Methods
Organic cultivation of mixed vegetables in Capay,
California Organic farming in Virginia, USA.
"Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of
soils, ecosystems and people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and
cycles adapted to local conditions, rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects.
Organic agriculture combines tradition, innovation and science to benefit the shared
environment and promote fair relationships and a good quality of life for all
involved..."
— International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements[51]
Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of ecology and some
modern technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring
biological processes. Organic farming methods are studied in the field
of agroecology. While conventional agriculture uses synthetic pesticides and water-
soluble synthetically purified fertilizers, organic farmers are restricted by regulations
to using natural pesticides and fertilizers. An example of a natural pesticide
is pyrethrin, which is found naturally in the Chrysanthemum flower. The principal
methods of organic farming include crop rotation, green
manures and compost, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation. These
measures use the natural environment to enhance agricultural
productivity: legumes are planted to fix nitrogen into the soil, natural insect
predators are encouraged, crops are rotated to confuse pests and renew soil, and
natural materials such as potassium bicarbonate[52] and mulches are used to control
disease and weeds. Genetically modified seeds and animals are excluded.
While organic is fundamentally different from conventional because of the use of
carbon-based fertilizers compared with highly soluble synthetic based fertilizers
and biological pest control instead of synthetic pesticides, organic farming and large-
scale conventional farming are not entirely mutually exclusive. Many of the methods
developed for organic agriculture have been borrowed by more conventional
agriculture. For example, Integrated Pest Management is a multifaceted strategy that
uses various organic methods of pest control whenever possible, but in conventional
farming could include synthetic pesticides only as a last resort.[53] Examples of
beneficial insects that are used in organic farming include ladybugs and lacewings,
both of which feed on aphids. The use of IPM lowers the possibility of pest
developing resistance to pesticides that are applied to crops.
Crop diversity
Organic farming encourages crop diversity by promoting polyculture (multiple crops
in the same space). Planting a variety of vegetable crops supports a wider range of
beneficial insects, soil microorganisms, and other factors that add up to overall farm
health. Crop diversity helps the environment to thrive and protects species from
going extinct.[54][55] The science of Agroecology has revealed the benefits of
polyculture, which is often employed in organic farming. Agroecology is a scientific
discipline that uses ecological theory to study, design, manage, and
evaluate agricultural systems that are productive and resource-conserving, and that
are also culturally sensitive, socially just, and economically viable.[56]
Incorporating crop diversity into organic farming practices can have several benefits.
For instance, it can help to increase soil fertility by promoting the growth of beneficial
soil microorganisms. It can also help to reduce pest and disease pressure by
creating a more diverse and resilient agroecosystem.[57] Furthermore, crop diversity
can help to improve the nutritional quality of food by providing a wider range of
essential nutrients.[58]
Soil management
Organic farming relies more heavily on the natural breakdown of organic matter than
the average conventional farm, using techniques like green manure and composting,
to replace nutrients taken from the soil by previous crops. This biological process,
driven by microorganisms such as mycorrhiza and earthworms, releases nutrients
available to plants throughout the growing season. Farmers use a variety of methods
to improve soil fertility, including crop rotation, cover cropping, reduced tillage, and
application of compost. By reducing fuel-intensive tillage, less soil organic matter is
lost to the atmosphere. This has an added benefit of carbon sequestration, which
reduces greenhouse gases and helps reverse climate change. Reducing tillage may
also improve soil structure and reduce the potential for soil erosion.
Plants need a large number of nutrients in various quantities to flourish. Supplying
enough nitrogen and particularly synchronization, so that plants get enough nitrogen
at the time when they need it most, is a challenge for organic farmers. [59] Crop
rotation and green manure ("cover crops") help to provide nitrogen
through legumes (more precisely, the family Fabaceae), which fix nitrogen from the
atmosphere through symbiosis with rhizobial bacteria. Intercropping, which is
sometimes used for insect and disease control, can also increase soil nutrients, but
the competition between the legume and the crop can be problematic and wider
spacing between crop rows is required. Crop residues can be ploughed back into the
soil, and different plants leave different amounts of nitrogen, potentially aiding
synchronization.[59] Organic farmers also use animal manure and certain processed
fertilizers, such as seed meal and various mineral powders such as rock
phosphate and green sand, a naturally occurring form of potash that provides
potassium. In some cases, pH may need to be amended. Natural pH amendments
include lime and sulfur, but in the U.S. some compounds, such as iron
sulfate, aluminum sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and soluble boron products are
allowed in organic farming.[60]: 43
Mixed farms with both livestock and crops can operate as ley farms, whereby the
land gathers fertility through growing nitrogen-fixing forage grasses, such as white
clover or alfalfa, and grows cash crops or cereals when fertility is established. Farms
without livestock ("stockless") may find it more difficult to maintain soil fertility and
may rely more on external inputs, such as imported manure, as well as grain
legumes and green manures, although grain legumes may fix limited nitrogen
because they are harvested. Horticultural farms that grow fruits and vegetables in
protected conditions often rely even more on external inputs.[59] Manure is very bulky
and is often not cost-effective to transport more than a short distance from the
source. Manure for organic farms may become scarce if a sizable number of farms
become organically managed.