Methods to maximize the production of organic matter

1. Strive to have soil coverage in the growing area year-round in annual and perennial crops.

2. Incorporate annual and perennial green fallow periods into the crop rotation to regenerate the soil.

3. Integrate annual and perennial forage cultivation into the plantation system.

4 . Develop mixed cultivation systems (e.g. alfalfa rows in cotton, beans and maize, beans in young sugar-cane plantations).

5. In permanent cropping, providing a sufficient number of leguminous trees and shrubs (agroforestry systems for bananas, coffee, cocoa, mango, tea, etc.) and leguminous green manure plants covering the soil is important.

6. Leave single trees standing in the field, such as e.g. the legumes Prosopis cineraria and Acacia tortilis in arid regions.

7. Hedgerows with a wide range of functions, such as windbreaker, prevention of erosion, habitat for natural enemies of pests, timber for construction and fuel, fodder and pruning material for mulching and/or composting, protection against side- contamination with pesticides from conventional farms nearby, etc.