scholarly journals Organic vs. organic – soil arthropods as bioindicators of ecological sustainability in greenhouse system experiment under Mediterranean conditions

2017 ◽  
Vol 108 (5) ◽  
pp. 625-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzana Madzaric ◽  
F.G. Ceglie ◽  
L. Depalo ◽  
L. Al Bitar ◽  
G. Mimiola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Organic Liquid ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Ecological Sustainability ◽  
Soil Arthropods ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Soil Arthropod

AbstractOrganic greenhouse (OGH) production is characterized by different systems and agricultural practices with diverse environmental impact. Soil arthropods are widely used as bioindicators of ecological sustainability in open field studies, while there is a lack of research on organic production for protected systems. This study assessed the soil arthropod abundance and diversity over a 2-year crop rotation in three systems of OGH production in the Mediterranean. The systems under assessment differed in soil fertility management: SUBST – a simplified system of organic production, based on an input substitution approach (use of guano and organic liquid fertilizers), AGROCOM – soil fertility mainly based on compost application and agroecological services crops (ASC) cultivation (tailored use of cover crops) as part of crop rotation, and AGROMAN – animal manure and ASC cultivation as part of crop rotation. Monitoring of soil fauna was performed by using pitfall traps and seven taxa were considered: Carabidae, Staphylinidae, Araneae, Opiliones, Isopoda, Myriapoda, and Collembola. Results demonstrated high potential of ASC cultivation as a technique for beneficial soil arthropod conservation in OGH conditions. SUBST system was dominated by Collembola in all crops, while AGROMAN and AGROCOM had more balanced relative abundance of Isopoda, Staphylinidae, and Aranea. Opiliones and Myriapoda were more affected by season, while Carabidae were poorly represented in the whole monitoring period. Despite the fact that all three production systems are in accordance with the European Union regulation on organic farming, findings of this study displayed significant differences among them and confirmed the suitability of soil arthropods as bioindicators in protected systems of organic farming.

scholarly journals Impact of Agroecological Practices on Greenhouse Vegetable Production: Comparison among Organic Production Systems

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corrado Ciaccia ◽  
Francesco Giovanni Ceglie ◽  
Giovanni Burgio ◽  
Suzana Madžarić ◽  
Elena Testani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Soil Parameters ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Soil Arthropods ◽  
Soil Fertility Management ◽  
Soil Arthropod

In greenhouses, where intensive systems are widely used for organic production, the differences between “conventionalized” and agroecological approaches are especially evident. Among the agronomic practices, green manure from agroecological service crops (ASCs) and organic amendments represent the main tools for soil fertility management with respect to the substitution of synthetic fertilizer with organic ones (the input substitution approach). Over a two-year organic rotation, we compared a conventionalized system (SB) and two agroecological systems, characterized by ASC introduction combined with the use of manure (AM) and compost (AC) amendments. A system approach was utilized for the comparison assessment. For this purpose, agronomic performance, soil fertility and the density of soil arthropod activity were monitored for the entire rotation. The comprehensive evaluation of the parameters measured provided evidence that clearly differentiated SB from AM and AC. The drivers of discrimination were soil parameters referring to long term fertility and soil arthropod dynamics. The study confirmed the higher productivity of SB but also no positive impact on soil fertility and soil arthropods, as highlighted by AM and AC. Based on the results, a trade-off between productivity and the promotion of long-term ecosystem diversity and functioning is needed for the assessment of systems of organic production.

Perspective of using fusariosis resistant varieties of lupines in organic farming

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (94) ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
M.S. Korniychuk ◽  
N.V. Tkachenko
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
High Protein ◽  
Mineral Fertilizers ◽  
Resistant Varieties ◽  
Plant Remains ◽  
Digestible Protein ◽  
Protein Feed

The expediency of fusarium resistant lupines usage in organic farming for improving soil fertility and producing high protein feed for livestock is justified in this article. Organic production excludes the use of mineral fertilizers and pesticides. In these circumstances, increases the value of cultures that positively affect the fertility of soils and their phytosanitary status. These crops include annual fodder lupine (yellow, white and angustifolia), especially varieties that are resistant to disease. Having the highest nitrogen-fixing ability among annual legume crops, lupins, depending on the type and conditions of cultivation, can accumulate from 80 to 300 kg/ha of environmentally pure symbiotic nitrogen in biomass. Plowing the green mass (30-45 t/ha) is equivalent to the corresponding amount of manure or introduction of 5-7 t/ha of ammonium nitrate. 30 kg/ha of phosphorus and 50 kg/ha of potassium are entering the soil with plant remains. Therefore, lupine provides itself with nutrients and still leaves up to 150 kg/ha of nitrogen in the soil after harvesting for subsequent crops in crop rotation. In organic production, fusariosis resistant varieties of lupines are also interesting as a source of high protein feeds for livestock. They are building up to 60 t/ha of biomass, which contains more than one ton of digestible protein. In grain of the fodder varieties contains 40-52% of crude protein, 5.5-6.0% of fat, 10-12% of sugar. The characteristic of fusarium resistant varieties of lupins (yellow, white and angustifolia), created in the NSC "Institute of Agriculture NAAS" and included in the Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine is presented in this article. These varieties are practically not affected by fusariosis under the production conditions and do not require the use of fungicides during the growing season. They can be grown in crop rotation with a return period of 2-3 years, whereas for unstable it took 6-7 years. Because of the inability to use in organic farming fungicide to prevent crop losses from anthracnose, it is necessary to use predominantly angustifolia lupine varieties, which are now more tolerant to this disease, prevent sowing of infected seeds and adhere to crop rotation. Fusarium-resistant varieties of lupins are suitable for cultivation in poucous and sown crops, and in mixtures with other crops.

scholarly journals Cover crop and tillage intensities alter ground-dwelling arthropod communities during the transition to organic production

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 361-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randa Jabbour ◽  
Tara Pisani-Gareau ◽  
Richard G. Smith ◽  
Christina Mullen ◽  
Mary Barbercheck
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Arthropod Community ◽  
Legacy Effects ◽  
Arthropod Communities ◽  
Legacy Effect ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Activity Density ◽  
Soil Arthropod

AbstractWe conducted a cropping systems experiment in central Pennsylvania, USA, to determine the effects of initial cover crop species and soil management on the abundance and composition of the ground-dwelling arthropod community. We hypothesized that we would detect legacy effects of the cover crops planted in year 1 of a 3-yr crop sequence on the arthropod community in the subsequent 2 yrs, and that these effects would be influenced by the intensity of tillage. We compared four systems in a factorial combination of perennial sod and legumes or annual cereal grain and legume as initial cover crops and moldboard or chisel plow tillage implemented in soybeans followed by maize in the subsequent 2 yrs. The entire experiment was initiated twice in adjacent locations, starting in 2003 (Start 1) and 2004 (Start 2). We quantified soil arthropod activity-density and community composition and identified all arthropods to order or family, and the ground and tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) to species. In Start 1, but not Start 2, arthropod activity-density increased with each year following implementation of organic management. We observed few legacy effects of cover crop or tillage intensity on arthropod activity-density. The composition of the soil arthropod community was primarily defined by the initial cover crop in the first year, and by the interaction between cover crop and tillage intensity in the second and third year. A legacy effect associated with a yr-1 cover crop of cereal rye was observed for Scarabaeidae beetles and Formicidae (ants) in yr 2 and Carabidae beetles in yr 3 of Start 1, but not Start 2. Weed indicators contributed significantly to the variation in the soil arthropod community that was explained by the environment in yr 2 in Start 1, and in yr 3 in both Starts. Our observations support the concept that both immediate and legacy effects of management shape arthropod communities during the organic transition period, suggesting that transitioning systems could be managed in ways that conserve or enhance natural enemy populations.

scholarly journals Comparing attitudes and characteristics of organic, former organic and conventional farmers: Evidence from Ireland

2012 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Läpple
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Organic Farmers ◽  
Aware Group ◽  
New Farmers ◽  
Cattle And Sheep

AbstractDespite an overall growth rate of the organic farming sector in the European Union, a considerable number of farmers cease organic production each year. Given the commitment of many European governments to increase the size of their organic farming sectors, reducing the rate of withdrawals from organic production may be an easier option than attracting new farmers into organic farming. In order to reduce the rate of withdrawals, knowledge about those farmers is required. However, to date, little is known about farmers who adopt and subsequently abandon organic farming. This study attempts to fill this gap in the literature by comparing and contrasting the farm and personal characteristics of organic, former organic and conventional farmers. To this end, primary data from 596 Irish cattle and sheep farmers are utilized. Overall, the findings reveal significant differences between the three groups. More specifically, organic farmers are found to be the most environmentally aware farmers, who also rate information gathering as more important than the remaining two groups. Organic farmers are younger, better educated and more likely to be women than conventional farmers. Former organic farmers stand out to be the least risk averse group and also express lower environmental awareness than organic farmers. Conventional farmers are found to be the most profit oriented and least environmentally aware group. In addition, this group farms more intensely stocked enterprises than the remaining groups. The paper concludes with a discussion of some policy recommendations aimed at increasing the size of the organic sector.

scholarly journals The Organic Farming Movement in Turkey

2005 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 864-871 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cengiz Sayin ◽  
Robin G. Brumfield ◽  
M. Nisa Mencet ◽  
Burhan Ozkan
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Domestic Market ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Market Demand ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Organic Products ◽  
Market Outlook ◽  
The Developed Countries ◽  
Export Destination

In the past decade, organic production has become a growing segment of the healthy food market. Organic farming is expanding gradually in many countries, and consumption of organic products is gaining a huge importance in the developed countries, such as the U.S., countries in the European Union (EU), Canada, and Japan. The increase of domestic market demand in developed countries and export potential for developing countries has stimulated organic agricultural production. In this report, we briefly examine the development of the world organic market and examine regulations with regard to production and certification. We also provide a detailed review of the current structure of organic food production and marketing in Turkey, a developing country with advantages to increase organic production. The overall picture of organic products in Turkey seems very positive. The size of the domestic market for organic products is estimated to be $3 to $5 million, with annual growth projected to be about 50% for the next 5 years. Eighty percent of current production in Turkey is export-oriented. The EU has been the main export destination. The positive market outlook will no doubt create a renewed interest in organic products among Turkish farmers and policy makers.

scholarly journals Effect of contrasting crop rotation systems on soil chemical, biochemical properties and plant root growth in organic farming: first results

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elga Monaci ◽  
Serena Polverigiani ◽  
Davide Neri ◽  
Michele Bianchelli ◽  
Rodolfo Santilocchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Root System ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Plant Root ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Plant Root System

Organic farming is claimed to improve soil fertility. Nonetheless, among organic practices, net C-inputs may largely vary in amount and composition and produce different soil conditions for microbial activity and plant-root system adaptation and development. In this study, we hypothesised that, in the regime of organic agriculture, soil chemical and biochemical properties can substantially differ under contrasting crop rotation systems and produce conditions of soil fertility to which the plant responds through diverse growth and production. The impact of 13 years of Alfalfa-Crop rotation (P-C) and Annual Crop rotation (A-C) was evaluated on the build up of soil organic carbon (SOC), active (light fraction organic matter, LFOM; water soluble organic carbon, WSOC) and humic fraction (fulvic acids carbon, FAC; humic acids carbon, HAC), soil biochemical properties (microbial biomass carbon, MBC; basal respiration, dBR; alkaline phosphatase AmP; arylsulfatase ArS; orto-diphenoloxidase, o-DPO) and the amount of available macro-nutrients (N, P, and S) at two different soil depths (0-10 cm and 10-30 cm) before and after cultivation of wheat. We also studied the response of root morphology, physiology and yield of the plant-root system of wheat. Results showed that the level of soil fertility and plant-root system behaviour substantially differed under the two crop rotation systems investigated here. We observed high efficiency of the P-C soil in the build up of soil organic carbon, as it was 2.9 times higher than that measured in the A-C soil. With the exception of o-DPO, P-C soil always showed a higher level of AmP and ArS activity and an initial lower amount of available P and S. The P-C soil showed higher rootability and promoted thinner roots and higher root density. In the P-C soil conditions, the photosynthesis and yield of durum wheat were also favoured. Finally, cultivation of wheat caused an overall depletion of the accrued fertility of soil, mainly evident in the P-C soil, which maintained a residual higher level of all the chemical and biochemical properties tested.

scholarly journals Rolnictwo ekologiczne w Polsce i perspektywy jego rozwoju w kontekście PROW 2014–2020

2017 ◽  
pp. 115-126
Author(s):  
Marzena Trajer ◽  
Krystyna Krzyżanowska
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Organic Farming ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Development Programme ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Organic Farms ◽  
Rural Development Programme

The aim of the study was determination of the position of Polish organic farming comparing to organic farming in European Union, defining the regional locations of organic farming producers in Poland and identification of the financial support under the Rural Development Programme for 2014–2020. In the article the secondary data and the method of comparative analysis were used. Concerning the number of ecological farms, Poland had the sixth position in the European Union in 2015. The analysis shows that the largest number of applications for co-financing of organic production within framework for action „Organic farming” were implemented in the voivodeships with the largest number of organic farms in Poland: Zachodniopomorskie voivodeship, Warmińsko-mazurskie voivodeship and Podlaskie voivodeship.

scholarly journals Model of state support for organic farming of Kazakhstan in the context of creation of international regulatory framework for the industry

2022 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 06004
Author(s):  
Dilara S. Samenbetova ◽  
Oleg Yu. Patlasov
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
World Market ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
The European Union ◽  
State Support ◽  
Organic Products ◽  
Agricultural Potential ◽  
Effective System ◽  
The Status

The paper evaluates the status and prospects for a wider market capacity of organic foods and items. The paper analyzes regulatory framework for organic market in Kazakhstan. The paper describes the conditions for the development of the organic market. The transformation of global food market structures has influenced the organic farming. Demand for organic products has been growing rapidly. Whereas the European Union has put in place at the time an effective system for regulating organic production, the EAEU, CIS, and SCO countries can see this production taking shape only now. It is argued that Kazakhstan is harnessing its agricultural potential only partially, including organic food production. The paper proves that the development of green farming entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan will enable agricultural organizations, aided by the measures of state support, to form a new niche in the market for organic products and expand the supply of organic products in the world market. New approaches are proposed for the first time in regard to formulating regulations, model laws, and recommendations of international unions.

scholarly journals Impact of 2-years practice of organic coffee farming on soil arthropod diversity

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-173
Author(s):  
Mohammad Kanedi ◽  
Suratman ◽  
Nismah Nukmal ◽  
Siti Ardiyanti
Keyword(s):  
Organic Farming ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Soil Arthropods ◽  
Arthropod Diversity ◽  
Wiener Diversity Index ◽  
Soil Arthropod ◽  
Coffee Farming ◽  
Organic Coffee ◽  
The Impact

Organic farming has been recommended by many experts in the world because of its positive ecological impacts such as increasing biodiversity. In Indonesia, the practice of organic farming is very widespread, including in smallholder coffee plantations. This study was intended to determine the impact of the organic farming system applied by smallholder coffee farmers for 2 years on soil arthropod diversity. On the two coffee farmlands, the conventional and organics (1 ha each), 10 plots of 5 x 20 meters were set and in each of these plots 5 sampling points were defined for collecting soil arthropods using pit-fall technique. The analysis of arthropod diversity in the two fields was quantified using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index model. The results showed that the two compared coffee farming systems had the same index of diversity (H ') and evenness (E). However, statistical tests using the Hutcheson t-test revealed that the variance in diversity of arthropods in organic coffee farms was significantly higher than in conventional ones (α <0.001). Therefore, it can be concluded that the practice of organic coffee farming, although in a short time, has been able and potent to increase the population and/or diversity of soil animals.

scholarly journals The Influence of Bahiagrass, Tillage, and cover crops on Organic Vegetable Production and Soil Quality in the Southern Coastal Plain

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Bliss ◽  
Pete Andersen ◽  
Brent Brodbeck ◽  
David Wright ◽  
Steve Olson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Quality ◽  
Crop Rotation ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Yields ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Vegetable Crop ◽  
Available N ◽  
Soil C

<p>Conventional farming utilizing bahiagrass (Papsalum notatum Flugge) in rotation with crops has been shown to increase yield, improve soil quality, and decrease weed and disease pressure. Organic production systems in the Southern Coastal Plain are challenged with limited soil fertility and a wide array of insect, disease, and weed pests. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of sequential years in bahiagrass and tillage (conventional and conservation) on organic vegetable yield and soil indices. After 0-4 years in bahiagrass, a crop rotation of rye and oats (winter cover crop), bush beans (spring vegetable crop), soybean (summer cover crop), and broccoli (fall vegetable crop) was implemented. Vegetable crop yields, plant biomass, plant C and N, and soil C, N, and P were measured for the four crops in the rotation over a three year period. Two years or more of bahiagrass prior to initiating the vegetable crop rotation showed positive effects on vegetable crop yields and soil quality parameters. Tillage treatments did not have a consistent effect on measured parameters. Soil C was not impacted by years in bahiagrass but was influenced by years of crop production. Potential soil N and P mineralization indicated an increase of soil organic fractions with years in bahiagrass. Available N increased after cover crops, and available P decreased with increasing years in bahiagrass.</p>

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