Crop agronomy in organic agriculture

Abstract

Organic crop husbandry is based on practices outlined in the various organic standards that have been developed and documented in many countries. The most widely recognised organic standards are those published by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM 2002). Organic farming methods emphasise the use of internal on-farm inputs rather than externally sourced inputs to achieve essential soil fertility, nutrient management and plant protection goals. Self-regulation within an agroecosystem, multi-year management cycles and a focus on prevention rather than reaction, are key principles in organic farming that underpin organic plant production.