Natural nitrogen fixers are going to become increasingly vital in our food ecology.
We have relied on importing nitrogen into our systems for centuries – the “nitrate clipper” ships from Europe and North America exploited the Guano fields of Chile and Peru back in the mid 1800s – this accumulation of bird and bat droppings
In more recent times food production has been tied directly to artificial chemical nitrogen and the extremely high financial costs even to produce grass.
In Regenerative Agriculture there are different solutions being evolved
- Adaptive pasture management the grazing species recover and thrive to provide ample food supplies for livestock all year round without inputs.
- Min till with nitrogen fixing legumes etc means the arable lands are not being eroded, the nitrogen is not lost, and each natural nitrogen fixer brings better results.
- Agroforestry provides another rich nitrogen fixing resource
- On a gardeners level using natural composts made from sheeps wool captures that nitrogen
When we crop the nitrogen fixing plants the release of nitrogen that the nitrogen fixing bacteria in the associated nodes have accumulated helps the soil. There is constant natural degeneration and regrowth of roots in perennial nitrogen fixers. Crop and Drop / cultivation methods of other species can bring the benefits into thte soils we want to grow in. The Careful curating of crops, coppicing, pruning composting and management can create a bountiful natural nitrogen cycle.
Lupins, Vetches, Alders, Acacia, Clover, Buckthorn, Gorse, Peas and Beans, Broom, Elaeagnus, Scottish Laburnum,
