Agriculture

Fodder is a term used in reference to the feed cut, sometimes prepared, and brought to domesticated farm animals such as cows, goats and pigs. Some fodder is prepared using oils and mixed rations that are mixed in with several different types of sprout...

Seed drilling is a method used by farmers in order to have a more unified, crop-yielding season. The first known use of seed drilling was in 1500 B.C. by the Sumerian. At this time, they were using a single tube.

Three Sisters crop is a technique of gardening used primarily by Native Americans, but gardeners of any kind may also use this technique. These crops use three types of plants; in the Tewa tribe, they use four.

Seed saving is the preserving of seeds from mature vegetables, herbs, and flowers used in subsequent years along with bulbs and tubers.

Perennial plants live for two years or more. Perennials differ from annuals and biennials with annuals replanted every year and biennials every other year.

Biennial plants have a two year life cycle; roots, stems and leaves in the first year with flowers following the next year after a cold winter dormant period. Biennials will produce seed and fruit before dying.

Annuals are plants that flower and/or set fruit in one growing season. Most vegetables are annuals as well as domesticated grains. Vegetables such as carrot and celery are biennials grown as an annual whereas tomato and bell pepper are perennials and g...

Vermicompost is composting with the use of special earthworms. Red wigglers and white worms are the more common worms used, although European night crawlers can be used as well.

Dryland farming is farming without the aid of irrigation and only with the amount of rain fall given by Mother Nature. Dryland farming is typical in arid regions such as Southwestern United States, Mexico, Middle East, and other regions that are known ...

Cover crops are crops that are planted to improve the quality of the soil, also known as green manure. Cover crops add fertility to the soil, control weeds and pests as well as control diseases that can be otherwise found in untreated soil.

Crop rotation is the practice of planting different types of crops (also known as polyculture) in the same location in subsequent seasons.

Manure is organic matter that comes from farmyard animal waste as well as from crop cover. Manure from cows, pigs, horses, chickens, rabbits, etc. is broken down into organic matter and used as organic fertilizer.

Compost is fertilizer made from decomposed organic matter that is then tilled directly into the soil or used as an additive when transplanting seedlings. Composting can be very simplistic or complex, depending on the amount of compost needed.