Research
Extension
Courses
Consumers
--------------------------
Virtual
Tours Student
& Job Opportunities News
Articles Standards
--------------------------
Market
Information Events
Issues
Animal Welfare Strategic
Plans --------------------------
Links
Award-winners
Site Map
Organic and conventional field crop soil and land management practices in Canada
G. Nelson1, J. C. Froese2, and M. H. Entz2
Abstract
Land management practices affecting soil erosion risk on organic and conventional farms were described using a mail-out survey.
Organic farmers had more forages and green manures in rotation than conventional farmers (66 vs. 46% and 84 vs. 6%, respectively). Organic farmers used more tilled summerfallow (52%) than conventional farmers (6%). Tilled summerfallow represents a risk to soil sustainability on organic farms; however, the net effect of common organic management practices (e.g., green manuring, composting and tillage) on soil erodibility is not known.
Determing the combined effect of management practices as well as finding alternatives to tilled summerfallow should be research priorities.
Read an OACC article about this study...
Source
Canadian Journal of Plant Science (2010) 90: 339-343
Author Locations & Affiliations
(1) Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5
(2) Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2
en français
Posted May 2010