Thanks to modern technology, it has now become much easier for farmers to maintain diverse crops on a single farm. It is not uncommon to see farms that feature a variety of crops that can grow and thrive in harmony.
New techniques and improvements in diversified farming help prevent soil fatigue and erosion, maintaining soil fertility and allowing farmers to maximize their yield via year-round crop planting. One example is aerial spectral imaging for vegetable farms, which allows farmers to simultaneously monitor multiple farms and keep track of their diverse crops with ease. This technology also allows them to observe changes, identify problems in their farms, and ultimately make better decisions regarding everything from the way water is delivered to the farms to which types of crops should be planted in the first place.
Going back to crop diversity, when it comes to deciding what to plant, your options are anything but limited. From assorted vegetables (such as garlic, olives, carrots, and onions) to fruits (tomatoes, watermelons, wine grapes, and the like) to even seeds and nuts, your range of choices will allow you to mix and match crops to your liking.
The question now, of course, is which kinds should you choose? Here are five of the most popular options, as well as what you can expect from each of them in terms of requirements and profit.
1) Onions
Onions have the advantage of being both nutrient-rich and easy to grow. With the ability to thrive under the simplest of weather conditions (just 500 — 2,000 mm of rainfall per year), any farmer seeking to maximize his diverse farm would do well to count this year-round bestseller among his focus crops. You may choose to specialize in spring onions — onions harvested before the bulb gets a chance to swell, aged between four to six weeks — or the typical onion crop that reaches full maturation between three to five months. The resulting crop is nothing to scoff at; done right, an acre of farmland can yield up to 20,000 kgs of onion — certainly not a bad return on your investment.
2) Potatoes
A supper table mainstay for many families, potatoes thrive in a mix of fertile, well-drained soil and a bit of sand. Requiring a water supply of about 500 mm to mature, potatoes mature 3 to 4 months after they emerge. With its relatively short maturity cycle, consistent market demand, and impressively high yield — 90 bags or 100 kgs per acre of farmland — potato farming is a smart course of action.
3) Cabbage
Yet another popular and highly nutritious vegetable, the cabbage offers considerable bang for both the consumer’s and the farmer’s buck. This cold-season crop is a rich source of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and sodium. Cabbage farming necessitates, among other things, well-aerated and irrigated soil over a 3- to 4-month maturation period. Cabbage farming also requires proper spacing between seeds, as well as consistent pest and disease management. If done properly, the resulting yield is quite respectable: an estimated 11,000 to 15,000 heads of cabbage per acre of farmland.
4) Peppers
Different types of bell peppers require specific conditions for optimum growth. Holland-based varieties, for instance, require careful and precise temperature and humidity control. Bell peppers require sandy or loamy soil, as well as 25 to 30 inches of high-quality water per season. Admittedly, bell peppers can be quite tricky and difficult to grow, with fruit that easily gets bruised. On the plus side, different types of bell peppers can command higher prices than the typical green variety, and the yield per acre — 300- 600 25-lb crates per acre — is good enough.
5) Broccoli
Last but not the least on the list is broccoli, which can yield between 200 to 300 50-lb cartons per acre of farmland. It is easier to grow than cauliflower, and is considerably more resilient. Broccoli is versatile enough to grow on most types of soil — from light and sandy loams to heavy clay — provided that they are well-drained. Thus, it is advisable for broccoli farmers to improve the quality of their drainage by raising beds, removing surplus water via draining or scooping headlands, or utilizing underground pipe drains. This type of crop requires 2 inches per acre of high-quality irrigation water every week, but can be planted and harvested multiple times to extend the harvest season.
Conclusion
These are but a few of the many options that you can choose when you establish your diversified farm. In the end, what truly matters is the degree of knowledge and familiarity you have with regard to the requirements and specifics of your desired crop types, as well as the amount of effort you put into ensuring that they grow well enough to yield a profitable harvest.