Healthy soil and sustainable growing

["TradingPostPaul" <tradingpost@riseup.net>]

http://asap.sustainability.uiuc.edu/members/dananderson/news-items/1-102406

Organic and Integrated Farming Key to Lowering Nitrogen Leaching

Organic farming has long been touted as an environmentally friendly
alternative to conventional agriculture. Now CSREES funded research
provides some evidence to support the claim.

Organic farming has long been touted as an environmentally friendly
alternative to conventional agriculture. Researchers at the Washington
State University have found that organic farming methods can help reduce
the amount of nitrogen draining into ground water, which is harmful to
the environment and poses a potential health risk.

Conventional farming practices apply synthetic fertilizers, which are the
primary source of nitrogen pollution in water systems and the
atmosphere. As nitrogen leaches from the farm, ground water transports the
nutrient into the surrounding water system. The excess nutrients
produce a dense growth of algae and other organisms that reduce oxygen
levels in the water, choking out other plants and animals. Nitrogen
from farms is also a potential health risk if it leaches into domestic
wells.

Dr. John Reganold at the Washington State University and colleagues at
Stanford University and The Land Institute examined the use of organic
fertilizers on nitrate leaching, or draining, in soils. With funding from
the USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, the
researchers examined nitrate leaching in an apple orchard under three
management systems: organic, conventional and integrated. During the
yearlong experiment, organically grown trees were fed either composted
chicken manure or alfalfa meal, while conventionally raised trees were
given calcium nitrate, a synthetic fertilizer widely used by commercial
apple growers. Trees raised using the integrated system were
given a blend of equal parts chicken manure and calcium nitrate. All trees
were given the same amount of nitrogen, no matter what the source.
The study found that annual nitrate leaching was four to five times higher
in the conventional treatment than in the two organic treatments,
with the integrated treatment in between.

The organic sector is the fastest-growing sector in the agricultural
economy. Washington State University is pioneering the effort to train
future generations about organic agriculture. The new organic agriculture
systems major is the first of its kind in the country and plans to meet the
growing demand for experts in organic farming. The organic agriculture
program at WSU prepares not only aspiring growers of organic food, but also
students who are interested in related industries, such as direct or global
marketing, food quality, pest management or animal science .

CSREES funded this research project through the National Research
Initiative (NRI) Managed Ecosystems Program. The NRI is the largest peer
reviewed, competitive grants program in CSREES. It supports research,
education, and extension grants that address key problems of national,
regional, and multi-state importance in sustaining all components of
agriculture.

CSREES advances knowledge for agriculture, the environment, human health
and well-being, and communities by supporting research, education, and
extension programs in the Land-Grant University System and other partner
organizations.

For more information, visit http://www.csrees.usda.gov