The Drought-Resilient Farm by Dale Strickler

Author:Dale Strickler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: drought;rainfall;water;crops;livestock;farmers;ranchers;weather;gardeners;techniques;managing water;managing rainfall;drought-management;preparedness;global food supply;water-wise planting;conserving water in the garden;water for livestock;rain garden planner;drought crises;water crises;sustainable farming;using rain water;water-wise farming;low water farming;less water agriculture;how to store water for agriculture
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC
Published: 2018-04-27T00:00:00+00:00

Waxy Cuticle

Some plants, such as sorghum, feature a layer of wax over the leaf surface that reduces water loss through the leaves — one reason sorghum is more drought tolerant than corn. This adaptation is often found in tropical and desert plants.

Avoid Overgrazing with a Healthy Stocking Rate

The best insurance against reduced pasture productivity during a drought is to have healthy plants with deep root systems, adequate carbohydrate reserves, and a healthy layer of mulch to promote infiltration and reduce evaporation. Unfortunately, the vast majority of pastures worldwide are currently in an overgrazed state with weakened root systems. It is critically important to have a stocking rate that is conservative enough during “average years” that stocking rate reductions are unnecessary in bad years. Table 6.2 illustrates the impact of grazing on carbohydrate reserves.

As you can see, grazing even a little too much can dramatically reduce plant vigor, so it is very important to establish a proper long-term stocking rate. At first glance, it would seem that a rate that removes 40 percent of the foliage would be appropriate. But bear in mind that the 40 percent is an average and that in some years the removal will be greater than that, therefore causing considerable damage. The proper stocking rate is sufficiently conservative to ensure that no more than 40 percent is removed in the worst years.

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