Keeping Soils Healthy Is at The Heart of Organic Farming

Keeping soils healthy is at the heart of organic farming.
No artificial fertilisers
Organic farming avoids the use of synthetic fertilisers, as the
principles of organic farming are based on nourishing plants
naturally, by building fertile soils. Farmers do this using:
1. Clover and legumes to 'fix' nitrogen,
2. Compost, animal manure and green manures (like the white
clover),
3. Crop rotations to maintain healthy, nutrient-rich soils.
Cover crops and green manure also improve soil quality.

Cover crops in general are used to protect the soil's surface from
water and wind erosion, help maintain soil structure, and help
maintain the level of organic matter of the soil, all of which keeps
soil healthy. Green manure is a type of cover crop grown
specifically to add nutrients back into the soil; manure is ploughed
together with the soil, positively increasing the soil's organic
matter.
Cover Cropping
As previously stated, planting the same crop over and over results
in soil erosion, meaning the nutrient-rich upper soils are removed.
Often, as part of a crop rotation schedule, cover crops are planted
outside the regular growing season. During times of the year when
profitable crops can't be grown, a cover crop is planted to protect
the soil, which prevents erosion and restores nutrients. Cover
crops can also be used as feed for livestock before a new crop is
planted. Not all cover crops add nutrients to the soil, but some,
like clover, can increase nitrogen levels in the soil, which is one of
the most impactful fertilising nutrients.
Crop rotations are also part of the strategy organic farmers use to
help sustain soil fertility. For example, one year an organic farmer
may grow wheat on a field, graze sheep on that field next, and
plan to plant a cover crop of clover the year after. When the same
crop is grown on the same land year after year, known as mono-
cropping, the soil can become depleted of nutrients it needs to
stay healthy.
Organic farmers practice crop rotation (rotating the crops they
grow in a field or planting bed over time) to interrupt insect life
cycles, suppress soil borne plant diseases, prevent soil erosion,
build organic matter, fix nitrogen, and increase farm biodiversity.
To effectively reduce insect and disease levels, farmers typically
follow one crop with another from a different crop family, then
wait a number of years before replanting the initial crop.
Pest control
Organic pesticides are derived from naturally occurring sources.
These include living organisms such as the bacteria Bacillus
thuringiensis, which is used to control caterpillar pests, or plant
derivatives such as pyrethrins (from the dried flower heads
of Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium) or neem oil (from the seeds
of Azadirachta indica). Mineral-based inorganic pesticides such
as sulfur and copper are also allowed.
In addition to pesticides, organic pest control integrates biological,
cultural, and genetic controls to minimize pest damage. Biological
control utilizes the natural enemies of pests, such as
predatory insects (e.g., ladybugs) or parasitoids (e.g.,
certain wasps) to attack insect pests. Pest cycles can be disrupted
with cultural controls, of which crop rotation is the most widely
used. Finally, traditional plant breeding has produced numerous
crop varieties that are resistant to specific pests. The use of such
varieties and the planting of genetically diverse crops provide
genetic control against pests and many plant diseases.
What does organic farming look like in practice?

Fewer pesticides
‘Pesticides’ are chemicals designed to kill insects and other pests,
including weeds (herbicides) and fungal diseases (fungicides).
Recent studies name direct and indirect impacts of pesticides as
key drivers of global insect declines and the biodiversity crisis.
Under the Soil Association’s organic standards, all weedkillers are
banned, and farmers are only able to use a very limited number of
naturally-derived pesticides as a last resort (like citronella and
clove oil), but only under very restricted circumstances.
Instead of relying on pesticides, organic farmers aim to create a
natural balance between plants and animals to prevent pests.
Healthy wildlife populations can help control pests; farmers
encourage birds, beetles and other 'beneficial insects' (like
ladybirds) on to their farms to eat pests like aphids, slugs and
caterpillars.
Likewise, crop rotations and careful choice of crop breeds lower
the risk of plant disease, and weeds are managed by practices like
mechanical weeding and planting natural weed suppressants, like
buckwheat.
Organic Farming vs Conventional Farming

Let's summarise the differences between organic farming and
conventional farming, looking at the factors of agrochemical use,
impact on the environment, costs, and crop yields.
Organic Farming Conventional Farming
Application of all kinds of

Allowed, but only from
Agrochemical agrochemicals is allowed
natural sources and used
Usage within the realms of local
more sparingly.
environmental regulations.
Much less; focuses on Higher impact, stemming
farming practices that are mainly from agrochemical
Environmental
sustainable and minimise usage. Limited by local
Impact
damage to the environmental regulations
environment. only.
Higher costs to run, but

Lower operational costs in
Cost high prices can lead to
general.
greater profitability.
Crop yields Generally lower yields. Generally higher yields.
Organic Farming - Key takeaways

 Organic farming is an agricultural system where natural
pesticides and fertilisers are used instead of agrochemicals,

and non-chemical-based production and management are
favoured.
 There are different types of organic farming methods, such as
using naturally-derived agrochemicals, crop rotation, cover

cropping, and integrated pest management.
 Organic farming has its advantages; it's sustainable, and
farmers can often charge more for organic products to offset

the higher price of producing the goods.
 However, organic farming can often produce lower yields
and are much more expensive.

 There are huge differences between organic and conventional
farming, such as agrochemical use, environmental impact,
costs and crop yields

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Keeping soils healthy is at the heart of organic farming.

Cover crops and green manure also improve soil quality.

What does organic farming look like in practice?

Organic Farming vs Conventional Farming

Organic Farming Conventional Farming

Application of all kinds of

Higher costs to run, but

Crop yields Generally lower yields. Generally higher yields.

Organic Farming - Key takeaways

pesticides and fertilisers are used instead of agrochemicals,

using naturally-derived agrochemicals, crop rotation, cover

farmers can often charge more for organic products to offset

and are much more expensive.

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