Agriculture Science Lesson 10

Web academy
Subject Agricultural Science

Teacher: Sven Anthony
Class: 4th & 5th Form
Learning Objectives/ Outcome
Students are thought and gasp knowledge on :
 The principles of Organic Farming
 Soil management on organic farms
 Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Week 10/ Module 10

Content
1.1 The principles of Organic Farming
In organic farming, the use of herbicides and pesticides is limited resulting in an
increase in biodiversity. Organic farming benefits the environment in many ways. Weed
species growing in an organic crop attract insects which feed on plant pests. In turn, these
insects will provide food for birds and mammals. The use of farm yard manure to add
organic matter to the soil encourages soil micro-organisms, which contribute to soil
fertility by breaking down plant and animal remains. Overall, there are 30% more species
found on organic farms than on conventional farms. Organically grown produce is
usually higher priced than other produce — but health conscious people will often pay
these prices.
Soil management on organic farms

An organic farmer uses soil management to ensure a supply of the essential nutrients
(nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus). Instead of relying on artificial fertilizers, the
farmer can use some of the methods:
Crop Rotation- A sequence of different crops is grown from year to year (cereals, root
crops, Legumes). The sequence is planned so that crops are grown on different plots each
year.
Benefits to the soil-
-Life cycles of pests and pathogens are broken (different types of crops will attract
different types of pathogens).
- Inclusion of a legume increases nitrogen
- different crops need different methods of cultivation so this improves soil texture
Green manuring
-the ploughing in of a cover crop, such as a legume
-the ploughing in of a crop residue, such as stubble
-the crop is left on the surface of the soil and the next crop is then planted through it by
direct drilling
Benefits to Soil
-adds organic matter to the soil
- improves soil fertility by increasing soil nitrogen
- provides cover to prevent run-off during the wet season
Intercropping
-two or more crops are grown at the same time on the same land
-crops may mature and be harvested at different times
Benefits to soil
-a second crop can reduce competition from weeds
-if a legume is included then nitrogen fixation is encouraged
-the cover of vegetation reduces run-off in the wet season
-saves on space if more than one crop is grown on the same piece of land
Weed Control on Organic Farms

Weed control on organic farms poses problems as herbicides are not encouraged. Methods
include hand-weeding, hoeing, mulching with compost and the use of plastic films spread
across the ground. In rice-growing areas, ducks and fish have been introduced to paddy fields
to eat weeds and insects.
Pest control on organic farms
Integrated Pest Management
The control of insects and other pests is difficult to achieve without chemicals. Pests cause
serious losses and few organic farmers manage to eliminate the use of chemical pesticides
entirely. Organic insecticides include Bt (a bacterial toxin produced by Bacillus
thuringiensis), Pyrethrum and Rotenone. Although these are permitted, they are often
combined with biological pest control and cultural integrated pest management methods in a
technique called integrated pest management (IPM). IPM is pest control using an array of
complementary approaches including natural predators, pesticides, and other biological and
environmental control practices. In this way, the use of chemicals is reduced and damage to
the environment and harmful residues in food are minimized.
Biological Pest Control
Biological pest control involves the introduction of another species to control the pest. The
introduced species will reduce the population of the pest, but will not get rid of it completely.
The introduced species may be:
•a natural predator of the pest organism, such as a mite
•a parasitoid, such as a wasp that lays its eggs in another insect
•a parasite, such as a nematode worm that lives in slugs
•a pathogenic (disease-causing) organism, such as a bacterium.
Lesson Summary
 In organic farming, the use of herbicides and pesticides is limited resulting in an
increase in biodiversity. Organic farming benefits the environment in many ways.
 An organic farmer uses soil management to ensure a supply of the essential nutrients.
 Crop Rotation is a sequence of different crops is grown from year to year.
 Weed control on organic farms poses problems as herbicides are not encouraged.
Methods include hand-weeding, hoeing, mulching with compost and the use of plastic
films spread across the ground.
 IPM is pest control using an array of complementary approaches including natural
predators, pesticides, and other biological and environmental control practices.
 Biological pest control involves the introduction of another species to control the pest.
References
Agricultural Science for CSEC Examinations by Ronald Ramharacksingh

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Web academy

Subject Agricultural Science

Week 10/ Module 10

Soil management on organic farms

Weed Control on Organic Farms

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