©2009 Rainforest Alliance

Session 7:Session 7: Maintaining soil Maintaining soil fertilityfertilitySession 7:Session 7: Maintaining soil Maintaining soil fertilityfertility

Language: EnglishLanguage: EnglishLanguage: EnglishLanguage: English

Version: 2011Version: 2011Version: 2011Version: 2011

Corresponding principle:

Principle 9.Soil management and

conservation

Corresponding principle:

Principle 9.Soil management and

conservation

Over-application of chemical fertilizers

• Loss of micro-organisms in the soil

• Not knowing what nutrients are missing in the

soil

• Higher cost of production

How to keep your soil fertile?

1. Soil analysis

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

©2009 Rainforest Alliance

How to keep your soil fertile? 1. Soil analysis

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

Coffee farmer in Guatemala

How to keep your soil fertile?

2. Application of organic fertilizer

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

How to keep your soil fertile?

3. Composting organic residues from the

farm

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

Banana farmer composting banana stems

Mango farmer composting dropped fruits

Cocoa farmers composting cocoa podsCoffee farmer composting coffee pulps

©2009 Rainforest Alliance

How to keep your soil fertile?

3. Composting organic residues from the

farm

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

Optional videos

You can find the following optional videos as “Attachments” to this course.

• Composting cocoa pods (in English)• Composting coffee pulp with earth worm (in Spanish)

How to keep your soil fertile?

4. Resting your land periodically

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

Corresponding criterion:

9.2

©2009 Rainforest Alliance

Corresponding criterion:

9.4

Corresponding criterion:

9.4

Coffee farmer in Brazil

How to keep your soil fertile?

4. Resting your land periodically

Summary

Soil analysisSoil analysis

Application of organic fertilizer Application of

organic fertilizer

Composing organic residue from the

farm

Composing organic residue from the

farm

Resting your land periodically

Resting your land periodically

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoodsby transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoodsby transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.