Methods Organic farming

1 methods

1.1 crop diversity
1.2 soil management
1.3 weed management
1.4 controlling other organisms
1.5 livestock
1.6 genetic modification
1.7 tools

methods

organic cultivation of mixed vegetables in capay, california

organic agriculture production system sustains health of soils, ecosystems , people. relies on ecological processes, biodiversity , cycles adapted local conditions, rather use of inputs adverse effects. organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation , science benefit shared environment , promote fair relationships , quality of life involved...

organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of ecology , modern technology traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring biological processes. organic farming methods studied in field of agroecology. while conventional agriculture uses synthetic pesticides , water-soluble synthetically purified fertilizers, organic farmers restricted regulations using natural pesticides , fertilizers. example of natural pesticide pyrethrin, found naturally in chrysanthemum flower. principal methods of organic farming include crop rotation, green manures , compost, biological pest control, , mechanical cultivation. these measures use natural environment enhance agricultural productivity: legumes planted fix nitrogen soil, natural insect predators encouraged, crops rotated confuse pests , renew soil, , natural materials such potassium bicarbonate , mulches used control disease , weeds. genetically modified seeds , animals excluded.

while organic fundamentally different conventional because of use of carbon based fertilizers compared highly soluble synthetic based fertilizers , biological pest control instead of synthetic pesticides, organic farming , large-scale conventional farming not entirely mutually exclusive. many of methods developed organic agriculture have been borrowed more conventional agriculture. example, integrated pest management multifaceted strategy uses various organic methods of pest control whenever possible, in conventional farming include synthetic pesticides last resort.

crop diversity

organic farming encourages crop diversity. science of agroecology has revealed benefits of polyculture (multiple crops in same space), employed in organic farming. planting variety of vegetable crops supports wider range of beneficial insects, soil microorganisms, , other factors add overall farm health. crop diversity helps environments thrive , protects species going extinct.

soil management

organic farming relies heavily on natural breakdown of organic matter, using techniques green manure , composting, replace nutrients taken soil previous crops. biological process, driven microorganisms such mycorrhiza, allows natural production of nutrients in soil throughout growing season, , has been referred feeding soil feed plant. organic farming uses variety of methods improve soil fertility, including crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, , application of compost. reducing tillage, soil not inverted , exposed air; less carbon lost atmosphere resulting in more soil organic carbon. has added benefit of carbon sequestration, can reduce green house gases , reverse climate change.

plants need nitrogen, phosphorus, , potassium, micronutrients , symbiotic relationships fungi , other organisms flourish, getting enough nitrogen, , particularly synchronization plants enough nitrogen @ right time (when plants need most), challenge organic farmers. crop rotation , green manure ( cover crops ) provide nitrogen through legumes (more precisely, fabaceae family), fix nitrogen atmosphere through symbiosis rhizobial bacteria. intercropping, used insect , disease control, can increase soil nutrients, competition between legume , crop can problematic , wider spacing between crop rows required. crop residues can ploughed soil, , different plants leave different amounts of nitrogen, potentially aiding synchronization. organic farmers use animal manure, processed fertilizers such seed meal , various mineral powders such rock phosphate , green sand, naturally occurring form of potash provides potassium. these methods control erosion. in cases ph may need amended. natural ph amendments include lime , sulfur, in u.s. compounds such iron sulfate, aluminum sulfate, magnesium sulfate, , soluble boron products allowed in organic farming.

mixed farms both livestock , crops can operate ley farms, whereby land gathers fertility through growing nitrogen-fixing forage grasses such white clover or alfalfa , grows cash crops or cereals when fertility established. farms without livestock ( stockless ) may find more difficult maintain soil fertility, , may rely more on external inputs such imported manure grain legumes , green manures, although grain legumes may fix limited nitrogen because harvested. horticultural farms grow fruits , vegetables in protected conditions relay more on external inputs.

biological research soil , soil organisms has proven beneficial organic farming. varieties of bacteria , fungi break down chemicals, plant matter , animal waste productive soil nutrients. in turn, produce benefits of healthier yields , more productive soil future crops. fields less or no manure display lower yields, due decreased soil microbe community. increased manure improves biological activity, providing healthier, more arable soil system , higher yields.

weed management

organic weed management promotes weed suppression, rather weed elimination, enhancing crop competition , phytotoxic effects on weeds. organic farmers integrate cultural, biological, mechanical, physical , chemical tactics manage weeds without synthetic herbicides.

organic standards require rotation of annual crops, meaning single crop cannot grown in same location without different, intervening crop. organic crop rotations include weed-suppressive cover crops , crops dissimilar life cycles discourage weeds associated particular crop. research ongoing develop organic methods promote growth of natural microorganisms suppress growth or germination of common weeds.

other cultural practices used enhance crop competitiveness , reduce weed pressure include selection of competitive crop varieties, high-density planting, tight row spacing, , late planting warm soil encourage rapid crop germination.

mechanical , physical weed control practices used on organic farms can broadly grouped as:

tillage - turning soil between crops incorporate crop residues , soil amendments; remove existing weed growth , prepare seedbed planting; turning soil after seeding kill weeds, including cultivation of row crops;
mowing , cutting - removing top growth of weeds;
flame weeding , thermal weeding - using heat kill weeds; and
mulching - blocking weed emergence organic materials, plastic films, or landscape fabric.

some critics, citing work published in 1997 david pimentel of cornell university, described epidemic of soil erosion worldwide, have raised concerned tillage contribute erosion epidemic. fao , other organizations have advocated no-till approach both conventional , organic farming, , point out in particular crop rotation techniques used in organic farming excellent no-till approaches. study published in 2005 pimentel , colleagues confirmed crop rotations , cover cropping (green manure) typical of organic agriculture reduce soil erosion, pest problems, , pesticide use. naturally sourced chemicals allowed herbicidal use. these include formulations of acetic acid (concentrated vinegar), corn gluten meal, , essential oils. few selective bioherbicides based on fungal pathogens have been developed. @ time, however, organic herbicides , bioherbicides play minor role in organic weed control toolbox.

weeds can controlled grazing. example, geese have been used weed range of organic crops including cotton, strawberries, tobacco, , corn, reviving practice of keeping cotton patch geese, common in southern u.s. before 1950s. similarly, rice farmers introduce ducks , fish wet paddy fields eat both weeds , insects.

controlling other organisms

chloroxylon used pest management in organic rice cultivation in chhattisgarh, india

organisms aside weeds cause problems on organic farms include arthropods (e.g., insects, mites), nematodes, fungi , bacteria. organic practices include, not limited to:

encouraging predatory beneficial insects control pests serving them nursery plants and/or alternative habitat, in form of shelterbelt, hedgerow, or beetle bank;
encouraging beneficial microorganisms;
rotating crops different locations year year interrupt pest reproduction cycles;
planting companion crops , pest-repelling plants discourage or divert pests;
using row covers protect crops during pest migration periods;
using biologic pesticides , herbicides;
using stale seed beds germinate , destroy weeds before planting;
using sanitation remove pest habitat;
using insect traps monitor , control insect populations; and
using physical barriers, such row covers.

examples of predatory beneficial insects include minute pirate bugs, big-eyed bugs, , lesser extent ladybugs (which tend fly away), of eat wide range of pests. lacewings effective, tend fly away. praying mantis tend move more , eat less heavily. parasitoid wasps tend effective selected prey, small insects can less effective outdoors because wind controls movement. predatory mites effective controlling other mites.

naturally derived insecticides allowed use on organic farms use include bacillus thuringiensis (a bacterial toxin), pyrethrum (a chrysanthemum extract), spinosad (a bacterial metabolite), neem (a tree extract) , rotenone (a legume root extract). fewer 10% of organic farmers use these pesticides regularly; 1 survey found 5.3% of vegetable growers in california use rotenone while 1.7% use pyrethrum. these pesticides not more safe or environmentally friendly synthetic pesticides , can cause harm. main criterion organic pesticides naturally derived, , naturally derived substances have been controversial. controversial natural pesticides include rotenone, copper, nicotine sulfate, , pyrethrums rotenone , pyrethrum particularly controversial because work attacking nervous system, conventional insecticides. rotenone extremely toxic fish , can induce symptoms resembling parkinson s disease in mammals. although pyrethrum (natural pyrethrins) more effective against insects when used piperonyl butoxide (which retards degradation of pyrethrins), organic standards not permit use of latter substance.

naturally derived fungicides allowed use on organic farms include bacteria bacillus subtilis , bacillus pumilus; , fungus trichoderma harzianum. these effective diseases affecting roots. compost tea contains mix of beneficial microbes, may attack or out-compete plant pathogens, variability among formulations , preparation methods may contribute inconsistent results or dangerous growth of toxic microbes in compost teas.

some naturally derived pesticides not allowed use on organic farms. these include nicotine sulfate, arsenic, , strychnine.

synthetic pesticides allowed use on organic farms include insecticidal soaps , horticultural oils insect management; , bordeaux mixture, copper hydroxide , sodium bicarbonate managing fungi. copper sulfate , bordeaux mixture (copper sulfate plus lime), approved organic use in various jurisdictions, can more environmentally problematic synthetic fungicides dissallowed in organic farming similar concerns apply copper hydroxide. repeated application of copper sulfate or copper hydroxide fungicide may result in copper accumulation toxic levels in soil, , admonitions avoid excessive accumulations of copper in soil appear in various organic standards , elsewhere. environmental concerns several kinds of biota arise @ average rates of use of such substances crops. in european union, replacement of copper-based fungicides in organic agriculture policy priority, research seeking alternatives organic production.

livestock

for livestock these healthy cows vaccines play important part in animal health since antibiotic therapy prohibited in organic farming

raising livestock , poultry, meat, dairy , eggs, traditional farming activity complements growing. organic farms attempt provide animals natural living conditions , feed. organic certification verifies livestock raised according usda organic regulations throughout lives. these regulations include requirement animal feed must certified organic.

organic livestock may be, , must be, treated medicine when sick, drugs cannot used promote growth, feed must organic, , must pastured.

also, horses , cattle once basic farm feature provided labor, hauling , plowing, fertility, through recycling of manure, , fuel, in form of food farmers , other animals. while today, small growing operations not include livestock, domesticated animals desirable part of organic farming equation, true sustainability, ability of farm function self-renewing unit.

genetic modification

a key characteristic of organic farming rejection of genetically engineered plants , animals. on 19 october 1998, participants @ ifoam s 12th scientific conference issued mar del plata declaration, more 600 delegates on 60 countries voted unanimously exclude use of genetically modified organisms in food production , agriculture.

although opposition use of transgenic technologies in organic farming strong, agricultural researchers luis herrera-estrella , ariel alvarez-morales continue advocate integration of transgenic technologies organic farming optimal means sustainable agriculture, particularly in developing world, author , scientist pamela ronald, views kind of biotechnology being consistent organic principles.

although gmos excluded organic farming, there concern pollen genetically modified crops increasingly penetrating organic , heirloom seed stocks, making difficult, if not impossible, keep these genomes entering organic food supply. differing regulations among countries limits availability of gmos countries, described in article on regulation of release of genetic modified organisms.

tools

organic farmers use number of traditional farm tools farming. due goals of sustainability in organic farming, organic farmers try minimize reliance on fossil fuels. in developing world on small organic farms tools constrained hand tools , diesel powered water pumps.