural resources.

If an awareness of sustainable practices is to be created, it is necessary to rethink in detail what the concept of agriculture means first. The questions such as: What is agriculture and how should a production be made to meet increasing agricultural demands? Is agriculture only an activity on the field, or is it possible to produce

more qualified by applying new production techniques? What methods should be applied to obtain sufficient product without damaging nature? are required to find answers firstly [2].

All of the work done on soil in order to grow the necessary and useful plants and animals for the survival of the people and to obtain the products is called agriculture. In order to meet the growing agricultural needs in a healthy manner, water resources should be protected and soil should be developed and original seeds should be stored and reproduced for the future. At the same time, an increase in soil fertility, protection of water, protection of valuable seeds and biodiversity need to be taken into account.

In general, many methods are applied under the definitions of traditional, organic, industrial, ecological, smart and integrated, and each method differs from the others [3]. Sustainable agriculture mainly focuses on increasing the productivity of the soil and reducing the harmful effects of agricultural practices on climate, soil, water, environment and human health. Reduces the use of non-renewable sources and inputs from petroleum-based products and uses renewable resources to generate production. In general, it focuses on the needs, knowledge, skills and socio-cultural values of the local people.
