MUNRO COLLEGE

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

ORGANIC FARMING (ANSWERS)

1. Organic farming

- is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances

biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity.

- includes good farming practices without using synthetic chemicals

- excludes synthetic fertilizer and pesticide usage, plant growth regulators,

genetically modified organisms and feed additives for livestock.

2. Principles in organic farming includes

 Crop rotation
 Use of crop residues
 Mechanical cultivation
 Maintaining good soil
 Good organic based nutrient supply
 Manage pests without the use of synthetic chemicals.

3. Organic farm integrity includes

 The assurance to consumers that measures used would be 100% organically based
 No contamination with synthetic chemicals
 Detailed records of production

4. Manure is organic matter usually the faeces and urine from organically grown animal, used
to supply nutrients to crops.
5. Green manure is the in-cooperation (ploughing) into the soil of a plant such as soya bean,
when it reaches the stage of blossoming or when it just starts to form pods. This plant
material is allowed to decompose releasing nutrients into the soil.

6. Intercropping is

 the cultivating of two or more crops in the same space at the same time
 having a main crop and add another during the growing of that crop. Usually used in
orchard crops
 growing of different species, family variety or cultivar at the same time
 Goal is to increase yield.

7. Companion crops are those that helps in the development or production of the main or
primary crop.

Eg.

 to enhance flavour of the main crop,

 helps in nitrogen fixation,
 help in the suppression of pest on the main crop
 creates a protective shelter for the main crop.

8. Natural pesticides are those used to control pests using only chemicals from organic
origins.

9. Crop rotation involves the growing of different crops on the same plot of land, so as to
maintain soil fertility.

10. Methods used in organic farming includes

 Using chemicals and nutrients from an organically based origin

  Use of organic integrated pest management to control insect
 Ensure that all activities used are environmentally friendly

11. For certification of organic farms, the following basic steps must be done

 A suitable and reliable agency must carry out the procedure

 The farmer must apply and pay an application fee
 The farm must be inspected and passed all requirements
 Ensure that the farm is situated in an area to prevent contamination with non-
organic substances and products.
 The farmer will be notified if the application is successful.