Soil organic matter links organic farming to enhanced predator evenness

2020 ◽  
Vol 146 ◽  
pp. 104278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Aldebron ◽  
Matthew S. Jones ◽  
William E. Snyder ◽  
Carmen K. Blubaugh
Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1078
Author(s):  
Christopher Brock ◽  
Meike Oltmanns ◽  
Christoph Matthes ◽  
Ben Schmehe ◽  
Harald Schaaf ◽  
...  

Mixed-crop-livestock farms offer the best conditions for sustainable nutrient management in organic farming. However, if stocking rates are too low, sustainability might be threatened. Therefore, we studied the development of soil organic matter and nutrients as well as crop yields over the first course of a new long-term field experiment with a mimicked cattle stocking rate of 0.6 LU ha−1, which is the actual average stocking rate for organic farms in Germany. In the experiment, we tested the effects of additional compost application to improve organic matter supply to soils, and further, potassium sulfate fertilization for an improved nutrition of fodder legumes. Compost was made from internal resources of the farm (woody material from hedge-cutting). Soil organic matter and nutrient stocks decreased in the control treatment, even though yield levels, and thus nutrient exports, were comparably low. With compost application, soil organic matter and nutrient exports could be compensated for. At the same time, the yields increased but stayed at a moderate level. Potassium sulfate fertilization further improved N yields. We conclude that compost from internal resources is a viable solution to facilitate sustainable organic crop production at low stocking rates. However, we are aware that this option does not solve the basic problem of open nutrient cycles on the farm gate level.


Author(s):  
Biboss Maharjan ◽  
Anon Chaulagain ◽  
Parikrama Sapkota ◽  
Dhurva P. Gauchan ◽  
Janardan Lamichanne

 The aim of this study was to investigate the response of soil physical and chemical properties during the transition from conventional to organic farming system. Soil samples were collected from five different farms: “Hasera organic farm” under 10 years of organic farming, “Everything organic nursery” under 5 years of organic farming, “Grameen Krishi” under 3 years of transition from conventional to organic, “Gautamshree farm” under 1 years of transition from conventional to organic and “Kuntabeshi farm” under IPM practice as reference. Soil bulk density, moisture content, texture, NPK, CEC and soil organic matter was evaluated in soil samples collected at 0-15 cm. Soil organic matter (5.45%) was highest in Hasera farm, whereas lowest bulk density (1.02gcm-3) was also in Hasera farm. Lowest soil organic matter content was found in Gautamshree farm. Soils of all farms were under loam texture. Soil macronutrients were highest in Grameen Krishi farm. The overall pH value of all soil samples was slightly acidic to acidic.Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and TechnologyVol. 13, No. 1, 2017, Page: 76-84


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1019-1028 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Abdelrahman ◽  
C. Cocozza ◽  
D. C. Olk ◽  
D. Ventrella ◽  
F. Montemurro ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
Haryuni Haryuni ◽  
Hesti Wirawati ◽  
Slamet Minardi ◽  
Supriyadi Supriyadi

<p>Soil quality is a measure of the condition of soil. The goal of sustainable agriculture is to maintain a non-negative trend in productivity while maintaining soil quality. Susukan is an area in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia, which has developed organic farming to increase rice productivity and quality. The main objective was to determine the sustainability of organic rice cropping systems. The organic farming system at the research location has been conducted for 8 years. Appropriate agricultural management can maintain the quality of soil, environment and improve the health of plants, animals and humans. This research aims to know the soil quality and determine the minimum data set (MDS) in organic and non-organic paddy field with a technical irrigation system. Paddy soil samples were analyzed in the laboratory. The parameters are porosity, permeability, hydrogen potential (pH), cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil organic matter (SOC), total-N (nitrogen), carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio, available-P (phosphorus), available-K (potassium), base saturation (BS), electric conductivity (EC), soil respiration (qCO2), redox potential (Eh) with 3 repetitions. The value of soil quality index (SQI) in the organic paddy field is 3.216 with bad soil quality criteria, while the non-organic paddy field is 0.147 with very bad criteria. The soil quality values are based on the key factors or MDS that is potential redox (EH), soil respiration (qCO2), potential hydrogen (pH), porosity, soil organic matter (SOC), total-N (nitrogen), C/N ratio, available-P (phosphorus).</p>


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