There is a demand for new recommendations for pulse seeding rates that will meet the needs of organic farmers. This study was conducted to determine the impact of seeding rate on N2 fixation and N accumulation in lentil and pea and to examine the impact of different seeding rates of lentil and pea on the productivity and N-uptake (i.e., N benefit) in a subsequent wheat crop.<p> The study was performed between 2005 and 2007. Two sites were selected each year of the two-year experiment on certified organic farms in central Saskatchewan. At each location, lentil (<i>Lens culinaris</i> L.) cultivar CDC Sovereign and field pea (<i>Pisum sativum</i> L.) cultivar CDC Mozart were each seeded at five different rates. Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.) cultivar AC Elsa was sown as a non-fixing reference crop at a plant population density of 250 seeds m-2. In the following year, wheat was sown to assess the effect of the pulse seeding rate treatments on the succeeding crop.<p> The pulse crop seeding rates significantly affected the quantity of N2 fixed of lentil and field pea, although %Ndfa (80 to 88% and 79 to 85% for lentil and pea, respectively) typically was unaffected by seeding rate. Yield parameters of following wheat crop were not affected by the seeding rates of the previous pulses. Typically, N contributions increased with increasing seeding rates of both lentil and pea, but there was no detectable difference in N uptake by the following wheat grown on the both pulse stubble. The different seeding rates of organically grown lentil and field pea have impacts on the amount of N2 fixed and N contribution to the soil. However, the differences in N remaining in the soil at different seeding rates of the pulse crops were not detectable in the following wheat crop and the soil N in the following year.

Abstract Based on maintaining healthy soil for sustainable agriculture and enhancing banana disease resistance, Taiwan Banana Research Institute began to conduct organic cultivation on a trial basis in 1998. It had been proved that the morbidity of banana Fusarial wilt disease at organic cultivation plots was significantly lower than that of conventional farming. In order to study the differences of soil microbiota between the organic cultivation plots and the conventional farming areas, physical and chemical properties of the rhizosphere and non- rhizosphere soil samples were assayed during the period of Aug. 2010 to May 2011. The bacterial diversity was analyzed by molecular biology methods, including PCR-DGGE to separate the 16S rDNA V6 ~ V8 region of various bacteria and the recombinant DNA technology by using pGEM-T Easy Vector System to separate and sequence the DNA fragments. The results showed that organic plots was loam soil, but the conventional farming soil was sandy loam with higher sand content. The soil pH in 13 years organic area was mildly alkaline, but in conventional farming area was mildly acidic to slightly acidic. The content of various nutrients in organic 13-year area soil was not necessarily higher than the conventional farming area soil. The available nutrient contents in organic areas trend to be more stable than that in the conventional areas. Fertilization may affect the content of available nutrients in the soil. No bacterial DNA could be extracted from the organic fertilizer. The bacterial microbiota in soil was very stable, and was not related to the sampling seasons. The Banana strains had little effect on soil bacterial microbiota. There was no difference on the bacterial microbiota between the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil samples. It is not sure whether there were any differences on the bacterial microbiota between the nearby soil of banana Fusarial wilt plants and the nearby soil of the healthy plants. By analyzing the DNA fragment clone library, 43 strains correspond to known category, of which 28 belonged to the Proteobacteria, and 34 were uncultured strains. The role of these microbial strains might involve in various element cycles, such as N cycles, C cycles, and S cycles (including some photosynthetic bacteria). The systematic cladogram showed that organic 13-year areas, organic 3-year areas and conventional farming areas represented three major categaries. The organic 13-year area and conventional area possessed the highest difference on the microbiota composition.

Kombiniert mit Versuchsergebnissen und Erfahrungsberichten aus der Praxis fasst die Broschüre die wichtigsten Anbauinformationen über die Ölfrüchte im ökologischen Landbau zusammen. Neben Raps, Sonnenblumen und Lein werden Aspekte des Anbaus von der Aussaat bis zur Ernte von bislang kaum angebauten Arten wie Senf, Leindotter, Ölmohn, Saflor und Sojabohnen beschrieben.

In zwei Berichten werden der Einfluss von Saattermin und Gülledüngung sowie unterschiedliche Maßnahmen zur Unkrautregulierung auf Ertrag und Qualität von Silomais im ökologischen Landbau dokumentiert. Ein früher Saattermin erhöht die TM-Erträge. Alle geprüften Ausbringungsverfahren an Rindergülle (vor Saat breitflächig, Unterfußdüngung, 2-Blattstadium Injektion, 6-8-Blattstadium Schleppschlauch) sind praxistauglich und führen zu höheren Erträgen und besseren Qualitäten. Die Feldversuche zeigen, dass je nach vorhandener Technik verschiedene Strategien der Unkrautregulierung erfolgreich umgesetzt werden können.

Tez (Doktora) - Süleyman Demirel Üniversitesi, Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Bahçe Bitkileri Anabilim Dalı, 2008. / Kaynakça var.

Darbo tikslas – nustatyti fosforo trąšų įtaką dirvožemio elektrocheminių parametrų kaitai bei miežių grūdų kokybės parametrams. Darbo uždaviniai: o nustatyti sertifikuotų ekologiškų fosoforo trąšų fosforitmilčių įtaką dirvožemio elektrocheminėms savybėms; o nustatyti sertifikuotų fosforo trąšų įtaką žemės ūkio augalų grūdų elektrocheminėms savybėms. Darbo objektas – Lietuvos žemės ūkio universiteto Agroekologijos centro ekologinės gamybos ūkio dirvožemis bei jame auginti vasariniai miežiai. Darbo rezultatai. Lietuvos žemės ūkio universiteto Agroekologijos centro ekologinės gamybos ūkyje atlikus sertifikuotų fosforo trąšų įtakos dirvožemio elektrocheminėms savybėms tyrimus, nustatyta, kad patręšus P60 fosforitmičių norma esminiai padidėjo dirvožemio pH rodiklio reikšmė, lyginant su netręštu dirvožemiu bei tręšimu P90 ir P120 normomis. Tiriant dirvožemio savitojo elektrinio laidžio reikšmes prieš tręšimą fosforo trąšomis pavasarį ir po vasarinių miežių derliaus nuėmimo, nustatyta, kad dirvožemio savitojo elektrinio laidžio reikšmės sumažėjo esminiai. Ištyrus dirvožemio savitąjį elektrinį laidį rudenį po tręšimo fosforo trąšomis, nustatyta, kad dirvožemio savitasis elektrinis laidis esminiai padidėjo, lyginant su dirvožemio ėminiais, paimtais po vasarinių miežių nupjovimo, bet negauta esminių skirtumų, lyginant su dirvožemio ėminiais paimtais pavasarį prieš vasarinių miežių tręšimą. Patręšus didžiausia tirta P120 fosforo trąšų norma, esminiai padidėjo dirvožemio redokso... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The thesis aims at defining the effect of phosphatic fertilizers on the change of electrochemical parameters of the soil and the quality parameters of barleycorn. The goals of the thesis are as follows: • determination of the effect of bone meal as a certified organic phosphatic fertilizer on the electrochemical parameters of the soil. • determination of the effect of certified phosphatic fertilizers on the electrochemical parameters of the crop grain. The soil of the organic farm of the Agro-ecological Centre of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture and spring barley grown therein constitute fall within the scope of the thesis. Findings. Research of the effect of certified phosphatic fertilizers on the electrochemical parameters of the soil in the organic farm of the Agro-ecological Centre of the Lithuanian University of Agriculture shows that application of the standard P60 bone meal resulted in a considerable increase of the pH value of the soil, as compared to unfertilized soil or use of the standard P90 and P120. The analysis of the values of soil conductivity before application of phosphatic fertilizers in spring and after reaping of spring barley reveals that the values of soil conductivity decreased to a remarkable extent. After testing of soil conductivity in autumn after use of phosphatic fertilizers it was established that soil conductivity, as compared to the soil samples taken after reaping of spring barley, considerably increased, however, testing shows no... [to full text]

Im ersten Teil des Heftes wird der Einfluss von Stroh- und Gründüngung auf den Ertrag und die Qualität von Öko-Hafer untersucht. 3-jährige Feldversuche zeigen, dass Strohdüngung einen leichten, nicht signifikanten Ertragsrückgang bei Hafer zur Folge hat. Gründüngung dagegen führt sowohl mit Leguminosen als auch mit Gras zu deutlichen Mehrerträgen. In einem weiteren Beitrag werden 10 Jahre Ökolandbau im Lehr- und Versuchsgut Köllitsch ausgewertet. Dabei zeigt sich, dass trotz negativer Nährstoffbilanzen für N, P, K und Mg lediglich bei K eine Unterversorgung messbar wird. Die Erträge der angebauten Kulturen spiegeln bislang noch keinen K-Mangel wider. Die Humusbilanz der Fruchtfolge ist trotz unterbliebener organischer Düngung positiv. Die Veröffentlichung bietet Informationen für Öko-Landwirte und Umstellungsinteressierte.

Sweetwater Organic Community Farm is an organic farm and environmental education center located in Tampa, Florida. The farm employs the community supported agriculture (CSA) model, in which members pay a single fee before the growing season begins and receive a weekly or biweekly share of the ongoing harvest in return. Using multiple ethnographic methods, this research aimed to understand the daily operations at Sweetwater as well as the perceptions of staff and CSA members. Findings indicated that there were myriad perceived advantages of organic agriculture but also imposing challenges that needed to be overcome. Moreover, staff members acknowledged the challenges associated with the CSA model such as pleasing and educating members and, for members, having to pick up at designated times and locations. Still, staff members also noted countless benefits, including the opportunity to connect to your food, farmers, environment, and community. In surveys, CSA members indicated that they were overwhelmingly satisfied the CSA model and Sweetwater. Complexities were uncovered that are often overlooked in the literature and merit further exploration. Among these were the pressure on farmers that resulted from receiving payments upfront and the willingness of individuals to become members without understanding the CSA model. There is a need for more studies to longitudinally examine changes in social support, food system knowledge, and eating habits that may occur over the course of the growing season.

Economic growth in emerging economies has been changing the livelihoods of many smallholders. Typically, disparity increases as economies emerge, and the agricultural sector experiences lower growth relative to other sectors. Growing inequalities and economic vulnerabilities during this critical period of development in emerging economies are often associated with social problems and political tensions, as this is the case in Thailand. In the latter, the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy (SE) has been employed through the monarchy in a number of ways. Due to laws prohibiting critique of the monarchy, these projects are not fairly evaluated and the perspectives of smallholders affected are largely unknown. Knowledge on the effectiveness of Thailand’s Philosophy of SE in combating the disparity problem and economic vulnerability in the agricultural sectors of emerging economies was gained through semi-structured interviews. An organic farming project run by a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), called ISAC follows the principles of Sufficiency Economy, and is located in the Mae Taeng district in the north of the province of Chiang Mai. A sample of 20 farmers from two villages (Don Chiang and San Pa Yang) who participate in the project was interviewed. Questions regarding age and education level of all family members also created a quantitative sample of 72 individuals. An epistemological framework based in critical realism was employed with the use of purposive interview sampling methods Results indicate that employing SE can help a select group of farmers to escape economic vulnerability. This group includes farmers in an older age group with sufficient land and access to guidance. The philosophy may help keep this group of farmers satisfied as the countries economy evolves. The project appears to be sustainable only in the short-term as younger generations seem to be reaching higher levels of education than their elders and are likely to pursue lives outside of agriculture. In addition, some benefits of farming with the principles of SE include, lower financial stress, improved health, and a better family life. Conversely, a decision to live by the principles of SE can lead to a stigmatization of farmers within their community, creating in-groups and out-groups.

The global coffee industry is in a state of crisis. Small-scale producers are those most seriously impacted by the crisis, facing the challenges of a precarious and changing market, despite limited resources. In Oaxaca, Mexico, a prominent response among indigenous small-scale farmers has been to join independent coffee producer unions. Within theses unions there is currently a move to encourage organic coffee cultivation among campesinos, so that these groups might niche market their coffee. This niche, or "conscience", market is shaped by the "organic coffee discourse" which emphasizes the themes of environmental protection, social justice and indigenity. By examining the relationship between organic coffee production (as an economic strategy for marginal producers) and its discourse (which mobilizes consumers in wealthy countries) we will see the impetus behind organic coffee production as it ranges from Oaxaca's indigenous farmers, their producer unions, and consumers.