Effects of Organic and Conventional Management Practices on Soil Quality - Assignment Example

Effects of Organic and Conventional of Crop Management Practices on Soil Quality Introduction: The quality of soil involved in agricultural practices is an essential factor since it determines the sustainability of the agricultural practice in terms of the period of time as well as its influence in the local, national or international levels of agricultural practices (Karlen, n.d.). The present study focuses on an understanding of the effects of organic and conventional crop management practices on the quality of soil. Conventional Farming System: Farming that is not keen to alternative agricultural practices are considered under the concept of conventional farming. It is the most prevalent farming process obtained in the 20th century. Use of chemical protectants for plants, chemical fertilizers, and exhaustive mass animal farming are widespread to the conventional practices of crop management (Conventional Farming, 2006). The dependence on the pesticides, fertilizers, and tillage methods is very high in the conventional farming methods for the purpose of high crop yields requiring lower labour involvements. In such systems, the high yield of the crops and their quality is given more importance than the condition of the soil (Glinski, Horabik & Lipiec, 2011, pp.526-527). Effect of Conventional Crop Management Practices on Soil Quality: The different crop management practices involved in conventional farming that include mixing of soil by tillage frequently and then leaving the soil exposed during significant periods of time lead to rising oxidation of organic matter and also reduces the levels of organic matter significantly thereby increasing the risks of soil erosion (Glinski, Horabik & Lipiec, 2011, p.527). It was during the 1990s that the crop management practices involved in conventional farming were questioned owing to the heavy use of chemicals. These chemicals had the potential ability to cause environmental degradation (Hunter, 2004, p.45). Studies have revealed that the quality of the soil under such farming practices have been poor thereby increasing the costs of the products as well as health. Considering these effects the long term sustainability of the conventional farming has been questioned against the alternative practices being available. Indirect costs including the offsite damage from erosion of soil, pollution in the surface and ground water, hazards to health of both human and animal, and damage to wildlife from conventional farming practices are at the moment tolerated by the humanity (Reganold, n.d.). Conventional farming has proved to have certain negative effects of the quality of the soil. Owing to the exposed nature of the soil, the productivity of the soil tends to get reduced due to wind and water erosion, compaction of soil, soil organic matter getting lost, accompanied by losses in water holding capacity and biological activity, and salinization of soils irrigation of waters in areas where irrigation takes place. With the conventional farming in practice, underground water and soils have also been found to have pollutants that spread across the areas of agriculture. Reduced quality of the soils and hence the production of crops leads to problems of health as well as increase the costs (Problems Associated with Conventional Farming, n.d.). Erosion of soil is the most significant concern associated with the conventional farming practices that reduces the quality and productivity of the soil. Processes like tillage followed under conventional farming destabilize the surfaces of the soil making them more susceptible to wind and air forces as well (Auerswald, Kainz & Fiener, 2003, p.305). Thus the conventional form of crop management practices can be understood to have negative impacts on the quality of the soil hence affecting the productivity as well thereby leading to the opportunities and need for alternative farming practices. Organic Farming System: The organic farming system has its focus more on the nature rather than only on the production of crops. Thus the farming management makes use of such practices that would not only yield high quality crops but at the same time take care of the soil, the natural environment as well as the people who are involved in such practices. In order to build a good structure of the soil and the facility, the practices included under the organic farming include: recycled and composted crop wastes and animal manures, the right soil cultivation at the right time, crop rotation, green manures and legumes, and mulching on the soil surface. Not only these, organic farming also looks after the control of pests, diseases and weeds through careful planning and selection of crops, making use of resistant crops, good practice of cultivation, crop rotation, encouraging useful predators, increasing genetic diversity, and using natural pesticides. The water resources and animal husbandry are also significantly made use of under organic farming (What is Organic Farming, n.d., p.1). In organic farming, a number of organic methods are applied in combination for the purpose of successful crop management. Organic farming has been obtained to increase the fertility of the soil for a long term period. This type of crop management practice considers soil as the most essential component for quality production of crops. Thus, the primary responsibility of the organic farmer is to manage the soil properly. In the process, an organic farmer needs to develop the soil at the right time, using the right processes to afford the most excellent existing conditions for the soil life and roots of plant (What is Organic Farming, n.d., pp.2-4). Effect of Organic Crop Management Practices on Soil Quality: Improvement in crop management practices has been considered by scientists to be important since they not only have the ability to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, but also enrich the carbon content in the soil which can be achieved by the use of animal manure. Several studies have revealed that organic form of crop management with composted manure is an agricultural process that has the ability to restrict the decrease of carbon substance in the soil (Organic Farming: Good Practice for Soil Quality Preservation, 2007). In the long term, the quality of the soil and activities associated with the microbial biomass are improved under this practice of farming as against the conventional methods. In a wider view, the effects of agricultural practice on fixation of carbon contents in soils might be considered as a matter of significant study with respect to changes in the climate. Moreover, soils being the basic need of food production, preservation of their quality with compost making use of lesser chemicals, are necessary for sustainable management of land, even if these farming systems do not prove to be the most fruitful (Organic Farming: Good Practice for Soil Quality Preservation, 2007). In organic farming, a high quality soil is considered to be the one that offers surroundings for most favourable growths of plant root, thus enhancing the health of the crop and productivity (Baldwin, n.d., p.2). Conclusion: The study reflected on both the conventional and organic farming, and from the study it may be concluded that in terms of the quality of the soil, the organic farming proves to have significant positive effects as against the conventional crop management practices. References 1) Auerswald, K., Kainz, M. & P. Fiener (2003), Soil erosion potential of organic versus conventional farming evaluated by USLE modelling of cropping statistics for agricultural districts in Bavaria, Soil Use and Management, Vol.19, pp.305-311, available at: http://www.wzw.tum.de/oekolandbau/Lit_lehrst/pdf-Dateien/test.pdf (accessed on May 15, 2012) 2) Baldwin, K.R. (n.d.), Soil Quality Considerations for Organic Farmers, CEFS, available at: http://www.cefs.ncsu.edu/resources/organicproductionguide/soilqualityfinaljan09.pdf (accessed on May 15, 2012) 3) Conventional Farming (2006), coextra, available at: http://www.coextra.eu/glossary/word672.html (accessed on May 14, 2012) 4) Glinski, J., Horabik, J. & J. Lipiec (2011), Encyclopedia of Agrophysics, New York: Springer 5) Hunter, B.T. (2004), Soil and Your Health: Healthy Soil is Vital to Your Health, New Jersey: Basic Health Publications, Inc. 6) Karlen, D.L. (n.d.), Effects of Soil and Crop Management Practices on Soil Quality, INFRC, available at: http://www.infrc.or.jp/english/KNF_Data_Base_Web/PDF%20KNF%20Conf%20Data/C3-3-068.pdf (accessed on May 14, 2012) 7) Organic Farming: Good Practice for Soil Quality Preservation (2007), EC, available at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/51na3.pdf (accessed on May 15, 2012) 8) Problems Associated with Conventional Farming (n.d.), leafcertified, available at: http://leafcertified.org/the-apparel-industry/faqs/problems-associated-with-conventional-farming (accessed on May 15, 2012) 9) Reganold, J.P. (n.d.), Soil quality and profitability of biodynamic and conventional farming systems: A review, biodynamics, available at: http://www.biodynamics.in/Soil1JPR.htm (accessed on May 15, 2012) 10) What is Organic Farming (n.d.), infonet-biovision, available at: http://www.infonet-biovision.org/res/res/files/488.OrgFarm.pdf (accessed on May 15, 2012) Read More