Practices are adopted to maintain or improve soil fertility and nutrient contents. Examples of possible practices are listed in Box 8.

Box 8 Examples of practices to maintain or improve soil fertility

• Use of local varieties better adapted to soil conditions in the cultivation sites
• Consideration of nutrient requirements of the cultivated species and compensation for nutrient loss
• Cover soil with appropriate cover crops or organic matter (e.g. mulch, crop residue, green leaf manure, vermicompost, neem cake)
• Crop rotation plans that include planting nitrogen-fixing species, crops with different soil use, and plants with deep roots and good foliage that decomposes into biomass
• Establish fallow periods
• Intercropping or inter-tillage with grasses, oilseeds, etc.
• Use of manure and livestock grazing for soil management