Growing Organically: Crop Solutions

By Sumitra Varman

Growing Organically: Crop Solutions delves into how organic farming leads to sustainable agriculture. We provide engrossing real-life examples and actionable insights for those interested in implementing organic practices. This book isn’t just a read; it's a lifestyle guide for conscious living, proving valuable for future human civilizations.
We aim to stimulate readers' minds, encouraging active thought about organic farming management and practices. The book addresses key questions and offers solutions, blending your ideas with practical methods. After extensive research and ground-level communication, we present a solution-oriented approach to individual and global recovery processes in organic farming.
This book challenges the necessity of artificial means in farming and explores sustainable alternatives. Through deep analysis of various techniques and soil studies, we provide a comprehensive overview of the subject. Learn how to make your agricultural practices more sustainable and understand their impact on the environment, ecology, and future generations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Educohack Press
• Release date: Feb 28, 2025
• ISBN: 9789361525735

Book preview

Growing Organically

Crop Solutions

Growing Organically

Crop Solutions

Sumitra Varman

Growing Organically

Crop Solutions

Sumitra Varman

ISBN - 9789361525735

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Preface

Organic farming has gained momentum in recent years, but if we delve into history, it will be evident that it was in practice ages ago. I have come across a situation, in my journey, till now regarding the evolving story of organic farming and, I want to share with you my experiences in this field, which is just not a fad project for me but something that requires to be understood as sustainable agriculture which will lead to a sustainable lifestyle. The basis of this book and my inspiration to come up with a subject not much written about or even thought about, but what general public knew was not accurate and has been misunderstood. In a kind of handbook-style, I have penned down about the materials, practices, and management of organic farming. Seeing situations and the methods or policies used to deal with manure management, compost management, integrated pest management because of lack of awareness or foresightedness or resources of the people and material involved, towards the required matter always saddened me. The idea was to bring to the forefront a different approach towards compost management on organic farms, cover crops and the details, management of pests and ways to deal with plant diseases, the organizations involved, training, and education centers, which create awareness. Also, highlight the harmful effects of the fertilizers and pesticides and how, as a community, this can be reduced to a very great extent. The purpose is to showcase in an easy-going style, which can be understood even by a layman, the intricacies of organic farming, and the method to implement them.

The concept took birth in my various trips to lands where the worse situations of using artificial chemicals had taken huge toll on the quality of life. This posed various health hazards for human and living beings. This got me thinking of doing something in my capacity as an individual for the populace directly affected by it.

The book has been written into a kind of chapter format with different titles and subtitles. This would make it easy to go to a particular segment directly by looking at the index for reference. The entire book has been written in a familiar pattern with a broad view of the entire situation. The book shows an insight into how organic farming works and contributes towards improving the quality of life.

The book also deals with the environment in which the shift to organic farming occurred and how did it impact the lifestyle. This book deals in-depth with the impact of organic farming. It covers the human and emotional aspects also that lead to the use of artificial chemicals in farming and how the transition back to organic farming happened. The book, in short, deals with anything and everything regarding organic crop production.

Table of Contents

Introduction xvii

1 Introduction to Organic Crop Production 1

1.1 History of Organic Farming 1

1.2 The Organic Foods Production Act 3

1.3 Definition of Organic Farming 4

1.4 Organic Farming Management Practices 6

1.4.1 Plant Nutrition 6

1.4.2 Weed Management 6

1.4.3 Pest Management 7

1.4.4 Disease Management 7

1.4.5 Worldwide rules on Organic Agriculture 7

1.5 Sustainable Agriculture 8

1.6 References 8

2 Organic Crop Certification 10

2.1 Introduction 11

2.2 National Organic Program (NOP) 11

2.3 Transitioning to Organic Production 15

2.4 Genetically Engineered Crops 18

2.5 Organic Certification Agencies 20

2.6 Organic Certification Process 21

2.7 Organic System Plan 22

2.8 Requirements for Organic Labelling 24

2.9 References 24

3 Approved Materials for Organic Farming 27

3.1 Introduction 27

3.2 The National List 28

3.2.1 Allowed and Prohibited Substances 28

3.2.2 Allowed Synthetic Materials 29

3.2.3 Inert Ingredients 29

3.2.4 Restrictions in Using Approved Substances 29

3.2.5 Organic System Plan 30

3.2.6 Removing or Amending Ingredients on

the National List 30

3.3 Accredited Certifying Agents 30

3.3.1 Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) 30

3.3.2 OMRI List 31

3.3.3 Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) 31

3.3.4 Review Process for Determining Compliance of Materials 31

3.3.5 Products with Multiple Reviews 31

3.3.6 Federal Product Labeling 31

3.4 List of Approved Inputs for Organic Production 32

3.5 References 35

4 Soil Management on Organic Farms 37

4.1 Introduction 37

4.2 Soil Management on Organic Farms 38

4.3 National Organic Program Practices 39

4.4 Regulation of the program 40

4.5 Soil Properties 40

4.5.1 Physical Properties 41

4.5.2 Chemical Properties 42

4.5.3 Biological Properties 43

4.6 Soil Organic Matter 44

4.6.1 What is the Organic Matter? 44

4.6.2 Ways in which Organic Matter Benefits the Soil 45

4.6.3 Sources of Organic Matter 45

4.6.4 Classification of Organic Matter 46

4.6.5 Quantity of Soil Organic Matter 46

4.7 Management Practices to Improve Soil Health 47

4.7.1 Reducing Tillage 47

4.7.2 Growing Covering Crops 48

4.7.3 Better Crop Rotations 49

4.7.4 Organic Amendments 50

4.8 Managing Soil Fertility in Organic Systems 50

4.8.1 Nitrogen Management 51

4.8.2 Phosphorus Management 52

4.8.3 Potassium Management 53

4.9 Micronutrients 53

4.10 References 53

5 Soil Tillage in Organic Farming Systems 55

5.1 Soil Tillage Systems 56

5.1.1 Conventional Tillage Systems 57

5.1.2 Conservation Tillage Systems 60

5.1.3 Pros of Tillage System 61

5.1.4 Cons of Tillage System 61

5.1.5 Conventional vs. Conservation Tillage 61

5.2 Conservation Soil Tillage Systems 62

5.2.1 No-Till 64

5.2.2 Strip-Till 65

5.2.3 Ridge Till 66

5.3 Soil Tillage Implements 67

5.3.1 Mould Board Plow 67

5.3.2 Disc Plow 68

5.3.3 Chisel Plough 69

5.3.4 Cultivators 70

5.3.5 Spike, Spring, and Tine-toothed Harrows 71

5.3.6 Disc Harrow 71

5.3.7 Blade Harrow 72

5.3.8 Plank and Roller 73

5.3.9 Seed Drill 74

5.3.10 Residue Management Implements 74

5.4 References 75

6 Cover Crops for Organic Farms 76

6.1 Introduction 76

6.2 Benefits and Limitations of Cover Crops 78

6.3 The Process Behind The Practice 80

6.4 The estimated range and mid-range values 81

6.5 Predicted timing or delay and Seasonality of Reductions 82

6.6 How do Site Conditions Like Soils, Topography,

Hydrology, Climate Affect Effectiveness in

Reducing Nutrient Losses 83

6.7 Types of Cover Crops 90

6.7.1 Legumes 90

6.7.2 Crimson Clover 91

6.7.3 Field Peas 92

6.7.4 Hairy Vetch 93

6.8 Nitrogen Fixation by Legumes 94

6.9 Green Manures 95

6.10 Catch Crops 97

6.11 Managing Pests with Cover Crops 99

6.12 Cover Crop Strategies with Crop Rotations 99

6.13 Selecting Cover Crop Species 100

6.14 Establishment of Cover Crops 102

6.15 References 107

7 Crop Rotation on Organic Farms 110

7.1 Introduction 110

7.1.1 Two-field System 112

7.1.2 Three-field System 112

7.1.3 Four-field System 112

7.2 National Organic Program 114

7.3 National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) 114

7.4 National Organic Program Standards 114

7.5 Benefits and Limitations of Crop Rotation 128

7.5.1 Benefits 128

7.5.2 Limitations 129

7.6 Management of Diseases with Crop Rotation 129

7.7 Management of Insect Pests, Weeds, and

Nematodes with Crop Rotation 129

7.8 References 130

8 Intercropping on Organic Farms 133

8.1 Introduction 133

8.2 Benefits and Limitations of Intercropping 135

8.2.1 Advantages of Intercropping 135

8.2.2 Restrictions of Intercropping 136

8.3 Intercropping Technical Criteria 137

8.3.1 Yield Choice 137

8.3.2 Plant Densities 137

8.3.3 Plant Maturity Dates 138

8.3.4 Planting Architecture 138

8.4 Summary 139

8.5 References 139

9 Manure Management on Organic Farms 141

9.1 National Organic Program Standards 142

9.1.1 Composite Manure Rules 143

9.1.2 Processed Manure Regulations 143

9.1.3 Raw Manure NOP Standards 144

9.2 Benefits and Limitations of Manure 145

9.2.1 Benefits of Manure 145

9.2.2 Limitations of Manure 147

9.3 Managing Nutrients in Manure 149

9.3.1 Composition of Nutrients 151

9.3.2 Nutrient Content for Crops 152

9.3.3 Manure Sampling and Testing 152

9.4 Timing of Manure Application 154

9.4.1 Spring Manure Application 154

9.4.2 Summer Manure Application 155

9.4.3 Fall Manure Application 155

9.4.4 Winter Manure Application 155

9.5 Manure Application Rates 156

9.5.1 Nitrogen Based Manure Application rate Calculation 157

9.5.2 Phosphorus Based Manure Application

Rate Calculation 158

9.6 Manure Application Methods 159

9.6.1 Broadcasting Application Method 159

9.6.2 Broadcasting with the Incorporation

Application Method 159

9.6.3 Solid Manure Application Equipment 160

9.6.4 Liquid Manure Application Equipment 161

9.7 Manure Storage Systems 162

9.7.1 Storage of Manure for Solid Systems 162

9.7.2 Storage of Manure for Slurry or Liquid Systems 163

9.8 References 164

10 Compost Management on Organic Farms 165

10.1 Introduction 165

10.1.1 What can be Composted 168

10.1.2 What cannot be Composted 169

10.2 Types of Composting Practices 170

10.2.1 Vermicomposting 170

10.2.2 Windrow Composting 172

10.2.3 Aerated Static Pile Composting 172

10.2.4 In-vessel Composting 173

10.3 Advantages and Disadvantages of Composting 175

10.4 Composting Organic Materials with High Lignin

Content and Lime Treatment 177

10.5 Compost Enrichment 178

10.5.1 Preparation of Phospho-Compost 179

10.5.2 Preparation of high-grade Compost 179

10.6 Compost Quality 179

10.7 Compost Pile Management 181

10.8 The Benefits of Using Composts to Agriculture 183

10.8.1 Improves the Physical Properties of Soils 183

10.8.2 Enhances the Chemical Properties of Soils 184

10.8.3 Economic and Social Benefits of Composting. 184

10.9 Crop Residue Composting 186

10.9.1 Waste Collection 186

10.9.2 Shredding of Waste Materials 186

10.9.3 Mixing of Green Waste and Brown Waste 186

10.9.4 Formation of Compost Heap 187

10.9.5 Aerating the Compost Material 187

10.9.6 Maintaining the Moisture 187

10.9.7 Compost Maturity 187

10.9.8 Enriching the Compost 188

10.9.9 Nutritive value of Bio-compost 188

10.10References 189

11 Integrated Pest Management in Organic Farms 191

11.1 Introduction 191

11.2 Monitoring for Crop Pests 193

11.3 Identification of Pests 195

11.3.1 Examining the Plant 197

11.3.2 Identification of Pests 197

11.4 Importance of Economic Thresholds 198

11.4.1 Improved Productivity 200

11.4.2 Cost-saving 200

11.4.3 Useful Insects 200

11.4.4 Consideration of External Factors 200

11.5 Tactics for Integrated Pest Management Control 201

11.5.1 Cultural Methods 202

11.5.2 Physical Methods 202

11.5.3 Genetic Methods 202

11.5.4 Biological Methods 202

11.5.5 Chemical Methods 202

11.6 Record Keeping 203

11.6.1 Varieties of Pests 203

11.6.2 Economic Thresholds 203

11.6.3 Targeting the Productive Activities 204

11.6.4 Information Sharing 204

11.7 National Organic Program Standards for IPM 204

11.7.1 Pest Prevention 204

11.7.2 Use of Materials which are Approved 205

11.7.3 Application of Materials which are not Approved 205

11.8 References 205

12 Insect Pest Management for Organic Crops 207

12.1 Introduction 207

12.2 Biology of Insects 209

12.3 Entomology 211

12.3.1 Farmers 211

12.3.2 Environmentalists 212

12.3.3 Scientists 212

12.3.4 Industries 212

12.3.5 Teachers 212

12.3.6 Foresters 213

12.4 Insect Pests 213

12.4.1 Effect on Plants and Crops 214

12.4.2 Effect on Humans 215

12.4.3 Effect on Livestock 215

12.4.4 Effect by Transmitting and causing

Diseases in Plants 215

12.4.5 Effect on the Environment 216

12.5 Insect Pest Management 216

12.5.1 Acceptable Pest Levels 217

12.5.2 Preventive Cultural Practices 218

12.5.3 Monitoring 219

12.5.4 Mechanical Controls 219

12.5.5 Biological Controls 219

12.5.6 Responsible use 219

12.6 Benefits of implementing Integrated Pest

Management programs 220

12.7 Methods of Insect Pest Management 221

12.7.1 Cultural Control of Insect Pests 222

12.7.2 Biological Control of Insect Pests 226

12.7.3 Microbials for Controlling Insect Pests 229

12.7.4 Botanicals for Controlling Insect Pests 231

12.7.5 Spray Oils for Controlling Insect Pests 234

12.7.6 Insecticidal Soaps 236

12.7.7 Minerals for Controlling Insect Pests 238

12.7.8 Pheromones for Controlling Insect Pests 239

12.7.9 Insect Growth Regulators 240

12.8 References 241

13 Plant Disease Management of Organic Crops 243

13.1 Various sorts of Plant Disease Pathogens 244

13.1.1 Fungi 245

13.1.2 Bacteria 245

13.1.3 Viruses and Viroids 245

13.1.4 Phytoplasmas 246

13.1.5 Nematodes 246

13.2 Cultural Control of Crop Disease 246

13.2.1 Rotation with Unrelated Crops 247

13.2.2 Fertilizer usage 247

13.2.3 Deep burial of Crop Residue 247

13.2.4 Using Raised Bed for Plantation 247

13.2.5 Time of Seeding Cultural Practice 248

13.2.6 Removal of Undesirable Plant 248

13.2.7 Volunteer Plant Practice 248

13.2.8 Rouging (removal) of Diseased Plants 248

13.3 Soil Solarization for controlling Soil-borne Diseases 248

13.3.1 Soil-Borne Diseases 248

13.3.2 Soil Solarization 250

13.3.3 Principles of Solarization 252

13.3.4 Procedure of Solarization 252

13.3.5 Gross Procedure 252

13.4 Biorational Control of Crop Disease 254

13.4.1 Minerals 254

13.4.2 Oils 255

13.4.3 Microbial 255

13.5 References 256

14 Weed Management for Organic Crops 258

14.1 Introduction 258

14.2 Key Points 259

14.3 Prevention 259

14.4 Weed Biology 261

14.5 Controlling Weeds 263

14.6 Cultural Weed Control 264

14.6.1 Weed Control Systems 265

14.6.2 What is Cultural Weed Control? 267

14.6.3 Why Control Weeds? 267

14.6.4 Why Use Cultural Control for Weeds? 268

14.6.5 How to Use Cultural Studies to Control Weeds? 268

14.6.6 The Limitations 269

14.6.7 Controlling Weeds by Tillage and Cultivation 269

14.6.8 Controlling weeds by Mowing 271

14.6.9 Cutting and mowing are techniques that

can decrease weed difficulties. 271

14.6.10 Techniques 272

14.6.11 Useful tips for a Healthy Lawn 274

14.7 Flame Weeding 274

14.7.1 What is Flame Weeding? 274

14.7.2 Flame Weeding Techniques 275

14.8 Soil Solarization for Weed Control 277

14.8.1 Solarization Works 278

14.8.2 What Is Solarization? 278

14.8.3 Preparing the Ground for Soil Solarization 279

14.8.4 How to Solarize Your Soil 280

14.9 Bio-rational Control of Weed 281

14.9.1 Viable Alternative 282

14.9.2 New Biorational Herbicide for Weed

Control in Veg Crops 283

14.10 References 284

Appendix A: Abbreviations 286

Index 289

Introduction

The book is all about organic crop production; we have divided it into several chapters for better understanding. Let’s get an overview of each chapter and then explore them in detail one by one.

Chapter 1. Introduction to Organic Crop Production

Organic farming is a method of cropping and production of livestock. It involves the methods of not using pesticides, fertilizers, genetically organisms, antibiotics, and growth hormones. It maintains long term soil fertility by optimizing the conditions for the biological activity in the soil. Organic farming maintains biological diversity within the system. Organic farming attentive care promotes health and meets the behavioral needs of the livestock, which relies on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems.

Chapter 2. Organic Crop Certification

Organic certification is the process of the certification process for organic foods producers and other organic products. The business that is directly involved in food production is certified, like the seed suppliers, farmers, food processors, retailers, and restaurants. The general requirements vary based on the country, and it involves a set of production standards for growing, processing, storage, package, and shipping. It generally avoids synthetic chemical inputs, pesticides, antibiotics, irradiation, and also the use of sewage sludge, Genetically modified seeds. Use of farmlands that have been free form the prohibited inputs for several years. It is often three or more. For the livestock, and specific requirements for the feed, housing, and breeding. Detail written production and sales records.

Chapter 3. Approved Materials for Organic Farming

Agriculture requires inputs to some degree, even if it is sustainable, conventional, or organic. The materials that are used to handle and produce organic crops are selected for compliance and used in the context of organic principles for farming and handling practices, under the USDA’s National Organic Program. These materials are often referred to as inputs or allowed substances. They range from soil amendments to seeds and seed treatments. The organic standards regulate the materials, methods, and also ingredients prohibited in organic production and handling the way. In multiple locations, materials are relevant within the standards.

Chapter 4. Soil Management on Organic Farms

Managing the nutrients in the soil is one of the main challenges in organic farming. The main problem is supplying sufficient nutrients to the crop in a required time in its development to achieve economically viable yields. These major goals should be achieved in the most part through the management of the organic matter. The major two aspects to managing the nutrients are fertility building ley that contains legumes to add the Nitrogen to the system and the manures that are used to redistribute the nutrients around the farm. The other nutrients apart from the nitrogen are imported onto the farm mainly in the bought-in feed and anima bedding through the other sources like the permitted fertilizers and green waste composts in some systems. The main route of entry for the nutrients to a farm is generally by the animal feed and the bedding. Animal manure provides an important method for the nutrients redistribution, and manure also supplies valuable organic matter. Some nutrients in the manure are easily lost, causing loss of valuable resource and environmental pollution.

Chapter 5. Soil Tillage in Organic Farming Systems

In the organic systems, heavy tillage for weed control is considered a weakness. With less soil disturbance, organic farming systems typically perform better than conventional or herbicide intensive systems. The importation of organic inputs like manures, composts, recycling of the organic farm matter, and crop rotation tends to negative influences of the tillage on the soil structure and organic matter. These organic matter’s negative consequences include loss of organic matter, increased soil strength, reduced infiltration rates, compaction, and increased erosion. The negative consequences of the tillage can be minimized by careful consideration of the timing of the tillage, equipment operation, soil conditions, and the crop rotation where the tillage is done. Root vegetables involve intensive soil disturbance during the harvest, and return little crop residue is rotated with crops that include less soil disturbance and return more crop residue. Mechanically modifying the structure of the soil is known as tillage. The tools of the tillage modify the soil structure through a wide range of soil tool interactions like milling, cutting, crushing, rebound, and beating.

Chapter 6. Cover Crops for Organic Farms

Cover crops are grown for the farming system improvement. These cover crops are typically planted between the rotations of the income-producing crops. Sometimes they can also be planted at the same time. There are wide varieties of cover crops present. On the farming systems, integrating the cover crops has significant ecological impacts on the farming system. These cover crops to improve the physical soil, chemical, and also the biological properties. It supplies nitrogen, reduces leaching of the nutrients and pesticides, reduces erosion, mitigates damages from the plant pests, or reduces their population densities. It attracts beneficial insects. When grown for seed or feed, cover crops can generate additional income. Producers need to select the cover crops that offer various benefits at once. Before deciding to include a cover crop, potential drawbacks should be considered. Cover crops require additional labor, expense, delay crop planting, or an alternate host for the crop insects or diseases. A cover crop should satisfy the primary reasons for the cover cropping, it should be easy to establish and maintain with the equipment available, it should be well suited to the local climate and the farm environment, not compete with the income-generating crops grown simultaneously or subsequently and it should have the ability to withstand stresses likely to occur like the frost, drought, heat, etc.

Chapter 7. Crop Rotation on Organic Farms

The practice of growing various series of dissimilar or different types of crops in the particular area in sequenced seasons is known as crop rotation. Crop rotation is done, so the soils of farms are not used for a single set of nutrients. Crop rotation helps in reducing soil erosion and also increases soil fertility and crop yield. Soil and nutrition depletion takes place when growing the same crop in the same place for many years in a row. With the method of crop rotation, the crop leaches the soil of one kind of nutrient that is followed. Crop rotation is used for both the organic farming systems and the conventional crop systems. When planning a crop rotation there are various ways to select the factors. Crop rotation must consider the condition one crop will leave the soil for the crop succeeding and crop seeded with the other crops. There is no limitation for the number of crops to be used in the rotation or the amount of time rotation takes to complete.

Chapter 8. Intercropping on Organic Farms

The main advantage of the legume–cereal intercrop is the input of nitrogen to the system by the fixation of atmospheric N2 by the legume, which results in improved use of renewable nitrogen sources. This has been studied by determining the effect of intercropping on a series of quality factors, such as physical grain quality, the ratio of nitrogen and sulfur concentrations, protein quality.

Chapter 9. Manure Management on Organic Farms

The use of massive inputs of chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides poisons the land and water heavily. Organic crop production is a holistic way of producing crops promoting agro-ecosystem health, including biological cycles, biodiversity, and soil biological activity, which are important.

By reducing the level of pollution, It helps to maintain ecological health. By minimizing the residue levels in the products, human and animal health hazards get reduced. At a sustainable level, It helps in keeping agricultural production. It improves soil health and also reduces the cost of the agricultural output. It helps in conserving them for future generations and ensures optimum utilization of natural resources for short-term benefit. It reduces the risk of crop failure by saving energy for both animals and machines.

One can also add those natural minerals which are needed for the plant growth and development as well as to improve the soil’s consistency. Soil amendments like lime are added to adjust the soil’s pH balance. Farmers also make compost from animal manures and mushroom compost. Before compost can be applied to the fields, it is heated and aged for at least two months, reaching and maintaining an internal temperature of 130°-140°F to kill unwanted bacteria and weed seeds.

Chapter 10. Compost Management on Organic Farms

Compost provides many benefits as a soil amendment and a source of organic matter by improving soil biological, chemical, and physical characteristics are it Increases microbial activity, Enhances plant disease suppression, Increases soil fertility, Increases cation exchange capacity, Improves soil structure in clayey soils, Improves water retention in sandy soils, Reduces bioavailability of heavy metals. As soon as feedstocks are compiled, the composting process begins. Maintaining adequate aeration during this phase of intense microbial activity is especially important because aerobic decomposition is most efficient and produces finished compost in the shortest amount of time. At this stage, the compost can be stockpiled.

Chapter 11. Integrated Pest Management in Organic Farms

IPM aims to reduce the pests population and keep them below the level so that it won’t result in economic damage. Non-organic crops rely heavily on pest control materials or even requires the assessment of pest populations and how to deal with them with the use of therapeutic materials in a timely, but reactive way. In organic systems, the objective is to design such a system for crop production that pests won’t be able to locate plants, so that crops can be saved from their natural enemies, or their damage can be kept as low as possible. Vigorous, healthy plants are more able to withstand damage caused by arthropods and disease.

Chapter 12. Insect Pest Management for Organic