The experience of a Belgian farmer: conserving soil moisture without artificial irrigation

The farming methods employed by Diederik Steijert have attracted public attention due to their effectiveness in conditions of dry weather and periods of extreme heat. The foundation of his approach is the avoidance of field ploughing. Instead of traditional tillage, the farmer practices the application of decomposed vegetation, particularly grass, and also allows natural vegetation cover to develop on the plots.

According to information presented in the video materials, these techniques contribute to maintaining a high level of soil moisture. Even when the top layer of the ground looks dry, a sufficient amount of moisture is retained at a depth of 5 to 10 centimeters. In the opinion of the method's author, enriched with organic matter and healthy soil possesses the ability to retain rainwater significantly longer, which makes it possible to manage without additional irrigation for more than a quarter of a century.