How Does Organic Farming Reduce Soil Erosion

Organic farming reduces soil erosion when compared to conventional farming systems as a consequence of higher soil surface cover and SOM content under organic farming. Organic farming is widely considered to be a far more sustainable alternative when it comes to food production.

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However ammonia emissions nitrogen leaching and nitrous oxide emissions per product unit were higher from organic systems.

How does organic farming reduce soil erosion. Long-term Monoculture deteriorates organic matter levels and soil physical properties. Does Monocropping cause Soil erosion. Organic farms tend to have higher soil organic matter content and lower nutrient losses nitrogen leaching nitrous oxide emissions and ammonia emissions per unit of field area.

This study indicates that in the long term the organic farming system was more effective than the conventional farming system in reducing soil erosion and therefore in maintaining soil. Conservation tillage which is another method in organic farming reduces soil erosion too. These results lead to accelerated erosion losses and impeded drainage.

1998 found in a long-term field experiment that organic farming increased the aggregate stability of the soil. Soil erosion is the gradual wearing away of soil surface which removes organic matter and key nutrients in the process. 1997 used soil samples from organic and conventional fields and calculated the soil erodibility finding that organic farming could potentially reduce erosion for some soils.

Compared with conventional agriculture organic farming uses fewer pesticides reduces soil erosion decreases nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water and recycles animal wastes back into the farm. Also Siegrist et al. It prevents soil degradation such as erosion and impaction.

Organic farmers are encouraged to adopt this method because it has the power to conserve the topsoil. Organic farming uses less pesticides fertilisers and herbicides than non-organic practices and organic-farming advocates also claim it saves water and controls erosion. In fact US farms are currently losing twice as much topsoil to erosion per year as the Great Plains lost in a typical year at the height of the 1930s Dust Bowl one of the most devastating agricultural and social disasters in our history.

Fleming et al. Studies have shown that organic farming methods improve soil quality. Erosion from wind and water annually robs our nations farms of billions of tons of soil.

Soil runoff was only observed to be higher in bare soil plots 9. In comparison to soil samples studied from traditionally farmed land organic land has increased levels of the soil enzymes dehydrogenase phosphatase and urease as well as a significantly higher microbial biomass and a higher polysaccharide content. These benefits are counterbalanced by higher food costs for consumers and generally lower yields.

If it continues unchecked erosion can degrade soil quality and decrease rooting depth reducing crop yields. The lack of pesticides and wider variety of plants enhances biodiversity and results in better soil quality and reduced pollution from fertilizer or pesticide run-off. According to this study 8 Monocropping to be a risk factor for soil erosion.

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