That's an excellent question, growing those crops matching soil properties. But where is that option available to us. Where is that state of art available to do so , and we succeed in doing so , sustainability of crop speaks about such synchrony. Off course tailoring crop nutrient requirement according to nutrient supplying capacity of soil would be the most stupendous task so far.

We have very limited soil-crop response data , especially on a hypothesis about how the critical levels of soil fertility changes when same crop grown on a variety of soils using similar management practices...

But I appreciate such a wonderful question...

This is also the reason for concept like site specific nutrient management exploiting the spatial variability in soil fertility and matching with nutrient uptake has started finding greater weight in precision agriculture..

Dr. Srivastava

Thank you for you thoughts.

I understand this premise is rather alien. Yet, I believe it is at large one that must be consider. The "option" has always sat with us... Should we not consider taking it?

Basically I propose a shift in thought.

Again. Thank you for your thoughts Dr. Srivastava

I understand Anoop (If I may address you as such) that we have a global population of seven billion plus to feed. However, consider different regions grow different produce. I could not grow bananas or pineapples in my region. Hence I grow what well grow in my region. Additionally. we currently only see a small percent of healthy edible produce. Until they are seen to be money makers. ie. Goji Berries. Alternatively, as an indigenous person there are many plants in my region viewed as weeds or the like that were once healthy food staples.

I agree with you in that respect addressing only a small proportion of crops compared to range of crops grown. But these crops are of highly commercial nature , they have attained a status of industry. For example , crops like rice , wheat , maize , millet , Apple, citrus, banana, papaya , mango, cassava, potato , etc . Like that there are are number of crops where state of art knowledge have been developed using such tangible premises. These are the only two premises of growing crops according to their land/ soil suitability .I agree, many of the crops grew naturally and they gave birth to such clues , how a particular crop or crops adopt so well under certain defined set of agripedilogical conditions, while others failed to perform so well on equivalent basis...

Thus a true science. Which component is lacking with in the soil to cause some crops not to do as well as others in the same region Alternatively what crop would do well within the soil that was not best for the crop that did not do as well. Granted with current knowledge one can force the soil base to perform as desired for a crop. But this comes into economics that many can not meet. A big part of our current conversation is identifying avenues for those lacking capital resources.

Everybody is right. The question is too systematic. The question is about utilizing soil potential rather than management. Again the question is only about soil suitability to crops excluding other factors like temperature, rainfall, etc. It is possible to grow crops that much ones soil. For instance, if my soil is acidic, I may choose acid tolerant crop types/varieties provided that other factors are optimum. But, if my desired crop is sensitive to acidity, what shall I do? Here, it is a must to look for management to maximize yield. To say it frankly, we cannot feed the increasing population unless we manipulate or manage the soil to plant ones desired crop. For instance, in developing countries, farmers need to grow cereals because they are the major food crops. Currently, due to degradation, the soils were unable to produce good cereals yield to feed the population. If we leave cereals and decide to grow legumes only, what will be the source of food for these people? So, our fate is to manage the soil and make it suitable for cereals i.e. dealing with soil fertility mgt, precision agriculture, etc

If possible, growing crops on desired soil is best but the practicability is under question.

Question is to harvest maximum by tailoring crop requirement based potential , which is not so simple, involves real application of science by developing state of art soil test interpretation.

Implications of planting crops that match ones soil type rather then altering the soil to plant ones desired crop?

Good discussion because emphasizes the important of the crop genetics as well as the soil condition.

Do not trick yourself however that it is either soil or plant genetics because it is not.

Modern agronomic research would suggest genetic improvements can result in one half of greater modern productivity but another 50% is given through agronomic practices which focus on the environment. It is not nature or nuture it is both nature and nuture.

Although as scientists we might focus on one soil or another genetics in reality we need to focus on both. In the modern variety development the top producing varieties are revealed under optimized practices. Under an impoverished soil the genetics of high productivity are not revealed.

The very challenging role we have to produce highly productive environments which also are highly resilient to stresses in the cropping environment. Rather than a soil or plant focus we need to have an ability to improve both.

The lack of crop improvement grounding themselves in overcoming the soil obstacle is an area of great opportunity. These impactful areas may need special interdisciplinary teams to be most successful.

When you speak of improvement Paul Reed Hepperly what is your vision. This question as such is a philosophic one. The simple premise of planting as soil dictates with soil development over time was put forth. Yet, many lean towards the aspect of making said do our will which is what brings us to this place prompting my question in the first place.

When you speak of improvement Paul Reed Hepperly what is your vision?

This question as such is a philosophic one. The simple premise of planting as soil dictates with soil development over time was put forth. Yet, many lean towards the aspect of making said do our will which is what brings us to this place prompting my question in the first place.

In the book of Genesis we are encouraged to be fruitful and multiply.

We are to grow where we are planted.

Our heart is something of a spiritual stage. It is a metaphor for the our innermost spiritual attitude. Our soil is what the creator breathed upon to give life from nothing. He treasures His creation. We are asked to be tenders of His Garden also for we are created in His Image to tend creation as He does.

The earth metaphorically is the mother earth feminine. We are to encourage her to be fruitful out of the love for the Creator who has ordered us to be fruitful and multiply in all senses.

As agriculturalists we are to husbands of the mother earth. This may include being tender in the way it is treated and nourishing her. Unfortunately the so called modern agriculture paradigm has not always been the tender provider and multiplier it has meant we are to be.

Our modern science can work with our higher purpose and these need not see the tending of land as a conflicting with the good earth. Rather in concert with our following His Higher Purpose we are to be in agreement with nature not in conflict with her.

By using our hearts minds and hands guided by His Higher Purpose we can fulfill truth by being Spiritually and Scientifically grounded in His Values. The optimized agricultural system will result in the overflowing of life in and from the soil.

As in the Prayer to the Father we are instructed to ask of His Will to be done and ask for His Provision by cultivating His Heart of Forgiveness which gives us His Will to avoid our being compromised by evil and to allow His Will to be done in us.

Excellent response Dr. Happerly.

Your vision of our place in this creation is not much different then our cultural vision which is as follows.

“Sustainable Agriculture” Is NOT Indigenous Agriculture

Sustainable Agriculture has come to mean so many things – sustainable for the environment, sustainable financially, etc. But Indigenous Agriculture goes beyond those concepts & premises. For if we remember, we know all living beings – plants, animals, birds, insects, fish, etc. have spirits & together we all comprise the circle of life. Those beings are our brothers & sisters! They need to hear our voices & need our actions of conservation & preservation in order for us to pass along a healthy, vibrant, living Earth to our next seven generations! Sustainable Agriculture may not be Industrial Agriculture (GMO “frankenseeds”, murderous chemicals, raping the land), but it is also not Indigenous Agriculture because it does not allow for the spirituality of the Mother Earth. Like Industrial Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture deems some of our plant relations as “weeds”-- creatures to be destroyed; while we realize those plants all have purpose & that purpose was oftentimes food and medicine for animals and humans. We also see that in the killing of these plants considered “weeds”, these modes of agriculture have created opportunities for other plants, like Spotted Knapweed, to invade and make the Earth's soil uninhabitable for indigenous species of our plant relations. As Mohawk Seed-Keeper and Earth-Protector, Rowen White has stated “the seeds gave up a bit of their 'wild' to journey with us & we gave up a bit of our 'wild' to journey with the them”. The same is true for those species of four-legged beings we now call “livestock”-- those that provide us with the protein we need to thrive. Indigenous Agriculture is a symbiotic spiritual relationship! Therein lies the truth of the Seventh Fire Prophecy..... “Could a nation be formed that is guided by the respect for all living things?” Is Ginoozhekaaning to be an example of this teaching for the Anishinaabek Nation? As a community, we are at a crossroads; what teachings do we want to share with each other and our young people? In an Anishinaabek Community with the wonderful opportunity to be able to share this knowledge with each other, as well as with future generations through our own Tribal Community College, what knowledge should we be teaching/learning? Shouldn't it be the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) of providing healthy food/agriculture -- that our people have carried for thousands of years? That very knowledge that sustained our ancestors & let them live M'no Bimaadiziwin – that Good Life? M J. Young,

What is the point of practicing agriculture , if it is not sustainable , regardless of you follow traditional or conventional practices..

The art of growing crop is in fact nothing but harnessing the soil properties* either matching to crop requirement or soil amended effectively )and plant functionality in tandem. And that's sustainability is achieved ..

All methods of agriculture are sustainable. Yet, many current systems are detrimental to ones soils and as such incur escalating cost while degrading long term soil viability. The essence of my question is about how to better walk in balance with the soil and plants such that operational costs and resource inputs are minimal rather then making the soil and plants do as I desire. Hence, rather then planting corn or potatoes. I may find myself in a position of having to grow some alternative non-conventional crop.

The idea of looking at the long term is something that takes intention. Rather than focusing only on the short term economic focus we need a broader and long term approach. When we put the value on the environmental aspects it is not conflicting over the long term with economies because yield and quality are functions of our natural resources. We need to return to agriculture the culture of the field. This necessarily includes the environment, community and health aspects in this way the exploitive agriculture can be transformed. Using economics as a arometer will show over the long term that when the base resources are improved the whole system benefits environmental, energetically and economically. In many ways the soil health represents a type of bottom line which can helpful as a quantitative measure of how we are doing and can help us set goals and monitoring our progress. For a native community the conservation of distinctive vegetables fruits and domestic animals can be a part of maintaining our connection with land where we are planted. This gives identity and motivation for our people now and can encourage future generations. While technology can change it is important that core values which represent the best of who we are affirmed. This to me represents something of the best of both worlds.

Excellent conversation gentlemen.

You seem to stand closest to the premise Paul.

I do understand the premise of my question to be rather simplistic. " to grow what the soil type is able to sustain and work on rebuilding the soil base organically over time ."

Yet, the complexity and and scope of the question is not within standard thought. As such, what would the social, economic and political ramifications of the posed question be?

We also exploit the outcome Land Capability Classification in developing a soil type compatible cropping sequence in tandem with agroecology plus other related natural resources...

This is popularly called as Land Use Planning based land resource repository...