Our Technologies
Conservation TillageMost corn farmers in Guatemala burn their lands and then plow every year, releasing large quantities of greenhouse gases. The alternative, called conservation tillage or no-till, involves leaving crop residues to protect the soil after harvesting and ceasing to plow. The effects are powerful: farmers can decrease erosion by up to 98%, increase their yields, and prevent losses during droughts and floods. Conservation tillage is very popular among small farmers in Brazil because farmers save money from not having to rent tractors to plow while they earn more money from increased yields.
Agroforestry with Giricidia sepium
Madre Cacao, or Gliricidia--these trees help farmers combine the benefits of forest and cropfield. Gliricidia are nitrogen fixing trees which grow during the dry season, when farmers crops can’t grow crops. Before farmers plant their crops, the trees are heavily pruned. The nitrogen and potassium rich leaves are used as a mulch and organic fertilizer, while branches help farmers save on wood costs and prevent deforestation. While native to the southern coast of Guatemala, Gliricidia trees are becoming very popular among small farmers in Africa because they help farmers grow their own fertilizer, produce their own firewood, and work as a wind block to further protect soils. Over three years, farmers have cut their fertilizer use--their largest expense--by over a third with this technology.
Green Manures and Cover Crops
Green manures and cover crops are considered the most important organic growing techniques worldwide. They are the most effective way to bring plants the nutrients they need without using chemicals and also the most common tool for rejuvenating damaged soils. Green manures and cover crops are grown specifically to increase soil health and to provide fertilizer for subsequent crops. Semilla Nueva works with nitrogen fixing green manures, such as Mucuna pruriens or velvet bean, Canavalia ensiformis or jack bean, and Cajanus cajan or pigeonpea. Green manures can help farmers reduce their use of chemical fertilizers, their largest cost, by over half in some cases.
Effective Seed Spacing
Many Guatemalan farmers use modern hybrid seed (non-gmo). These farmers, however, still plant using the spacings recommended for traditional corn, including planting up to three corn seeds at once. With hybrid seed this can cause over-competition, stunted growth and decreased yield. Small changes in seed spacing have helped our farmers in Guatemala increase their yields by 17%.
