CH 7 Organic Agriculture
CH 7 Organic Agriculture
CH 7 Organic Agriculture
CHAPTER 7
FOR. ROMUALDO B. DE GUZMAN, JR., MSA, Mbio
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR II
OBJECTIVES
• To understand the basis of organic farming and main
differences from conventional agriculture
• To recognize the procedures for organic farming and
related transition
• To satisfy the background needs for sustainable
agriculture and organic farming
• To understand and manage relationships
nutrition/plant and related organic farming
techniques
Origin of Organic Farming
• Germany, began to analyze the widening
gap between man and nature.
• speculate as to how this tendency might
be reversed.
• framework (research), Rudolf Steiner, the
Austrian philosopher, teacher, and founder
of anthroposophy, created
• 1924, a new concept of farming seen as a
self-sufficient living organism.
• His disciple Ehrenfried Pfeiffer developed
this theory and called it "biodynamic
farming".
Origin of Organic Farming
The main principles of this approach
were:
rejection of the use of soluble mineral-
based plant foods;
independence and self-sufficiency of
the farm, thanks to a policy of
breeding livestock and growing a
variety of crops;
a belief in the importance of a natural
and healthy diet;
a belief in the importance of lunar and
astral influences on the crops.
Origin of Organic Farming
• In England, the "organic farming" school
of thought was born immediately after the
Second World War.
• Ideas of Sir Albert Howard and his
assistant Lady Eve Balfour, it emphasized
the importance of the fertility and the
biological balance of the soil.
• goals, the use of organic compost was
considered of great importance, especially
since this was believed to develop the
plants’ resistance to parasites and diseases.
• Organic farming doctrine also stressed
the importance of the husbandry of natural
resources and respect for the environment -
and this included using any given area of
land in the way that nature intended.
Origin of Organic Farming
• In Switzerland, a third movement, led
by H.P.Rusch and H.Muller got
underway in the 1940’s. Called
"biological farming",
• based in the principle of making the
most efficient use of renewable
resources.
• Essential to care for the humus of the
soil: compost should be applied to the
surface, and tilling should be kept to the
strict minimum in order to avoid
damaging the soil’s microflora.
Origin of Organic Farming
• In Italy, Alfonso Draghetti, with its “Principles of
farm physiology” (“Principi di fisiologia dell’azienda
agraria”, Ist. Ed. Agricolo, Bologna 1948),
• Revaluing use of natural manures according to
the rules of a natural fertility corresponding to the
productive life cycle which center is constituted by
the farm.
• Spreading of these methods in the post-Second
World War period was an actively pursued aim of the
first associations of organically-minded farmers and
technical consultants.
• Biodynamic farmers in various European
countries, it is worth mentioning the following, by
way of example: the Soil Association in Britain;
Nature et Progrès in France; Suolo e Salute (Soil and
Health) in Italy; and Organic Gardening and Farming
in the USA.
Origin of Organic Farming
From the 70's to the 90’s
• Organic farming really came to the
fore at the end of the 1970’s,
environmentalist movement meant that
farmers & consumers concerned about
environmental issues.
• Phenomenon initially developed in
North European countries such as
Denmark, Germany and Holland, and
then spread to the countries of the
Mediterranean Basin (France, Italy and
Greece) and the United States.
• Gave rise to the creation of new
associations of organic farmers.
Origin of Organic Farming
• 1972, in France, five organic farming
associations founded IFOAM
(International Federation of Organic
Associations and Movements);
• 1987, these five had become over one
hundred, in 25 countries.
• Truly explosive growth in the
popularity of organic farming over the
last few years has led to an increase by a
factor of five in the number of
associations belonging to IFOAM:
• There are now about 500 of them
operating in 100 countries.
Origin of Organic Farming
1977, IFOAM started to define and
harmonize the techniques associated
with organic farming. This process
was made necessary by the following
aims:
to provide clear information to
producers and consumers;
to create conditions that would
facilitate regulation and self -
regulation;
to take steps against fraud and
misleading advertising.
Origin of Organic Farming
• 1980 IFOAM published the first standard
for organic production and processing, a
basic guide for all members and certification
bodies.
• 1991, with the passing of EC Regulation
2092, that the organic farming method
became an officially recognized set of rules,
guidelines, and procedures that clearly
defined a specific method of production.
• June 1992 the Codex Alimentarius
Commission decided to discuss and develop
the “Guidelines for the Production,
Processing, Marketing and Labelling of
Organically Produced Foods”, established in
Codex Alimentarius 1999.
•
ORGANIC FARMING TODAY
Basic principles and techniques
• Organic agriculture is defined as a
production system that is managed to
respond to site specific conditions by
integrating cultural, biological and
mechanical practices that foster
cycling of resources, promote
ecological balance and conserve
biodiversity.
ORGANIC FARMING TODAY
The fundamental principles of organic farming are as
follows:
to view the farm as a single system or "organism"
that exists within the context of a local ecosystem;
to protect the balance of relationships within the
farm’s own system, as well as those existing between
the farm’s system and the surrounding ecosystem;
to maintain a marked degree of biodiversity within
the system, so as to promote the control of parasites
and destructive organisms;
to encourage the biological cyclicity of the natural
system, paying particular attention to the cycle of
organic substances, so as to promote humification;
to make maximum use of solar energy and to reduce
the use of all types of external input to an absolute
minimum.
ORGANIC FARMING TODAY
More specifically, organic farming entails:
use of cover crops, green manures, animal manures
and crop rotations to fertilize the soil, maximize
biological activity and maintain long-term soil health;
use of biological control, crop rotation and other
techniques to manage weeds, insects and diseases;
an emphasis on biodiversity of the agricultural
system and the surrounding environment;
using rotational grazing and mixed forage pastures
for livestock operations and alternative healthcare for
animal wellbeing;
reduction of external and off-farm inputs and
elimination of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers
and/or other materials, such as hormones, antibiotics
and GMO;
a focus on renewable resources, soil and water
conservation and management practice that restore
maintenance and enhance ecological balance.
Some schools of thought
Erosion Tilling
Run-off of Crop rotation
nutrients Improved
Flooding Soil draining
Turning into - Productivity + Managing
desert residues
Acidification Water
preservation
Compacting
Terracing the
The formation of
land
a crust
Cultivating in
Loss of organic
strips of land
material
Chemical
Salinity fertilizer
Depletion of Organic
nutrients due to fertilizer
being washed
Improve the
away
cycle of the
Accumulation of nutrients
foods
Suitability of the
soil, the climate
Concept of sustainable agriculture (From Parr et al., 1990)
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE (VISION AND FUNCTION)
Preserves the resources Increases food health
Productive
Objectives and protects the and
and profitable
environment security
METHODS OF LOW INPUT AND RATIONAL MANAGEMENT
Non-use of
Preservation practices of
synthetic Crop rotation
soil and water
chemicals
Biological Diversification of
control of Mechanized cultivation crops
Means plagues and livestock
Moderately deep
Superficial (<60 cm) Deep(>120 cm)
(60 a 120 cm)
Garlic Pea
Celery
Bean
Onion Artichoke
Cabbage Melon
Aubergine
Endive Turnip
Spinach Asparagus
Lettuce Cucumber
Water melon
Sweet corn Pepper
Potato Tomato
Leek Beetroot
Radish Carrot
FERTILITY OF THE SOIL AND
CHOICE OF CROPS
Cultivation potential
The main aspects to be considered when planning crops
are the following:
Satisfaction of the nutritional requirements
use of organic correctors is essential given that they
provide nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, but
in different quantities and in different ratios.
Micro-elements
iron, sodium, chlorine, selenium, cobalt,
manganese, copper, zinc, boron, iodine, silicon and
molybdenum.
Important nutrients
three more (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium)
must be added
three remaining ones (magnesium, calcium and
FERTILITY OF THE SOIL AND
CHOICE OF CROPS
Availability of nutrients according to the pH level
PLANT NUTRITION AND
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIC
FARMING
• the largest possible amount of mineral elements
extracted from the soil return to it.
• As is logical, crops are extractions that are not
revertible so the recycling is not total but it is more
efficient than in the case of conventional farming.
• at least two nutrients must be specifically applied,
these are phosphorus and potassium
• the nutrition of the crops it must be born in mind
that each crop has its own nutritional needs, hence the
interest in establishing crop rotations.
• soil should be tested for its phosphorus, potassium
and pH level, and if necessary the levels should be
optimized before establishing the first crop of organic
production.
PLANT NUTRITION AND
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIC
FARMING
• organic farming, in the same way as in other parts of
the production process, (phytosanitary defense,
elimination of weeds etc.)
• Integrated Systems of Plant Nutrition (SINP). SINP
tries to achieve maximum efficiency when bringing
nutritive elements to crops by means of a better
association of the agricultural and non-agricultural
sources of nutrients, trying to achieve a sustainable
agricultural production based on a better productive
capacity of the soil.
• systems the need for mineral fertilizers can be
considerably reduced as they bring timely and
sufficient supplies of plant nutrients and reduce the
loss of these nutrients in the cultivation systems as
much as possible. The adoption of SINP includes the
potential to increase the profitability of the use of
fertilizers (FAO, 1993).
PLANT NUTRITION AND
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIC
FARMING
Recycling nutrients in organic farming
• to achieve that objective the losses due to the
following must be minimized:
Environmental reasons
Economic reasons
Problems with supply
The recycling of nutrients must be considered at two
different levels:
That of the farm producing ecologically.
That of the soil. In the plant/soil system the nutrients
are absorbed from the soil by the plant and later
returned to it when the plant dies. Micro-organisms
and the fauna in the soil, water and gas also intervene
in this cycle. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
circulate in the soil and in animals in different ways
due to their chemical properties.
PLANT NUTRITION AND
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIC
FARMING
Options for managing the fertility
The most fertile soils are deep, well drained and loose,
with an adequate content of nutrients and organic
material and with a correct structure. These soils have
an intense activity of microbial and invertebrate
organisms. Correct crop rotation is fundamental.
Cultivation systems:
Crop rotation
Covering with leguminous species
Green manure
Covering crops
Supply of manure and fertilizers
Produced in the same farm (solids and liquids)
The purchase of organic manure or fertilisers
Crops
PLANT NUTRITION AND
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIC
FARMING
Nitrogen in the soil
• Nitrogen is required for the growth of leaves and for
the production used in photosynthesis. In organic
production it habitually occurs in organic ways and
needs to be converted into ammonia or nitrate in order
to be absorbed into the plant
Form in the soil Nitrogen in the Ammoniacal Nitrate (NO3-)
organic material nitrogen (NH4+)
Conversion by the micro-organisms in the soil
Availability for the No Scarcely Yes
plant
Lost in the No As ammonia gas Nitrogen and
atmosphere nitrous
oxide gas
Lost through
No No Yes
draining away
PLANT NUTRITION AND
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIC
FARMING
Nitrogen supply
• In dung, as well as in compost or other forms,
nitrogen is found mainly in organic forms and needs
to be converted into an ammoniac or nitric form so
that it can be used by the plants.
• Some plants, as for example leguminous ones
(clover, alfalfa, beans, peas, etc.) are able to absorb
atmospheric nitrogen, therefore the inclusion of clover
or other leguminous crops in the rotation allows
adequate nitrogen levels in the soil without the need
for fertilizers.
• This process is due to bacteria, known as
Rhizobium, which are found in the nodules of
leguminous crops. During the symbiosis the bacteria
bring nitrogen to the plant and the plant gives them
the necessary nutrients.
PLANT NUTRITION AND
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIC
FARMING
Nitrogen supply
• A mixed cover with clover can fix about 160 kg of
nitrogen per hectare, although this quantity can vary
according to the age of the leguminous plants, climatic
conditions etc.
Quantity of humus in function of the kg of humus per ha of
part of the plant used. crop
Wheat stalks and roots 300-600
Low production,
Weakness, deficient deficient
Carrot May
establishment establishment in
dry soil
Deficient
Leeks April Low production
establishment
PLANT NUTRITION AND
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIC
FARMING
Density of sowing and distances for planting
(transplanting)
• The density of sowing and transplanting are vitally
important, given that the results are related to this
variable, in spite of the fact that other factors such as
the species, variety, soil preparation, soil temperature
and environmental conditions influence the number of
plants per m² and therefore the results.
Therefore the following should be taken into
consideration:
Loss of production may be caused by too many or too
few plants.
Denser crops make it harder for weeds to low grow.
Crops with large seeds (corn, etc.) should be planted
deeper in the soil than those which have small seeds
PLANT NUTRITION AND
TECHNIQUES IN ORGANIC
FARMING
Amount of seeds and density of planting for some
crops
Crop Amount of Plants/m2 Distance
seed (cm)
(kg/ha)