Biological indicators of soil quality in organic farming systems

AbstractThe health of the soil, recognized by its active role in the linked processes of decomposition and nutrient supply, is considered as the foundation of agriculture by the organic farming movement. Nutrient management in organically managed soils is fundamentally different from that of conventional agricultural systems. Crop rotations are designed with regard to maintenance of fertility with a focus on nutrient recycling. Where nutrients are added to the system, inputs are in organic and/or non-synthetic fertilizer sources that are mostly slow release in nature. Hence a greater reliance is placed on soil chemical and biological processes to release nutrients in plant-available forms. In this respect, nutrient availability in organically farmed soils is more dependent upon soil processes than is the case in conventional agriculture. The development and use of biological indicators of soil quality may therefore be more important in organic (and other low input) farming systems. The aim of this paper is to evaluate current evidence for the impact of organic farming systems on soil biological quality and consider the identification of appropriate biological indicators for use by organic farmers and their advisors. Organic farming systems are generally associated with increased biological activity and increased below-ground biodiversity. The main impacts on biological fertility do not result from the systemsper sebut are related to the amount and quality of the soil organic matter pool and disruptions of soil habitat via tillage. Even within the constraints of organic farming practices it is possible for farmers to make changes to management practices which will tend to improve soil biological quality. It is, however, by no means clear that distinct indicators of soil biological quality are needed for organic farming systems. It is important not only to identify the most appropriate indicators but also to ensure that farmers and land managers can understand and relate to them to support on-farm management decisions.

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Cover Crops

Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Investments in the Green Economy - Advances in Business Strategy and Competitive Advantage ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-2075-7.ch009 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 257-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Vladan Ugrenović ◽

Vladimir Filipović

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Organic Farming ◽

Soil Quality ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Multiple Role ◽

Pests And Diseases ◽

Organic Farming Systems

The use of cover crops is widespread practice in organic farming systems. Cover crops can be defined as crops that are usually not grown commercially, and can have a multiple role in crop rotations. The benefit of cover crops has been known since long. Legumes are used as biological fixer of nitrogen for the next crop, and are established during periods when the soil is without major crops in order to reduce erosion. In recent years, the role of cover crops has been extended to the biocontrol of weeds, pests and diseases, as well as to the overall improvement of soil quality by increasing organic matter, encouraging the circulation of nutrients and reducing soil compaction. At the same time, their use tends to reduce costs and even create new sources of income on the farm.

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Transition from Conventional to Organic Farming Systems: I. Challenges, Recommendations, and Guidelines for Pest Management

HortTechnology ◽

10.21273/horttech.12.4.606 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 606-610 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Gladis M. Zinati

Keyword(s):

Pest Management ◽

Organic Farming ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Management Practices ◽

Crop Yields ◽

Transition Period ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Agricultural Systems ◽

Organic Farming Systems

Conventional agricultural systems increase per-area food production, but deplete natural resources and degrade both crop and environmental quality. Many of these concerns are addressed by sustainable agricultural systems, integrated pest management, biocontrol, and other alternative systems. Environmental and social concerns have escalated the need for alternative agricultural systems in the last decade. One alternative, the organic farming system, substitutes cultural and biological inputs for synthetically made fertilizers and chemicals for crop nutrition and pest management. Practices used for crop and pest management are similar during transition from conventional to organic farming systems, but produce is not certified to be organic during the transition period. During the transition from conventional to organic farming, growers may face pest control difficulties and lower yields when conventional practices are abandoned. The objectives of this paper are to 1) give an overview of the reasons for converting to organic farming and the challenges that growers face during the transition period, 2) outline some potential strategies for crop, soil, and pest management, and 3) list guidelines and recommendations for pest management during the transition to organic farming. Implementation of crop and pest management practices depends on geographical location, climate, available onsite resources, and history of the land. During transition, growers rely on cultural mechanisms and on organic and mineral sources to improve soil fertility, to build a population of natural enemies to suppress pest populations. Pest management practices during the transition period that reduce pest populations to economically manageable levels include crop rotation, cultivation, cover crops, mulches, crop diversification, resistant varieties, and insect traps. These practices also enrich the soil biota and increase crop yields before produce is certified organically grown.

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The Impact of Rotational Practice on Nitrate Leaching Losses in Organic Farming Systems in the United Kingdom

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture ◽

10.1080/01448765.1995.9754699 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 11 (1-4) ◽

pp. 123-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Lois Philipps ◽

Christopher Stopes

Keyword(s):

United Kingdom ◽

Organic Farming ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

The United Kingdom ◽

Organic Farming Systems ◽

The Impact

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Clover and Fertiliser Based Strategies to Limit Nitrate Leaching in Conventional Agriculture—Relevance of Research to Organic Farming Systems

Biological Agriculture & Horticulture ◽

10.1080/01448765.1995.9754700 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 11 (1-4) ◽

pp. 135-144 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

S. P. Cuttle ◽

S. C. Jarvis

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Conventional Agriculture ◽

Organic Farming Systems

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Stable Characteristics of Cover Crops for Weed Suppression in Organic Farming Systems

Plant Production Science ◽

10.1626/pps.14.75 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 75-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Hiroshi Uchino ◽

Kazuto Iwama ◽

Yutaka Jitsuyama ◽

Keiko Ichiyama ◽

Eri Sugiura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Cover Crops ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Weed Suppression ◽

Organic Farming Systems

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Organic Farming Increases the Technical Efficiency of Olive Farms in Italy

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11030209 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 209

Author(s):

Maria Raimondo ◽

Francesco Caracciolo ◽

Concetta Nazzaro ◽

Giuseppe Marotta

Keyword(s):

Organic Farming ◽

Technical Efficiency ◽

Stochastic Frontier ◽

Farming System ◽

Positive Role ◽

Conventional Agriculture ◽

Direct Sales ◽

Organic Farming System ◽

The Impact

While there is growing recognition of the positive role played by organic farming in the reduction of the negative externalities due to conventional agriculture, there is uncertainty about the effect of the latter on the economic performance of the farms. In this scenario, the present paper aims at investigating the effect of organic farming on technical efficiency in Italian olive farms. A cross-section dataset was analyzed through the stochastic frontier function, where the adoption of organic farming was explicitly modeled. Then, to obtain an unbiased estimate of the impact of organic farming on technical efficiency, a propensity score matching method was implemented. The findings reveal that organic farming increases technical efficiency in Italian olive farms by approximately 10%. The highest impact of organic farming is observed in small farms. As for the propensity to become organic, we found that the production and the direct sales of a higher quality of gross marketable output, as well as the intensity of labor and machines, increase the probability to adopt organic farming. Conversely, farm localization, the availability of family labor, and financial capital discourage conversion to the organic farming system.

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Rural Roads Are Paving the Way for Land-Use Intensification in the Uplands of Laos

Land ◽

10.3390/land10030330 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 330

Author(s):

Jean-Christophe Castella ◽

Sonnasack Phaipasith

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Management Practices ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Farming Systems ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Rural Roads ◽

External Resources ◽

Hybrid Maize ◽

The Impact

Road expansion has played a prominent role in the agrarian transition that marked the integration of swidden-based farming systems into the market economy in Southeast Asia. Rural roads deeply altered the landscape and livelihood structures by allowing the penetration of boom crops such as hybrid maize in remote territories. In this article, we investigate the impact of rural road developments on livelihoods in northern Laos through a longitudinal study conducted over a period of 15 years in a forest frontier. We studied adaptive management strategies of local stakeholders through the combination of individual surveys, focus group discussions, participatory mapping and remote-sensing approaches. The study revealed the short-term benefits of the maize feeder roads on poverty alleviation and rural development, but also the negative long-term effects on agroecosystem health and agricultural productivity related to unsustainable land use. Lessons learnt about the mechanisms of agricultural intensification helped understanding the constraints faced by external interventions promoting sustainable land management practices. When negotiated by local communities for their own interest, roads may provide livelihood-enhancing opportunities through access to external resources, rather than undermining them.

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