1. Why it Matters for Best Outcomes

Soil is the engine of the farm, but like any engine, it wears out unless maintained. Productivity management means consciously caring for land and soil health through practices like crop rotation, manuring, balanced fertilization, mulching, cover cropping, minimum tillage, and erosion control. Farms that invest in these practices build long-term fertility, while those that ignore them face declining yields, rising input costs, and reduced resilience.

2. When Practices are Favorable

Farms that regularly add organic matter, practice balanced fertilizer use, and adopt soil conservation techniques keep their land “alive.” Techniques like vermicomposting, green manuring, cover cropping, and integrated nutrient management improve soil fertility. Contour bunding or mulching prevents erosion and conserves moisture. Over time, these farms see more stable yields, better soil structure, and reduced input dependency.

3. When Practices are Unfavorable

Farms that only focus on immediate yields often overuse chemicals, burn crop residues, or neglect organic recycling. Such practices gradually deplete soil organic matter, increase acidity or salinity, and make land dependent on external inputs. Productivity appears stable for a while but then declines sharply, creating a cycle of higher costs and lower returns. In extreme cases, soil becomes degraded and unfit for profitable farming.