Farmers diversify crops to survive extreme weather in Brazil
Researchers in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, found that varying crop rotations protects fields against droughts and floods while boosting productivity significantly.
The study compared traditional farming with areas using cover crops to nourish soil between harvests for better stability. Farmers adopting this method achieved yields up to 76% above the state average with much greater consistency year to year.
Traditional farms relying on single plant species performed poorly with harvests only 8% higher than average. These areas suffered sharp fluctuations ranging from thirty three to 39% higher or lower due to climate variations.
Data from thirteen experiments analyzed rainfall levels against NASA satellite records over three growing seasons marked by severe weather extremes. The period included droughts where precipitation dropped by 54% compared to average levels and one season with 40% more rain than average.
Scientists collected seventy eight soil samples to assess health characteristics and link them to plant diversity and clay content. Analyses showed diversifying crops significantly increased the soil ability to hold moisture regardless of clay levels in the ground.