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MUNRO COLLEGE

ALTERNATIVES UNCONVENTIONAL FARMING SYSTEM #2

URBAN AND PERI-URBAN FARMING:

Urban and peri-urban farming is the cultivation of small areas of land, usually less than 2 hectares, in or near
cities, towns and villages. These small farms or market gardens(as they are sometimes called) produce fresh
vegetables, fruits and meat for urban consumers. The income from the sale of these produce benefit the
community by increasing the quantity and quality of food available. This contributes to food safety and food
security.

These gardens are usually short term crops(those that are planted and reaped within 3-4 months) and is
intensively farmed to produce at the maximum level. Crops grown includes tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, pak-
choi, melons, sweet peppers and callaloo. In some cases the farms are mixed, which includes the rearing of
animals as well as the growing of crops. Mixed farming can include the use of manure from the animals in the
growing of crops, and any refuse from the crop will be used to supplement the feeding of animals.

The benefits of urban farms include:

 A reduction in transportation cost as food is grown locally

 Fewer pesticides, which make food production more sustainable
 No food preservatives as food does not have to travel long distances
 Provided employment for local people.

https://youtu.be/l-EQdH3VE_Y

The link above shows how urban and peri-urban agriculture affects people in the Caribbean.

THE PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC FARMING:

The main rule of organic farming is that it should be carried out with no or limited use of herbicides and
pesticides. This practice usually results in the increase of biodiversity, which in turn benefits the environment.
Some weeds that are allowed to grow in an organic crop to attract certain insects which feed on pests that may
attack the cultivated crop. These insects will provide food for birds which in turn will eat certain pest.

Instead of using commercially fertilisers, farmyard manure is used. The manure when used encourages the
growth and production of micro-organisms, which in turn contributes to soil fertility by assisting in the
decomposition of plant and animal remains. There are more than 30% beneficial useful species found on
organic farms more than what is found on conventional farms.
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Organically grown produce is usually higher in selling price to consumers, but health conscious people will pay
the price to ensure a safer environment.

https://youtu.be/WpDtiV-cKWs

The link above shows the aims, principles and objectives of organic farming.

SOIL MANAGEMENT ON ORGANIC FARMS:

In organic farming, farmers uses soil management to ensure a supply of the essential nutrients, instead of using
artificially made fertilisers. Methods used to help in the management of soil includes Crop rotation, green
manuring, intercropping, and organic manure.

CROP ROTATION: Crop rotation can be defined as

 The system of growing varying successive crops in a definite order on the same plot of land, so as to
avoid depleting the soil nutrients and to control weeds, diseases, and pests.
 The sequence of growing the crops is planned so that crops are grown on different plots each year.

https://youtu.be/mJwOr-pe_I8

The link above explains the use of crop rotation.

Figure 1. Showing a four year crop rotation

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BENEFITS OF CROP ROTATION: Benefits of crop rotation includes

 1 Automatic Pests Control

Caterpillars cause crop damage.

By eliminating their food source with the crop rotation, you make an automatic pest control.

The diversification of cropping sequences takes away the host organism and causes a disruption in the
annual life cycle of insects, diseases, and weeds. This results in better soil fertility and carbon storage.

 2 Right Nitrogen Management

While making nitrogen management decisions, it is important to understand the relationship between
crop rotation and nitrogen. Along with the other benefits of crop rotation, it may impact the rate of
nitrogen mineralization.
Even on the conversion of organic nitrogen to mineral nitrogen by change of soil temperature, moisture,
plant residue, pH and tillage practices. A common use of nitrogen it is been showing up over the past 50
years.
The use of this in large amounts, especially to maximize farming production, increases the nitrogen
within the soil profile of certain farms.
Rotations that include nitrogen by producing legumes such as peas, beans, and alfalfa give to next crops
with large amounts of this critical nutrient.
A research shows that nitrogen from legumes remains in the soil longer than the nitrogen in synthetic
fertilizers, leaving less to leach into groundwater or runoff fields and pollute streams.
Crop rotation plays a key role in reducing the risk of nitrate, leaching into surface and groundwater. The
system improves the availability of soil nitrogen and reducing the nitrogen fertilizer used.

 3 Fallow Fields Periods Shorten

In the past, not planting anything or leaving the field fallow, allowed the land to rest and replenish its
nutrients.

Some modern farmers will occasionally allow fields to lie fallow to rest.
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But crop rotation has helped to increase productivity by replacing fallow periods with growing different
crops that replenish soil nutrients.

 4 Against Soil Erosion

Crop rotation also helps to battle against the forces of erosion.

Rotating crops helps to improve soil stability by alternating between crops with deep roots and those with
shallow roots.

Improvement in soil tilth and microbial communities will help bring down soil erosion due to more stable
soil structure.

Also, enhanced water infiltration and minimized surface runoff.

 5 Minimize Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The implementation of  crop rotation cut the nitrogen fertilizer use and drastically reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.

The global warming potential of nitrous oxide is higher than that of carbon dioxide.

Reduced synthetic fertilizer also means reduced greenhouse gas emissions from manufacture and
transportation.

 6 Treats Water Pollution

The crop rotation reduces the number of synthetic fertilizers and that’s why the water pollution caused by
nitrogen will also cut.

The rotations with a high share of crops and lesser dependence on pesticides bring down the use of
pesticides as well as runoff into groundwater.

 7 Increased Ability to Store Carbon

Crop rotation practices can result in increased soil carbon content through high crop cover periods.

Also, it reduces the frequency and tillage intensity.

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The increase in the use of forages in crop rotations as a residue management while higher carbon the soil
content helps combat climate change.

 8 Better Soil Structure

Annual crop rotations affect the root structure over a period. For crops having either tap or fibrous roots,
the diversity in the root structure will enhance the chemical, physical and biological structure of the soil.
Better soil structure creates several macrospores and enables new root growth of next crops. Improving
the soil organic matter and nutrient pools is also a benefit of crop rotation that results in increasing
water-holding capacity of the soil.
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) investigated about this better soil
caused by crop rotation. The results of the reports sustain that several factors affect the rate of
decomposition of organic amendments.
The research shows that many of these organisms decompose organic matter, resulting in nutrient
release to the crop.

 9 Independence of the external inputs

The reliance of conventional agriculture systems on purchased inputs external to the firm presents
possible challenges to the long-term sustainability of the system.
Crop rotation systems are one cropping system alternative. This can cut agriculture’s dependence on
external inputs through internal nutrient recycling.
Also the maintenance of the long-term productivity of the land, and breaking weed and disease cycles.
By choosing the crop rotation systems can include impact on soil quality and fertility, environmental
quality, and farm profitability.

GREEN MANURING:

In agriculture, green manure is created by leaving uprooted or sown crop parts to wither on a field so that they
serve as a mulch and soil amendment. The plants used for green manure are often cover crops grown primarily
for this purpose. Typically, they are ploughed under and incorporated into the soil while green or shortly after
flowering. Green manure is commonly associated with organic farming and can play an important role in
sustainable annual cropping systems.

Also, the crop is left on the surface of the soil and the next crop is then planted through it by direct drilling.
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Figure 2: Picture showing the process of green manuring.

https://youtu.be/S4tVziJvXSQ

The link above shows the process of ploughing in plants into the soil to create green manure.

BENEFITS OF GREEN MANURE:

The purpose of a green manure crop varies depending on each situation but some of the benefits they offer are:
 Increasing organic matter and soil humus
 Increased Nitrogen fixation
 Protection of the soil surface
 Prevention of erosion
 Maintaining or improving soil structure
 Reduced susceptibility to leaching
 Access to unavailable nutrients from lower soil profile
 Provide readily available nutrients to the next crop

These green manure crops should be tilled in, mowed down almost to the ground, or smothered by organic
mulches before they go to seed. The no-tilling option is the best way to ensure that you get the largest benefit
out of the crop and the least amount of damage to the soil biota. Excessive tilling, or tilling too deep, can kill off
beneficial fungi in the soil and create soil texture problems and some soil fertility issues. Using EM(Effective
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Micro-organisms) in conjunction with your green manure crop will also speed up the breakdown process and
also the biological activity. This will ensure that you get the most out of your crop and provide the best
environment for the next crop in your rotation. EM should be applied once the crop has incorporated with the
soil.

INTERCROPPING:

Intercropping is a farming method that involves planting or growing more than one crop at the same time and
on the same piece of land. It means having more than one type of crop growing in the same space at the same
time. Crops may come into maturity at different times and will be harvested at different times.

Figure 3: Showing intercropping

https://youtu.be/ouU8vCGxyqs

The link above showing intercropping and crop rotation.

ORGANIC MANURE:
Manure is organic matter, mostly derived from animal feces except in the case of green manure, which can be
used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter
and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are utilised by bacteria, fungi and other organisms in the soil.
Animal manure can be composted before use so as to kill pathogenic organisms.
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Figure 4: Showing a heap of manure

https://youtu.be/WlHlhM2Xo6A
The link showing poultry manure.
BENEFITS OF ORGANIC MANURE:
1.  Apart from releasing nutrients, when organic fertilizers decompose, they improve soil structure
increasing the soil’s ability to retain nutrients and water which eventually will make plants and soil
strong and healthy.
2.  Since organic fertilizers are slow-release, it is rare to over fertilize and harm the plants
3.  The chances of toxins, salts, and chemicals building up in the soil are hardly there, therefore, your
plants will be safe.
4.  Organic fertilizers are biodegradable, renewable, environmentally friendly and also sustainable.
5.  Even though they are a bit expensive in packing as compared to other forms of fertilizers, one can easily
come up with his/her won composting or opt for inexpensive sources.

WEED CONTROL ON ORGANIC FARMS:

The primary weed control strategies for organic systems are cultural and mechanical, focusing on prevention,
Crop rotation, crop competition, and cultivation. To plan an effective weed management program in organic
systems, you should consider historical pest problems, soil management, crop rotation, machinery, markets,
weather, and time and labor. Adjusting weed control strategies based on these factors and observing and
avoiding potential threats will help you stay ahead of weed problems.
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PEST CONTROL ON ORGANIC FARMS:

Good organic pest control and management entails weed control, weed prevention, organic insect
control and plant disease control, all of which rely on approaches and techniques such as integrated pest
management, biological control, ecological strategies, physical control and shade cloths. In this section, you’ll
find some overlap between the weed, insect and pathogen sections.
A complete procedure involves the biological pest control along with cultural methods is known as
INTEGRADED PEST MANAGEMENT(IPM).
SOME BIOLOGICAL INSECTICIDES:
Bacillus subtilis

Bacilus thuringiensis

Beauveria bassiana

Boric acid: Structural pest control, no direct contact with organic food or crops.

Coniothyrium minitans

Copper: Copper hydroxide, copper oxide, copper oxychloride, includes products exempted from EPA tolerance,
provided that copper-based materials must be used in a manner that minimizes accumulation in the soil and
shall not be used as herbicides.

Pheromones and pheromone traps

Plant-derived substances such as neem, caraway oil, seed fennel, quassia, or ryania.

Biological pest control inloves 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 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.

Before any biological control method is used, it must be tested to make sure that no unwanted diseases are
introduced, that only affects the pest organism, and that the control organism can be bred in sufficient numbers
to be effective.
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Ineffectiveness in the use of biological control can be caused by

 The life cycle of insect pest is interrupted and its numbers will fall. This maybe due to infertile sperm
which would result in a reduction in the population.
 Defective sperm which are sterilized due to exposure to radiation. (used in screw worm control)

Pheromones are also used in the control of some insects. Traps are made and baited with these hormones, which
attract the male insects. When they move towards the hormones laced traps, they are caught and destroyed. This
reduces the male population leaving the females with no males to mate with.

CERTIFICATION OF ORGANIC FARMS:

For farmers to obtain organic certification they must follow certain steps which include

 The farmer finds a suitable agency that will carry out the procedure
 The farmer makes an application (it is usually necessary to pay a fee at this stage)
 The farm has to be inspected by the agency
 The farmer will be notified whether or not the application is successful.

The application form requires details of:

 Soil fertility planning

 Seeds and seed planting
 Weed and pest management practices
 Storage and handling of produce
 Details of the crops grown and the fields used (a map of the farm has to be supplied)
 Plans for monitoring how the farm will be managed to avoid contamination with non-organic products

The four Principles of Organic Farming are:

 Organic farming should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, animals and humans as one
and indivisible.
 Organic farming should be based on the living ecological systems and cycles, work with them,
emulate them and help sustain them.
 Organic agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to common
environment and life processes.
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 Organic farming should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health
and well being of current and future generations and the environment.

The principles of organic farming encourage the maintenance of ecological balance and biodiversity.

Many consumers are prepared to pay more for organically produced food.