Soil Health in Cotton Cultivation

The crop sector at Kibbutz Sha’albim is a cornerstone of the kibbutz’s agricultural operations, cultivating approximately 4,300 dunams (1,062 acres) annually, including 2,000 dunams (494 acres) of irrigated land utilizing treated wastewater, while the remainder is dedicated to rainfed crops. The diverse crop rotation includes wheat, chickpeas, clover for seeds, sunflowers for cracking, melon and watermelon seeds, and cotton.

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With a strong commitment to sustainable land management, Sha’albim has been implementing conservation agriculture practices for over a decade. These include no-till sowing, service crops for stabilizing channels and preventing erosion, and other soil health-focused strategies to maintain long-term agricultural productivity.

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During the first year of the project, observation plots provided key insights, including the importance of avoiding cruciferous species in service crop mixtures, the need for precision and synchronization in land preparation and sowing with existing machinery, and the effective termination of service crops using tools such as toothed rollers. Additionally, improvements in aggregate stability were observed in plots integrating service crops.

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In the second year, trials will expand to neighbouring plots, incorporating the lessons learned from the first year to refine and optimize service crop integration, further strengthening soil conservation efforts.