From;
Syntropic Farming
Keep the Soil Covered is done in syntropic farming by growing large amounts of biomass on site, which is regularly pruned or cut to be applied to the soil.
"Syntropic farming seeks to Maximize Photosynthesis by laying out trees rows from North to South.
This is the primary design layout strategy, as opposed to managing for water through exclusively using contour planting.
In addition this is achieved by an extremely high density of planting; 20-40 plants/seeds/cutting per square meter.
These plants are arranged in space based on the principle of Stratification, which refers to where a plant grows in its optimal habitat.
The four stratas typically used are emergent, high, medium, and low, and they mostly refer to the light requirements of the species, but also to species form/habit and leaf structure.
Natural Succession is how these plants are arranged over time, from placenta stage to secondary stage and finally to climax, which are the stages of succession through which a forest matures .
The entire system should be constantly filled with plants of different strata even as the system moves through a managed succession. "
And more
- "North to south rows: There is a clear preference to planting tree rows north to south in order to maximize photosynthesis.
In conjunction with this there was a strong disposition away from planting trees on contour, as it was actually recommended to plant tree rows up and down the slope.
- Direct seeding: Syntropic practitioners prefer direct seeding to transplanting when possible for trees.
This is viewed both as a cost saving measure and as a means to plant huge quantities of species.
- An intensive organization of biomass:
While I have always organized biomass in particular ways, across slope as dead barriers, in half moons under trees, etc; the amount of energy (human and fossil fuel) syntropic farming dedicates to processing biomass in specific ways was huge.
In particular this involves splitting banana trunks in half and bucking and splitting logs into firewood size pieces that are then used as the path lining material.
It does not always have to be done this way, but it appears to be a common practice in syntropic farming.
- Replace weeding with pruning: One of the distinct goals of the management of these systems is to replace all weeding with pruning and the organization of biomass.
- Plant everything at once: Ideally every plant in the system is put in the ground at the exact same time.
This of course works only with a high intensity of management through harvest and pruning.