Organic Productionand

Fertility Recommendations

Jeana Myers, PhD

Agronomist NCDA&CS

“Organic Fertility Initiative”

This presentation will look at typical organic production systems in NC and consider ways the Agronomic Division might strengthen and promote our services for these growers.

Increase in Organic Products

U.S. sales of organic food and beverages have grown from $1 billion in 1990 to $26.7 billion in 2010.

Sales in 2010 represented 7.7 percent growth over 2009 sales - organic fruits and vegetables, up 11.8 percent over 2009.

5 million acres in organic production.

Organic Production by State

State # Certified

Operations

Cropland

Acreage

Pasture

Acreage

California 2887 430,724 289,767

Wisconsin 1016 170,953 54,011

North Carolina

156 5243 --

(NC is 20th in US in # of Cert. Operations, 2008)

Organic Production by State

State # Animals # Veg. Acres

California 2,213,429 91,915

North Carolina 1,088,889 2,373

Nebraska

Washington

6,501,940

281,000

757

18,294

(NC 4th in animal production, 8th in veg. acreage)

Eastern Carolina Organics (ECO)Produce Marketing Coop

- Participating Farms

North Carolina Population -lots of markets within 50-100 miles

Organic Fertility Recommendations?

13 Regional Agronomists in Agronomic Division

4 In-house Agronomists

Soil Samples are 85% farmer,

15% homeowners

Average 350,000 total samples

Homeowner report, lbs of mixed fertilizer

Farmer report, lbs nutrients per acre

Soil Test Index Value

mg/dm³ kg/ha lb/acre

P-I 1.2 2.4 2.138

K-I 1.955 3.91 3.484

2.29 × P gives lb of P2O5 per acre1.2 × K gives lb of K2O per acre.

Multiplication Factors to Convert Soil Test Index Values to a Quantitative Equivalent

USDA National Organic Program“NOP” Dec. 2000

Any farm that wants to sell an agricultural product as organically produced must adhere to the NOP standards. • They must operate under an organic system plan (OSP) • Be approved by a certifying agent• Use only approved materials from list

If a farm sells less that $5,000 per year, they do not have to use a plan or be certified, but they do have to follow regulations to label food as organic.

Land must not have had prohibited substances applied to it for 3 years prior to harvest of organic crops (sludge, pesticides, GMO’s, etc)

Restrictions on raw manure and compost.

NOP definition of "synthetic"

A substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process that chemically changes a substance extracted from naturally occurring plant, animal or mineral sources, except that such term shall not apply to substances created by naturally occurring biological processes.

In simple terms, synthetic materials cannot be used unless they are specifically approved,

and natural materials can be used unless they are specifically prohibited.

See OMRI Manual:“Organic Materials Review Institute”

Backbone of organic production:

Soil fertility and crop nutrients will be managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, and cover crops, supplemented with animal and crop waste materials and allowed synthetic materials.

“Natural inputs” may be used but proactive management practices are emphasized.

• Crop rotations• Cover crops

Supplemented with -• Animal and crop waste materials• Natural inputs• Allowed synthetic materials

Options for Organic Fertility

MountainsClay, low P,Cool temps

PiedmontClay, LoamsMod. temps

Coastal PlainSandy, low CECRes. P, Hot temps

Raleigh

3 Geographic Regions of NC

Crop Rotations

• Short rotations: 2-3 years, Long: 3+ years

• Fertility needs of following crop

• Time of planting

• Economics!

• Weed and disease pressures

– Smother crops

– Fruits to pasture to vegetables

Year 1 winter Garlicspring Winter Squashsummerfall Spinach

Year 2 winterspringsummer Soybeansfall

Year 3 winter spring Oatssummer Fava beansfall Brassicas

Year 4 winter Vetchspring Tomatoessummerfall Garlic

Year 1 winter Crimson Clover spring Tomatoes or Peppers summerfall Red Clover Brassicas Lettuce

Year 2 winter Red Clover spring Okra-Flowers-Basil summerfall Lettuce Vetch Winter Brassicas

Year 3 winter Vetch spring Cucurbitssummerfall Brassicas Lettuce Crim Clover

Year 4 winter Red clover springsummerfall Red Clover Brassicas Lettuce

Cover crops are generally incorporated one month ahead of planting cash crop.

For no-till, cover crops are cut, rolled or crimped right before planting and cash crop seeds are planted into strips. Warm season crops work best – tomatoes, pumpkins,etc.

Warm season cover crops planted early June, July in Piedmont. Soybeans, sorghum, sunflower.

Cool season cover crops planted in September in Piedmont. Oats and clover for early plantings, rye and vetch for later plantings.

Nitrogen Availability from Cover Crop

First calculate biomass on a dry wt per acre

Multiply times %N in tissueLegumes have approximately 3.5-4.0%

N prior to flowering, grasses have 2-3%

Finish plant nitrogen requirements with other amendment (compost, manure, feathermeal, etc)

Manures, uncomposted, may only be used on perennials or crops not for humans, or, incorporated 120 days before consumption (or 90 days if crop is not in contact with ground, ex. sweet corn)

Composted manures must have had a C:N ratio between 25:1 and 40:1 and maintained a temp of 131-170 degrees F for 3 days if static or 15 days if windrowed and turned 5 times.

Manures and Composts

Manures can be tested in PWSM lab

If applied at N rates, P often too high. Broiler litter (10-15 lb NH4/ton, 25-75 lb P)

Cheap and generally available.Monitor zinc levels in both manure and compost.

Manure applied before the most N demanding crop. Broiler litter 4-6% total N, 40-70% available in first year.

Compost

When processed correctly,

can be made from animal wastes, agricultural by-products, yard waste, and other materials that do not contaminate crops with nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals or prohibited substances.

Amendments

Amendments used for NitrogenOMRI approved

Feather Meal (13-0-0) decomposes slowlyAlfalfa Meal (4-0-0) microbial activity boostCottonseed Meal (7-2-1) low pH Soybean Meal (7-2-3)Chilean Nitrate (16-0-0) more than 20%

Bloodmeal (12-1-1) fast releaseFish Meal (4-4-1) expensive

Bacteria and fungi in the soil. Eye of Science / Science Photo Library

Rock phosphate (2% available P)needs low pH, very slow

Manure/compost (1-3%)Colloidal Phosphate (2-3% available P) $Bonemeal (27% available P) expensiveGuano, used for N, some P, slowVascular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (VAM)

Aid in extraction of P from soils

Triple super phosphate under consideration?

Phosphorus Sources OMRI approved

Potassium Sulfate (0-0-50, 18S)K-Mag (0-0-22, 22S, 11Mg) LangbeiniteMuriate of potash (0-0-60) KCl, only if

mined, chloride buildupKelp (0-0-2)

Potassium Sources OMRI approved

Fish Meal (9-5-1)Fish Emulsion (4-4-1)

used in greenhouse operations

Kelp (<1-<1-2, Mg, S, micronutrients)plant hormones, growth regulatorsfoliar spray for micronutrients, budset,

root dip, delayed senescence

Greensand (trace) soil conditionerAzomite (trace)

Micronutrient Sources OMRI

What services do organic farmers need?

We already provide analyses for:Soil fertility Plant tissue Compost , Manure MediaSolutionNematode

Do these need to be promoted? Added to?

What services do organic farmers need?

Current resources brought to one place?

Growing Small Farms websiteCenter for Environmental Farming

SystemsNCDA&CS Agronomic DivisionOther states, universities, organizations

Interactive Web Application?

A Matrix Calculator…

Plug in data to identify best management options

Test results, fertility, soil infoCrops being grownRotation, cover cropsPrice of amendments available

A very complex system – would people use it?