Soil Amendments

A soil's chemical, physical, and biological properties dictate how well plants are likely to grow in it. Soils in the tropics are often exposed to intense sun and alternating periods of drought and high rainfall. Tropical soils are commonly degraded to the point where they can no longer sustain crop growth. However, there are inputs and strategies for restoring and maintaining soil health and productivity to be favorable for plant growth. ECHO encourages farmers never to give up hope on their soil and provides an array of options to help ameliorate poor soil conditions. As long as there is sufficient soil depth to accommodate crop roots, amendments and management practices can be adopted that transform soil into a substrate in which plants not only survive but thrive. Even naturally infertile soils and soils with very low water-holding capacity can become more productive with proper management and inputs over time. ECHO values organic matter retention, crop diversification, and minimal tillage for improving and maintaining soil health while minimizing reliance on capital-intensive inputs. ECHO’s resources and training cover topics focus on long-term soil health, covering topics such as farmer-made fertility inputs, green manure/cover cropping (GMCC), Foundations for Farming, mulching, composting, and many others, depending on the assets, context, and needs.