What are biodigesters?

A biodigester system utilizes organic waste, particularly animal and human excreta, to produce fertilizer and biogas. A biodigester consists of an airtight, high-density polyethylene container within which excreta diluted in water flow continuously and are fermented by microorganisms present in the waste. The fermentation process is anaerobic, i.e., it takes place without oxygen, and the bacteria responsible for decomposition are methanogenic (i.e., they produce methane, also known as biogas).

Description

Description

Aeroponics

Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium (known as geoponics). Unlike hydroponice, which uses a liquid nutrient solution as a growin medium and essential minerals to sustain plant growth; or aquaponics which uses water and fish waste, aeroponics is conducted without a growing medium. 

Description

The purpose of firebreaks is to prevent forest fires from spreading before they damage the ecosystem, cropland or personal property. To construct a firebreak, a band of vegetation between 4 and 6 m wide is dug out and vegetation and dirt are removed until the mineral soil is reached. Firebreaks generally begin and end in places where fire cannot reach due to a lack of combustible matter. The extracted vegetation is disposed of on the side of the lane opposite that from which a fire could be expected to come.

Description

Agricultural drainage is carried out by systems that intercept and convey excess water across a plot and dispose of it in a safe location. The water is transported by gravity, in a non-erosive manner, in surface or sub-surface channels. The aim is to control the specific moisture content for each type of crop and avoid losses resulting from excess water in extreme situations.

Description

Crop rotation consists in sequentially producing plant species in a given location by alternating crops every year, every two years or every three years. This diversified production system prevents the build-up of pests and diseases as well as the exhaustion of the soil that usually occur with production of a single crop (or crops of a single family) in successive agricultural cycles.

Description

Agroecology is a holistic production method that works at the agroecosystem level. It is based on adopting integrated management for resource conservation as well as diversifying and enhancing synergies among the components of the agroecosystem, balancing energy and nutrient flows and adapting productive activities to local conditions. It promotes a high degree of interaction among its components to preserve biodiversity and attain sustainable production.

Description

Sustainable forest management promotes local community development while conserving biodiversity and sequestering carbon; it can even eliminate deforestation and restore forest cover. This is achieved through practices like reduced-impact logging, respecting conservation areas, protecting seed trees, censusing and mapping commercial trees, protecting against fires and promoting natural forest regeneration (selective pruning and clearing).

Description

The ancient Andean technique of terracing consists of making cuts in steep slopes to form contour ridges and establish cultivation surfaces that are supported by stone walls. Because the terraces are positioned perpendicular to the flow of water they reduce erosion, retain soil and moisture and thus generate a microclimate conducive to crop growth.