At first look, the fields of Belgian farmer Diederik Steyaert appear to be they’re combating drought. The highest layer of soil seems dry, the climate is sizzling and there may be little signal that the crops have been receiving further water. However dig only a few centimetres beneath the floor and the image modifications. The soil is cool and moist, in line with his viral Instagram video.The natural farmer from Ruddervoorde, in Belgium’s West Flanders area, says he has not given his out of doors crops an additional drop of water for 26 years, whilst drought has put strain on farmers throughout the area. A 2026 report on his farm says he continues to develop crops with out irrigation in the course of the present dry situations.Steyaert runs Bioboerderij De Zaaier, an natural farm that grows greens and fruit on about 11 hectares. The farm started working professionally in 2001 and has constructed its strategy round sustaining wholesome, residing soil somewhat than relying on synthetic inputs. “For 23 years, I haven’t given my out of doors crops a single drop of additional water,” stated Diederik. “And but, yearly I’ve lovely harvests, and my greens are bursting with well being and flavour. My secret? Managing my soil neatly and being content material with what Mom Nature gives.”
The key is beneath the floor
Steyaert and his spouse Annelies domesticate seven hectares of crops similar to potatoes, fennel, pink beets, lettuce, and different greens. Additionally they personal a one-hectare choosing backyard and a number of other greenhouses. Solely within the greenhouse do they offer greens like tomatoes minimal quantities of moisture “We primarily provide our natural merchandise to the wholesaler Biofresh or promote them in our personal store,” stated Diederik. “As an natural farmer, I by no means use pesticides or synthetic fertilisers anyway. No, I work my soil in such a means that it at all times stays moist.”Steyaert doesn’t use synthetic fertilisers. As an alternative, the farm depends on natural materials similar to grass, leaves, straw, hay and plant matter. Earlier studies on his farming strategies described how this materials is integrated into the fields whereas the soil is disturbed as little as potential. He avoids ploughing and views weeds as contributors to water storage somewhat than issues.“Due to my very own combination of natural fertilisers, made out of chopped straw, leaves, grasses, straw, and hay. Nothing goes to waste. We use a most of 125 kilos per hectare. I incorporate this into my fields after which plough as little as potential. Ploughing solely causes the soil to be compacted. The result’s that I’ve very ethereal soil.”Grass is piled up and left for one to 2 years, the place rainfall is absorbed earlier than the fabric breaks down into darkish materials that’s ultimately unfold again onto the sector. Natural matter comprises fibres that may retain moisture, whereas the exercise of micro organism, fungi and earthworms helps create a community of areas and channels by way of the soil. Steyaert stated this permits water to penetrate the bottom whereas serving to the soil stay porous as an alternative of changing into compacted.In an earlier interview, he demonstrated the distinction by pointing to the dry floor of one in all his fields. The highest layer appeared parched, however solely a brief distance beneath it, the soil remained noticeably cool and damp. A 2023 report on Steyaert’s farm equally famous that the primary 10 centimetres may seem dry whereas the soil beneath remained moist. At the moment, he stated he had gone 23 years with out giving his out of doors crops further water.
Why he avoids disturbing the soil
One other a part of Steyaert’s system includes decreasing compaction. The farm makes use of GPS-guided tractors and everlasting driving paths. This implies equipment repeatedly travels alongside designated tracks somewhat than compressing giant parts of the rising space. Much less compaction permits roots to penetrate deeper into the soil and offers water extra room to maneuver by way of it.However Steyaert doesn’t merely go away the floor untouched. He makes use of a hoeing bar with blades that lower by way of roughly the highest two centimetres of soil. In response to him, this interrupts the tiny capillary pathways by way of which moisture can journey in direction of the floor and evaporate. The result’s a dry higher layer that acts nearly like a protecting barrier, whereas moisture stays beneath it.The strategy additionally takes time. Earlier reporting from Focus WTV stated it will probably take round 5 years for a plot to construct up enough natural matter, which means the system can not merely be launched in a single day.
A residing soil as an alternative of an irrigation system
Steyaert’s philosophy displays a broader thought in soil administration: wholesome soil can operate as a type of pure water reservoir. Natural matter can enhance a soil’s means to retain water, whereas fungi, micro organism and different soil organisms contribute to its construction and nutrient biking. Analysis and agricultural organisations more and more emphasise soil well being as an necessary device for serving to farms deal with intervals of drought. MVO Vlaanderen, which has documented De Zaaier’s strategy, says the farm’s soil recovered over a number of years after synthetic fertilisers have been deserted, rising its natural matter and water-holding capability.At De Zaaier, the purpose is subsequently to not hold your entire floor completely moist. As an alternative, the farm permits the higher layer to dry whereas defending the moisture beneath. That distinction is necessary.A dry-looking area doesn’t essentially imply a dry root zone. For Steyaert, the true take a look at is what is occurring beneath the floor.
Stronger crops, in line with the farmer
Steyaert additionally believes his strategy produces extra resilient vegetation. He has stated that crops grown in his system are higher capable of face up to drought and different types of stress. He additionally attributes fewer illness issues and good yields to the power of the vegetation, whereas claiming that the greens have a fuller style.“The benefit is that we’ve got a lot stronger vegetation which might be way more resistant. Not solely to drought, but additionally extra stress-resistant. Consequently, we endure much less from ailments and have a greater yield. That additionally ends in a greater style. You get a fuller flavour from the product.”The farm grows a variety of natural greens and fruit, and its produce is offered by way of its farm store and different channels. The range of crops is one other a part of the farm’s broader strategy to natural agriculture.Steyaert’s expertise doesn’t imply that each farm can merely cease irrigation. Crop sort, soil composition, rainfall, local weather and native water availability all decide how a lot water vegetation want. His farm’s outcomes are additionally primarily based on years of soil administration somewhat than a single approach.However his fields provide an intriguing lesson at a time when water shortage is changing into a rising concern for agriculture. The reply to drought could not at all times be discovered to find extra water. Generally, it might start with instructing the soil to carry on to the water it already has.
