www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms physical-and-biological-processes-in-crop-production crop-rotation-effects-on-soil-fertility-and-plant-nutrition Crop Rotation Effects on Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition by Anusuya Rangarajan Soil organic matter and clay particles hold large stores of plant nutrients. These reservoirs, however, are not all available to the crop. In an organic crop rotation, the grower manages soil organic matter and nutrient availability by incorporating different crop residues, cycling among crops with different nutrient needs, using cover crops, and […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms physical-and-biological-processes-in-crop-production crop-rotation-and-soil-tilth Crop Rotation and Soil Tilth By Harold Van Es Tilth generally refers to the physical condition of the soil as it relates to plant growth. Favorable tilth implies good conditions for seed germination and root proliferation, allowing crops to thrive. Also, a soil with good tilth facilitates other processes, such as water infiltration and aeration, which benefit both crop and […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms physical-and-biological-processes-in-crop-production what-this-chapter-is-about What this Chapter is About By Charles L. Mohler This chapter is about the ways biologists and soil scientists view crop rotation. Unlike the farmer experts of the previous chapter, who approach rotation as a holistic process, the scientists are specialists who delve deeply into particular aspects of organic production. They study in detail how crop rotation affects a particular […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms how-expert-organic-farmers-manage-crop-rotations key-responsibilities-and-related-tasks-in-the-chart the-neon-managing-a-crop-rotation-system The NEON "Managing a Crop Rotation" System A Identify Rotation Goals A-1 Review overall farm & personal goals (e.g., long & short term, mission statement) A-2 Review overall farm operation (e.g., marketing strategies, profitability, farm family/team, production system [crop & livestock mix], length of season, equipment, raised beds or row crops, on-farm compost production) A-3 Identify problems that can be addressed through […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms how-expert-organic-farmers-manage-crop-rotations key-responsibilities-and-related-tasks-in-the-chart Key Responsibilities and Related Tasks in the Chart This section discusses each of the key responsibilities in the “Managing a Crop Rotation System” chart and illustrates some of the important, difficult, or less obvious tasks, with examples from the operations of expert farmers (see sidebar 2.7). Responsibility A: Identify Rotation Goals Rotations are a means to meet overall farm goals. Expert farmers manage […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms how-expert-organic-farmers-manage-crop-rotations the-neon-managing-a-crop-rotation-system-chart The NEON "Managing a Crop Rotation System" Chart Our panel of expert organic farmers participated in a structured, facilitated process that was designed to elicit an outline of step-by-step decisions and actions related to their own management of crop rotation (sidebar 2.6). This is summarized in the chart “Managing a Crop Rotation System." The content and wording of the chart are those of […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms how-expert-organic-farmers-manage-crop-rotations crop-rotation-and-farm-management Crop Rotation and Farm Management Crop rotations require multidimensional thinking. Rotation management requires understanding both the whole farm and each individual field and balancing field and farm-scale decisions (figure 2.1). On successful farms, rotation planning is a rolling, responsive process. Expert farmers are continually balancing annual and multiyear (short- and long-term) decisions. Business decisions must be optimized for annual returns […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms how-expert-organic-farmers-manage-crop-rotations basics-of-crop-rotation Basics of Crop Rotation Rotations are one dimension of the art and science of farm management. The biological principles of crop rotation intersect with many other aspects of the farm operation and farm business. Crop rotation is both a principle of production and a tool of management (see sidebar 2.3). Expert farmers balance market options and field biology. Labor, […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms how-expert-organic-farmers-manage-crop-rotations why-rotate-crops Why Rotate Crops? Effective crop rotations are a foundation of organic cropping systems. Organic farmers recognize that crop rotation is necessary to maintain field productivity. Expert farmers design their rotations to (1) earn income and (2) increase soil quality or build “soil capital” (sidebar 2.1). Crop rotation and a crop rotation plan and records are required for organic […]
www.sare.org publications crop-rotation-on-organic-farms how-expert-organic-farmers-manage-crop-rotations How Expert Organic Farmers Manage Crop Rotations By Sue Ellen Johnson and Eric Toensmeier Crop rotation is central to the success of organic farms. So how do successful farmers plan and execute crop rotations? We asked twelve expert organic farmers this question when they gathered at a farmhouse in upstate New York for three snowy days in 2002. Between homemade organic meals, […]