Biological control

Controlling plants, diseases, and animal pests using natural enemies; or inhibiting the reproduction of pests by methods that result in the laying of infertile eggs, etc.

Biological diversity

Richness and abundance of species, and variety of natural communities. Both the number of species and the number of individuals within each species are important in considering the extent of biological diversity in an area. Also referred to as biodiversity.

Buffer zone

This is the naturalized area next to a body of water such as a stream or pond. Buffer zones help to prevent water contamination by filtering out soil, fertilizers, and manure and other nutrients before they enter a stream. They also can reduce soil erosion, and promote biodiversity by providing shelter and food for a wide variety of animals, birds and fish.

Contour farming

Field operations such as plowing, planting, cultivating, and harvesting on the contour, or at right angles to the natural slope to reduce soil erosion, protect soil fertility, and use water more efficiently.

Conservation tillage or no-till

In conservation tillage, crops are grown with minimal or no cultivation of the soil. Any organic matter remaining from a previous year´s crop is left on the soil, building up its organic matter. In addition, populations of beneficial insects are maintained, soil and nutrients are less likely to be lost from the field and less time, labour and fuel are required to prepare the field for planting, thus reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

Crop Rotation

Farmers use crop rotation to improve soil health and control pests. For example, the roots of a grain crop like wheat are similar to the grass in your lawn while the roots of corn tend to be more like a carrot, or tap root. Planting different crops each year also help keep insects and weeds from building up as different crops are appealing to different pests.

Fertilizer

Any natural or synthetic material added to soil to supply plants with essential nutrients

Green manure

A crop planted with the intention of turning it under for use as organic matter.

Groundwater

Water within the earth that supplies wells and springs.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

IPM is a system where pests (weeds, insects, disease, fungus, nematodes, rodents) are managed by a number of economically and environmentally sound methods including mechanical (e.g. tillage), cultural (e.g. using resistant crop varieties), biological (e.g. use of a pest´s natural enemies), or chemical (e.g. pesticides). Prevention is the key to IPM and farmers work hard to identify which pests may cause problems in their fields, and which are harmless.

Nutrient

Any chemical element or compound essential to the growth and development of an organism

Nutrient Management

When a crop is grown in a field, it takes nutrients out of the soil to grow and mature. When the crop is removed from the field, the nutrients are also removed meaning that farmers must add more nutrients to the soil either in the form of manure or fertilizer to maintain soil health.

N,P,K

Nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium; the three major nutrients in manure.

Organic Matter

Dead plant or animal material

Pesticide

Used to destroy pests. Fungicides (destroys fungus), herbicides (destroys plants), insecticides (destroys insects), and nematicides (destroys nematodes) are all pesticides.

Riparian

Pertaining to the area along the banks of a river, stream, or lake.

Watershed

An area of land that collects and discharges water into a single stream or other outlet. Also called a catchment or drainage basin.