SOIL-DEVELOPMENT CULTIVATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR INCREASED ADAPTIVE CAPABILITY
As a result of climate change and poor resource management, agricultural production is increasingly exposed to environmental stressors (e.g. extreme rainfall, nutrient deficiencies). These are now a palpable threat to the success of agricultural production in Hungary. Our agricultural processes often prove insufficiently adaptable in the face of new challenges. The stability of agricultural systems can be enhanced through the selection of particular species or varieties, and the development of production and cultivation technologies (component elements).
At the same time, it is unarguable that soil improvement is one of the most important factors in increasing the adaptive capacity of agricultural production, as many of its properties relating to fertility are susceptible (unlike, for instance, meteorological factors) to locally applied, artificial interventions and influences (land reclamation, agricultural techniques). When humus-preserving and humus-enriching land use and tillage techniques are employed, the condition of soil with unfavorable water and nutrient levels improves. The efficiency of additional measures (irrigation, fertilization) also increases, as does the agro-ecological potential of the land, and the ability of crops grown in it to adapt to adverse environmental impacts. Good-quality soil is also a major carbon sink, and thus helps to combat climate change.