Horticulture Principles and Practices

esources in the soil environment for plant growth are exhaustible. Unless there is a way
to replenish the nutrients extracted from the soil by plants, the land soon becomes
depleted of plant food and consequently incapable of supporting plant growth. Natural
nutrient recycling systems exist to replenish the soil nutrients. These cycles are largely
dependent on the activities of soil microbes and occur at a slow pace. Nutrient recycling
is the organic way of fertilizing crops. Scientists have identified these plant growth
nutrients and produced synthetic versions (chemical fertilizers) that are easier to
regulate and apply.
Regarding disease and pest control, organic farming depends on nature for control,
while modern farming depends on chemicals. Nature has a way of regulating itself, maintaining
balance so that one organism does not dominate the community. Further,
prey–predator relationships occur in nature; some potentially harmful organisms fortunately
have natural enemies. Pesticides often indiscriminately kill organisms, the good and
the bad.
Organic production is not without its problems or critics. It is generally a more
expensive cultural practice. Crop yields and quality are significantly lower than under
traditional production. People are willing to pay more for organically produced crops
because of the fear of chemical residues from the application of pesticides under traditional
systems of vegetable production. However, the absence of chemicals in the
production system may encourage the presence of natural toxins, which could also be
harmful. Disease and insect pest buildup is increased under this system of production.
In fact, the benefit to humans of organic production is largely experienced through a safer
environment because of the reduced amounts of chemicals entering the soil and polluting
the water supply.
22.1 WHAT IS ORGANIC FARMING?
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which serves in advisory capacity to
the USDA, defines organic farming as “an ecological production management system
that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity.
It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that
restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.” This formal definition notwithstanding,
organic farming tends to be defined in society by one of its characteristics
as an approach to farming that does not utilize synthetic pesticides or conventional
fertilizers.
22.2 IMPORTANCE OF ORGANIC FARMING IN
MODERN CROP PRODUCTION
Organic farming is widespread, practiced in its modern form in over 120 countries and
on over 31 million hectares of farmland in 2005. The leading producing nations include
Australia, Argentina, United States, and Italy; the United States and the European Union
account for 95 percent of the world market of organic foods. Organic farming is rapidly
expanding in the United States at the rate of about 20 percent annually. According to the
USDA, organic foods are found in about 75 percent of conventional food markets, bringing
nearly 15 billion dollars in revenue in 2005. Currently, about 5 percent of the total
domestic market for fresh market fruits and vegetables is supplied by organic farmers.
Australia, New Zealand, and Latin America account for many of the organic fruits and
meat imported into the country.
652 Chapter 22 Organic Farming