Table of contents:
Video: What Is Organic Farming? Natural, Or Ecological Farming
2024 Author: Ava Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 00:23
Today, the phrase "organic farming" is not just heard, but is the cause of numerous discussions. Someone says that this is an exceptionally correct farming method, someone considers it to be correct only partially. Let's consider what organic, or natural, or nature-friendly agriculture is (these names are synonyms) and what its principles are based on.
Content:
- A bit of the history of organic farming
- Basic methods of organic farming
A bit of the history of organic farming
Natural agriculture theory is not as new as it seems. The first to suggest and test it was the scientist agronomist I. Ye. As a result of 10 years of work, in 1899, he wrote a book called "The New Farming System", in which he revealed the principles and evidence that a gentle approach to soil is less aggressive towards nature, less laborious and ultimately more productive. than an intensive farming system.
The study of natural farming did not stop there. Not to say that all these years it was popular, it always had supporters and enemies, but research went on, and again and again proved that respect for the soil gives really meaningful results. As a result, today the meaning of organic farming can be expressed as follows:
- preservation and support of natural soil fertility,
- preservation of the ecosystem,
- obtaining environmentally friendly products,
- investment of significantly lower costs for harvesting.
Basic methods of organic farming
Based on the above, the principles of natural farming become clear:
- refusal from deep tillage,
- rejection of mineral fertilizers,
- refusal to use pesticides,
- promoting the development of microorganisms and worms.
Refusal from deep tillage
Refusal from deep tillage is based on the knowledge that a huge number of living organisms live in its upper layer, the vital activity of which contributes not only to the formation of humus, but also to the improvement of its structure. Plowing and deep digging violate the conditions of their habitat, as a result of which the microbiological composition of the arable layer changes, and with it the ability to naturally maintain soil fertility, the risk of weathering and leaching of elements important for plants increases.
The negative impact of this agricultural practice does not appear immediately, but after several years, as a result of which there is a need to use mineral fertilizers and other chemical agents to maintain yields at the proper level.
In accordance with natural farming, the soil does not need to be dug up, but if necessary, loosened to a depth of no more than 5-7 cm (ideally 2.5 cm).
Refusal from mineral fertilizers
The rejection of mineral fertilizers is based on the knowledge that almost all fats (substances mixed into the soil to replenish the missing nutrients in it) have a latent aftereffect. Under their influence, acidity in soils gradually changes, the natural cycle of substances is disrupted, the species composition of soil-living organisms changes, and the structure of the soil is destroyed.
In addition, certain mineral fertilizers have a negative impact on the environment (air, water), on the plants themselves and, as a result, on the quality of products and human health.
In organic farming, the use of green manure, mulching, composts and other organic matter is practiced instead of fat.
Refusal to use pesticides
Refusal to use pesticides can be explained simply: there are no herbicides, insecticides, fungicides that are not poisonous. All of them are included in the group of substances toxic to humans (for this reason, there are strict rules for working with pesticides) and tend to accumulate in the soil in the form of residual products.
So, for example, it is calculated that the percentage of crop losses as a result of the application of a number of herbicides for the main crop, for subsequent crops in the crop rotation, can be up to 25%.
Nature-like agriculture in the fight against diseases and pests recommends the use of preventive measures, if the problem could not be prevented - folk remedies or biological products.
Facilitating the development of microorganisms and worms
The promotion of the development of microorganisms and worms in organic farming is based on the fact that these soil inhabitants are direct participants in their formation. Thanks to soil microorganisms and larger inhabitants (worms, beetles, spiders), organic residues are mineralized, important nutrients are converted, the fight against pathogenic microorganisms, insect pests, the soil structure is improved and much more, which as a result characterizes it as healthy.
Healthy soil is the basis for the growth of healthy plants that are able to withstand unfavorable climatic manifestations, and diseases and pests.
To implement this principle, natural farming recommends the use of organic matter, EM-preparations to increase the fertility of the earth, and the refusal of deep digging.
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