Acetic Acid (Vinegar) as an Herbicide

Many of us have heard about the benefits of using vinegar in gardens, mainly as an herbicide. But how effective is vinegar and what else can it be used for? Let’s find out more about how to use vinegar in the garden. 

Using Vinegar in Gardens It has been said that one of the benefits of vinegar in the garden is as a fertilizing agent. Nope. Acetic acid only contains carbon hydrogen and oxygen — stuff the plant can get from the air. Vinegar has been recommended for use to up the pH levels in your soil. Apparently not so. The affects are temporary and require large amounts of vinegar in the garden before anything noteworthy occurs. 

The last, but most commonly suggested use for vinegar in the garden is as an herbicide. Household white vinegar, at its 5 percent acetic acid level, does indeed burn the tops of the weed. It does not, however, have any effect on the roots of the weed and will toast the foliage of any other plants it comes in contact with. Vinegar as Herbicide Woo hoo! Vinegar as herbicide: a safe, easily found (often in the kitchen cabinet) and inexpensive product to use in the control of weeds. 

Tell me all about it! Okay, I will. The use of vinegar in the garden to retard weed growth has long been recommended by your neighbor, your neighbor’s grandmother and your own mother, but does it work?

Read more at Gardening Know How: Garden Uses For Vinegar – Tips For Using Vinegar In Gardens https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/use-vinegar-in-gardens.htm

Vinegar contains acetic acid (about 5 percent), which as the nomenclature suggests, burns upon contact. Actually, for any of you who have inhaled a whiff of vinegar, it also affects the mucus membranes and causes a swift reaction. Due to its burning effects, using vinegar in the garden has been touted as a cure all for a number of garden afflictions, most notably weed control. 

The acetic acid of vinegar dissolves the cell membranes resulting in desiccation of tissues and death of the plant. While this sounds like a splendid outcome for the plague of weeds invading your yard, I suspect you wouldn’t be quite as thrilled if vinegar as herbicide were to damage your perennials or garden veggies. A higher acetic acid (20 percent) product can be purchased, but this has the same potentially damaging results as utilizing vinegar as herbicide. At these higher concentrations of acetic acid, some weed control has been shown to be established (80 to 100 percent of smaller weeds), but be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Also, be aware of its caustic effects on your nasal passages, eyes and skin, not to mention garden plants and take the appropriate precautions. 

Despite the longstanding proponents for using vinegar in gardens, little beneficial information has been proven. It seems that research conducted by the USDA with solutions containing 5 percent vinegar has not been shown to be a reliable weed control. Higher concentrations of this acid (10 to 20 percent) found in retail products may retard the growth of some annual weeds and will indeed kill the foliage of perennial weeds such as Canada thistle, but without killing the roots; thereby, resulting in regeneration. 

In summary, vinegar used as herbicide may be slightly effective on small annual weeds during the lawn’s dormancy and prior to garden planting, but as a long-term weed control, it’s probably better to stick with the old standby — hand pulling or digging. Additional Garden Uses for Vinegar Don’t be alarmed if the benefits of vinegar aren’t what you thought they would be. 

There are other garden uses for vinegar that can be just as good, if not better. Using vinegar in gardens goes far beyond weed control. Here are more options for how to use vinegar in the garden: Freshen up cut flowers. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 1 teaspoon sugar for each quart of water. Deter ants by spraying vinegar around door and window frames, and along other known ant trails. Eliminate calcium buildup on brick or on limestone with half vinegar and half water. Spray on and then just let it set. 

Clean rust from garden tools and spigots by soaking in undiluted vinegar overnight. And finally, don’t forget the animals. For instance, you can remove skunk odor from a dog by rubbing down the fur with full strength vinegar and then rinse clean. Keep cats away from garden or play areas (especially sandboxes). Just sprinkle vinegar in these areas. Cats hate the smell.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Garden Uses For Vinegar – Tips For Using Vinegar In Gardens https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/use-vinegar-in-gardens.htm

How it works as a pesticide Acetic acid is applied as a liquid spray or drench to weeds after they emerge from the soil. It is a contact herbicide, meaning it only affects plant tissue it touches. The acid breaks up cell membranes and makes them leak, causing the plant to dry out and die. Depending on plant age, air temperature, humidity, and direct sunlight levels, this may take from a few hours to several days. The drying effect is not limited to just certain plants; any new plant tissue can be affected. 

Avoid getting drops of spray onto plants you do not want damaged. 

Young seedlings and new growth have a thinner leaf cuticle than older plants or woody parts, making it easier for acetic acid to break down cell membranes. For example, in one study acetic acid sprayed at 5%–20% concentration killed 80%–100% of weed seedlings that were from 3 inches–9 inches tall. However, when 10% acetic acid was sprayed on mature blackberry plants, only 5% of leaves were burned back. 

Thick, waxy cuticles and woody plant tissue are more resistant to liquid entering, thus harder to kill. To overcome this, trim perennial weeds so they regrow tender new growth. Follow this with a spray application to the new growth to deplete the weed’s energy stores. Many cycles of trim-and-spray are likely needed to effectively treat stubborn perennial weeds such as Canada thistle (Figure 1). Acetic acid is sometimes mixed with citric or other acids. It can also be listed as an inert ingredient on some herbicide labels. 

The point to remember with acetic acid is that high concentrations are more effective on woody perennial weeds, while low concentrations will work effectively only on very young weed seedlings.

Some of the articles, research papers that may interest you:

https://ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/46234  

Evaluation of acetic acid based herbicides for use in broad-spectrum turfgrass and weed control

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/weed-technology/article/abs/integration-of-vinegar-for-inrow-weed-control-in-transplanted-bell-pepper-and-broccoli/43068DA3775AC0CB4B1287C043B82DFD

Integration of Vinegar for In-Row Weed Control in Transplanted Bell Pepper and Broccoli

Herbicidal Effects of Vinegar and a Clove Oil Product on Redroot Pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus) and Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232684399_Herbicidal_Effects_of_Vinegar_and_a_Clove_Oil_Product_on_Redroot_Pigweed_Amaranthus_retroflexus_and_Velvetleaf_Abutilon_theophrasti

What's the benefits of wood vinegar for different crops?https://www.researchgate.net/post/Whats_the_benefits_of_wood_vinegar_for_different_crops

Read more at: https://newcropsorganics.ces.ncsu.edu/2013/08/acetic-acid-vinegar-as-an-herbicide/

Acetic acid - How to use in organic farm? NO FEAR, NOT THE ACID YOU THINK OFF

Acetic acid is a clear, colorless, organic liquid with a pungent odor similar to household vinegar. Acetic acid has a variety of uses, including as a raw material and solvent in the production of other chemical products, oil and gas production, and in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Uses & Benefits

One of the most common ways consumers may come into contact with acetic acid is in the form of household vinegar, which is naturally made from fermentable sources such as wine, potatoes, apples, grapes, berries and grains. Vinegar is a clear solution generally containing about 5 percent acetic acid and 95 percent water.  Vinegar is used as a food ingredient and can also be an ingredient in personal care products, household cleaners, pet shampoos and many other products for the home:

• Food Preparation: Vinegar is a common food ingredient, often used as a brine in pickling liquids, vinaigrettes, marinades and other salad dressings.  Vinegar also can be used in food preparation to help control Salmonella contamination in meat and poultry products.
• Cleaning: Vinegar can be used throughout the home as a window cleaner, to clean automatic coffee makers and dishes, as a rinsing agent for dishwashers, and to clean bathroom tile and grout. Vinegar can also be used to clean food-related tools and equipment because it generally does not leave behind a harmful residue and requires less rinsing.
• Gardening: In concentrations of 10 to 20 percent, acetic acid can be used as a weed killer on gardens and lawns. When used as an herbicide, the acetic acid can kill weeds that have emerged from the soil, but does not affect the roots of the weed, so they can regrow.

When acetic acid is at 99.5 percent concentration, it is referred to as glacial acetic acid. Glacial acetic acid has a variety of uses, including as a raw material and solvent in the production of other chemical products.  

Industrial applications for glacial acetic acid include:   

• Vinyl Acetate, cellulose fibers and plastics: Acetic acid is used to make many chemicals, including vinyl acetate, acetic anhydride and acetate esters.
  • Vinyl acetate is used to make polyvinyl acetate, a polymer used in paints, adhesives, plastics and textile finishes.
  • Acetic anhydride is used in the manufacture of cellulose acetate fibers and plastics used for photographic film, clothing and coatings.
  • Acetic acid is also used in the chemical reaction to produce purified terephthalic acid (PTA), which is used to manufacture the PET plastic resin used in synthetic fibers, food containers, beverage bottles and plastic films.

• Solvents: Acetic acid is a hydrophilic solvent, similar to ethanol. It dissolves compounds such as oils, sulfur and iodine and mixes with water, chloroform and hexane.
• Acidizing oil and gas: Acetic acid can help reduce metal corrosion and scale build-up in oil and gas well applications. It is also used in oil well stimulation to improve flow and increase production of oil and gas.
• Pharmaceuticals and vitamins: The pharmaceutical industry uses acetic acid in the manufacture of vitamins, antibiotics, hormones and other products.
• Food Processing: Acetic acid is commonly used as a cleaning and disinfecting product in food processing plants.
• Other uses: Salts of acetic acid and various rubber and photographic chemicals are made from acetic acid. Acetic acid and its sodium salt are commonly used as a food preservative.

Acetic Acid is a synthetic carboxylic acid with antibacterial and antifungal properties. Although its mechanism of action is not fully known, undissociated acetic acid may enhance lipid solubility allowing increased fatty acid accumulation on the cell membrane or in other cell wall structures. Acetic acid, as a weak acid, can inhibit carbohydrate metabolism resulting in subsequent death of the organism.

Answering Questions

What is the difference between acetic acid, glacial acetic acid and vinegar?

Acetic acid in its pure form (99.5 percent concentration) is also known as glacial acetic acid. Glacial acetic acid has numerous industrial uses. Vinegar contains 4 to 8 percent acetic acid, and is made from the fermentation of fruit or grain juices/liquids.

Is acetic acid hazardous to the environment?

According to the information considered under the Ecological Risk Classification of Organic Substances Approach, acetic acid is identified as having a low ecological hazard potential.

How likely am I to be exposed to acetic acid?

Consumer exposure to acetic acid is usually limited to vinegar, which is a solution containing 5 percent acetic acid and not hazardous in that form. Occupational exposure to glacial acetic acid can be hazardous, and precautions should be taken to limit exposure through inhalation, and skin and eye contact.

Can vinegar be used as a household disinfectant?

Vinegar can be used to clean some household surfaces and glass as its acidic properties can help dissolve dirt, grease and grime.  However, there is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Vinegar is not an EPA-registered household disinfectant and may not be as effective for killing pathogens.

Can vinegar be used as an antimicrobial to kill the novel coronavirus?

EPA does not review the effectiveness of common household ingredients like vinegar, and cannot verify how well it will work to kill the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Acetic acid is a simple monocarboxylic acid containing two carbons. It has a role as a protic solvent, a food acidity regulator, an antimicrobial food preservative and a Daphnia magna metabolite. It is a conjugate acid of an acetate.

Acetic acid, glacial appears as a clear colorless liquid with a strong odor of vinegar. Flash point 104°F. Density 8.8 lb / gal. Corrosive to metals and tissue. Used to make other chemicals, as a food additive, and in petroleum production.

Top 10 Best Organic Weed Killer for Garden & Lawn 2021 – Detailed Guide

 Weeds will improve your garden’s aesthetic appeal. And you can get rid of them as soon as they’re sprouting. Some lawn lovers face a challenge owing to the unselective presence of certain weeds and plant killers. Unselective herbicides may be toxic to the vegetation you’ve tendered for years.

Knowing the right organic weed killer for the lawns is also necessary to avoid any harm to your lush turf. We understand you want to destroy the weeds on your lawn with minimal if any, interference. While messing with the lawn’s appearance, weeds would also rob the plant of its nutrition and ability to grow. With the aid of a zero turn lawn mower, keep your lawn tidy here too!

The results may cause the grass to become toxic, contributing to decay. There are other weeds that you can easily get rid of by weeding or uprooting. Some are persistent, which would be pointless attempting to eliminate them. Even, we are not unaware that weeding and rooting may be tiresome for you.

Chemicals are the most effective, efficient, and easiest tool for bidding goodbye to troublesome weeds. Use a good weed killer that will prevent marijuana from rising again! See these string trimmers for more ways to maintain your yard looking top-notch.

Benefits of Using Organic Weed Killer

Many gardeners tend to use healthy, more sustainable weed control approaches as opposed to harsh, harmful chemicals that may destroy the nearby plants and may even contaminate groundwater.

It’s also a safer option for your family to use organic weed killers, especially if you have pets or small children running around your yard.

Yeah, what’s so terrible with the organic weed killers? The primary element, glyphosate, builds up in the soil for a long period, then stays around. This may contribute to genetic defects or trigger cancer with ample exposure.

The biggest distinction between chemical and organic killers of weeds is that organic killers of weeds may not use pesticides and they are much healthier. They even function, as we shall see, in a very different appetite than chemical herbicides.

Another nice thing about organic weed killers is that they don’t have the same strong, toxic scent that typical weed killers do. Since all of them come from essential oils, some also smell sweet, believe it or not.

Finally, you don’t have to wait days when you’re using an organic weed killer to use your yard again. This is perfect especially if you have children or pets that love to spend time running around the yard. Typically, you can replant very easily in the field too.

Also, See Natural Ways to get rid of Weeds and Grass from Growing in Garden

Top Organic Weed Killers for Garden & Lawn

There is a large selection of herbal weed killers out there. If you are not sure which one to purchase or feel a little confused, here are eight of the best available ones.

1. Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer

Check on Amazon

This Green Gobbler weed killer destroys weeds in under 24 hours. Acetic acid, extracted from maize, is the principal element. Acetic acid is the same substance present in table vinegar but is just four times as high with this dosage.

As this drug is organically certified it is suitable for residential or agricultural use. You may use it on driveways, on mulch fields, on farms, etc. It’s good against all sorts of weeds like white clover, moss, dandelions, and crabgrass and it’s ready to go out of the bottle right away.

Using supplied sprayer to apply. Use on a clear sunny day for better performance, then blend with a surfactant. One of the great aspects of this offer is that it comes with a fixed 30-day money-back. If you’re not satisfied with that, Green Gobbler can refund your money without any queries.

2. Natural Armor Weed and Grass Killer All-Natural Concentrated Formula

Check on Amazon

Another great choice is Natural Armor, a family-owned company devoted to its clients and the climate. The organic solution is chemical-free with no pesticides and destroys over 250 plant and weed forms.

Since this weed killer is biodegradable, non-toxic, and environmentally sustainable, it’s healthy for your families and pets as well as for the area’s wetlands, birds, and fish. The container arrives with a sprayer, which is able to use, with no blending or dilution.

Data can be reported in as early as 24 hours, if not earlier. We appreciate this product comes with a money-back guarantee of 100 percent as well. If you’re not happy with the way it operates, you’ll get a trouble-free refund from Natural Armor

3. Doctor Kirchner Natural Weed & Grass Killer

Check on Amazon

To make this strong and efficient weed killer, Doctor Kirchner uses saltwater, food-grade commercial-strength vinegar, and wash. You don’t have to blend or dilute it, simply dump in and add the liquid herb killer into a spray container.

This approach was developed to provide for weeds without damaging the natural ecosystem. When used as guided it is pet-friendly, kid-friendly, and absolutely free. Sprinkle until soaked plants, then wait. That’s it! The findings are visible within hours, with peak tests varying from 12 to 24 hours.

This has a very long shelf life and you purchase a big container, use what you use, and reserve the remainder for when you use it. — container is proudly manufactured in Fort Pierce, Florida, and starts at high tide with ocean water gathered. You simply can’t get more normal than that.

4. ECO Garden PRO – Organic Vinegar Weed Killer

Check on Amazon

Green Greenhouse Design process that is highly environmentally conscious. Both products are chosen to be healthy not only for children and pets but also for birds, bees, and other wildlife that might come into contact with it.

You can use this drug just about everywhere because it’s so clean. It’s made of natural white vinegar, Himalayan rock salt, plant activators, and co-factors that remove a variety of weeds like clover, dandelion, crabgrass, white clover, thistle, and more.

Eco Garden Solutions is also a formidable organization. They do use products in a prescription quality that are manufactured sustainably where appropriate. Each bottle is backed by a 100 percent guarantee of satisfaction. They will give you a full refund if you are not satisfied.

5. BioSafe Systems 7601-1 BioSafe Weed Control Concentrate

Check on Amazon

If you are looking for something that works quickly, take a look at this Biosafe Systems device. In as little as two hours it destroys undesirable grasses and weeds and is successful against liverwort, spurge, crabgrass, ragweed, dandelions, and more.

What we particularly appreciate about this drug is that it isn’t going to pass through the soil and damage the plants around it. Plus, you can only replant four days after application in the same place.

This drug performs well when added to weeds that are very rain- or dew-wet. Since it begins functioning in touch, it’s easy to see if you’ve implemented it, helping to prevent bad plants. During hot weather, the solution works well but is successful at any time.

6. Weed Slayer Organic Herbicide Natural Grass and Weed Control

Check on Amazon

You can trust with a name like Weed Slayer this one gets the job done. This solution is produced using a herbicide dependent on plants, extracted from the basic clove oil called eugenol, a safer alternative to glyphosate that is healthy for your health and the world.

This line is a bit different than what we have seen so far, so you have to put it together. A fifth of AgroGold goes along with the herb killer. Simply combine the two substances in equal sections and before use, blend with cold. Includes easy-to-understand guidance.

The odor is something we really enjoy about this drug. Since it’s made from natural oils when you mist it has a nice scent. This system functions a little slower than some of the other items we’ve used but it’s reliable and incredibly healthy overall.

7. Bonide (BND7465) – Burnout Concentrate

Check on Amazon

Finally, we suggest this Bonide Weed Killer. In as few as a few hours, it handles a number of grassy weeds and broadleaf plants with success. Check out the guidelines provided for information about how to treat every form of the plant.

What we particularly appreciate about this one is that it is waterproof until it dries, and it stays running even though the weather changes later in the day. It may be used in temperatures as low as 40 degrees F so it is protected along with large forests, walls, driveways, and even school grounds.

Until used, this drug needs to be combined with water, approximately one part weed killer to three parts water. It contains a measuring cup, so you can get the right proportions. Just blend together, then add a spray bottle. Citric acid and clove oil are the primary ingredients so that it tastes amazing too.

Check for More Products on Organic Weed Killer

What is the Best Organic Weed Killer?

All the items we mentioned in this review are fantastic but if we were to pick one, we will go for Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer. We love that gets tests in less than 24 hours and use corn-derived acetic acid as the key ingredient.

A lot of people are seeking to use white vinegar for plant control. Well, this drug uses the same acid contained just four times as strong in vinegar which makes it far more powerful. It’s easy to go straight from the box and contains a sprayer so you don’t have to add anything special.

Another factor we strongly suggest this drug is that it comes with a money-back guarantee for 30 days. Whether you’re doing something and it’s not effective or you’re not pleased with the outcome, ask Green Gobbler for a refund, with no queries.

How is Natural Weed Killer Working?

Organic weed killers operate a bit better than chemical weed killers because the active ingredient relies on their process of destroying plants. We chose to use a few separate active ingredients for the items. Here’s how they work.

Acetic Acid

Acetic acid is the compound that appears in white vinegar except at a far higher stage. And, in essence, they function the same way except white vinegar would probably take far longer to have the same impact on the weeds.

Drug killers that use as the key component acetic acid operate directly on the leaves which can induce browning within 24 hours. Younger plants are typically more receptive to vinegar whereas the more strong acetic acid is needed by older, tougher plants.

As these weed killers operate on the leaves above ground and the areas of the plant, you will need to use multiple formulations to reach the heart. If not, perhaps after a few weeks the weeds will reappear. This being said, weed killers with a high concentration of acetic acid can faster get the seed.

Remember that acetic acid is naturally acidic, and can briefly raise local soil acidity. This is transient and usually removes by itself as the substance is rinsed away by rain or irrigation.

Saltwater

To learn from an ocean beach is the perfect way to grasp how salt and saltwater function as a weed-killer. Part of the reason plants don’t thrive in the sand is that the continuous access to saltwater eliminates both the nutrients and moisture. This is just how weeds work.

The application of an herbal weed killer using salt as an active component dries the plant and underlying soil up. Over-applying will create bald spots in the soil and do any short-term harm and you need to be cautious about applying as correctly as you can.

One of the easiest ways to use this form of weed killer is in cracks around highways, roads, and hiking trails. Since there is not much grass or other development in the field, you need not be as cautious about specific applications.

Eugenol

Eugenol is a chemical mainly present in raw clove oil that is a popular component in organic weed killers. It functions closely to acetic acid in that it kills the surface of the plants, inducing contamination of the cells and death.

Eugenol is also ideal for destroying portions of the plant above ground like acetic acid, although it is not the right option for weeds with deep root structures or ones with roots, tubules, or soil rhizomes.

Also, in certain cases, particularly around the edges of buildings and walkways, these weed killers are ideal and very successful for controlling spot development of low, young weeds.

Do I Need a Surfactant?

You may have noted that it is suggested that some of these items use a surfactant for more successful performance. It is a surfactant, precisely, and why do you need one?

Most organic weed killers are added directly to the plant’s leaves because most leaves have a dense, waxy covering which is a little hard to penetrate. Water, an ingredient of most weed killers, just beads off the plant and rolls away.

Where a surfactant comes in

A surfactant is something that helps items to blend, adhere, and work better. They are normal in other chemical reactions because, for our purposes, surfactants help break down the waxy surface of the leaf and keep the weed killer in place, so that it is ingested more readily.

Use a surfactant helps weed killers more efficient as it avoids washing away and allows the weed killer the length of time it requires to function efficiently. Any of these items require you to use an extra surfactant whilst others might have one already used in the blend.

Want a surfactant? Not actually but you may already have one put to the weed killer you want. That said, it is a smart thing to do so if you want a drug that suggests using a surfactant. You would definitely be having great tests.

Final Thoughts

If it comes to finding the right herbal weed killer there is a variety to worry about. There are tons of excellent drugs out there because, although few of them are utilizing the same harmful chemicals as industrial weed killers, they are operating differently.

Both these items we think are fantastic but strongly recommend Green Gobbler Vinegar Weed & Grass Killer. It operates within 24 hours, utilizing corn-derived acetic acid as the principal ingredient. This is like white steroid vinegar, which is successful without damaging the climate.

Another perfect excuse to check it out is because it is supported by a promise of 30 days money-back satisfaction. Whether you have never ever used an herbal weed killer, this is a perfect way to start. What would you lose?

Organic Farming | Basic Steps of Organic Farming, Methods, and Benefits

 Organic farming, a farming system using ecologically oriented pest controls and biological fertilizers mainly obtained from animal and plant waste and nitrogen-fixing plants. Modern organic farming has been created as a reaction to the environmental damage caused by the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers in conventional farming and has many ecological advantages.

Organic farming utilizes fewer pesticides compared to conventional farming, reduces soil erosion, reduces nitrate leaching into groundwater and surface water, and recycles animal waste back into the farm. Higher food expenses for customers and usually reduced returns counterbalance these advantages. In fact, organic crop yields have been discovered to be approximately 25 percent lower overall than conventionally grown plants, although this may differ significantly based on the crop type.

Organic Farming Methods

Fertilizers

Since synthetic fertilizers are not used, it is a concern for organic farmers to build and maintain a wealthy, living soil by adding organic matter. By applying manure, compost, and animal by-products such as feather meal or blood meal, organic matter can be utilized. The USDA National Organic Standards require that raw manure be applied no later than 90 or 120 days before harvest, depending on whether the harvested portion of the plant is in touch with the floor, due to the potential for harboring human pathogens. Composted manure that has been turned 5 times in 15 days and reached temperatures between 55-77.2 ° C (131-171 ° F) has no implementation time constraints. Compost contributes to organic matter, supplying crops with a broad variety of nutrients, adding beneficial microbes to the soil. Because these nutrients are mostly unmineralized and can not be taken up by crops, soil microbes are required to break down organic matter and convert nutrients into a “mineralized” bioavailable state. Synthetic fertilizers, by contrast, are already in mineralized form and can be taken straight by crops.

Soil

Soil is maintained through planting and then tilling in cover crops that help protect the soil from off-season erosion and provide additional organic matter. Also adding nitrogen to the soil is tilling in nitrogen-fixing cover crops such as clover or alfalfa. Cover crops are usually planted before or after the cash crop season or in combination with crop rotation and may also be planted between some crop rows, such as tree fruits. Researchers and farmers are working to develop “no lamination” and reduced lamination practices for organic farming to further reduce erosion.

Pest control

Organic pesticides are obtained from sources that occur naturally. These include living organisms such as the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria used to manage caterpillar pests, or plant derivatives such as pyrethrins (from Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium’s dried flower heads) or neem oil (from Azadirachta indica’s seeds). Inorganic pesticides based on minerals such as sulfur and copper are also permitted.

Organic pest control integrates biological, cultural and genetic controls in addition to pesticides to minimize pest damage. Biological control is used to attack insect pests by natural enemies such as predatory insects (e.g., ladybugs) or parasitoids (e.g., certain wasps). Cultural controls can disrupt the cycles of plague, the most commonly used of which is crop rotation. Finally, traditional plant breeding has generated countless pest-resistant crop varieties. The use of such varieties and planting genetically diverse crops provide genetic control of pests and many diseases of plants.

The need for organic farming

With population growth, our obligation would be not only to stabilize agricultural output but to further boost it in a sustainable way. Scientists have noticed that the high-input’ Green Revolution’ has reached a plateau and is now maintained by dropping dividend returns. Thus, for the existence of life and assets, a natural balance must be preserved at all costs. In the present era, when these agrochemicals that are manufactured from fossil fuel and are not renewable and decrease in supply, the apparent option for that would be more important. In the future, it may also cost our foreign exchange strongly.

The key characteristics of organic farming

• Protecting long-term soil fertility by keeping concentrations of organic matter, promoting soil biological activity and mechanical care
• Providing indirect crop nutrients with comparatively insoluble nutrient sources made accessible to the plant through the action of soil microorganisms
• Self-sufficiency of nitrogen through the use of legumes and biological fixation of nitrogen, as well as efficient recycling of organic products including crop residues and animal manures
• Weed, disease and pest control are primarily based on crop rotations, natural predators, diversity, organic manure, resistant varieties and limited thermal, biological and chemical intervention (preferably minimal).
• Extensive livestock management, paying full attention to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioral needs and issues of animal welfare in nutrition, housing, health, breeding, and rearing
• Careful attention to the effect of the farming scheme on the wider setting and wildlife and habitat conservation