Organic soil is that associated with organic agriculture, which the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements defines as "sustaining the health of soils, ecosystems and people" and "relying on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions." Non-organic soil is connected to the "conventional" agricultural methods prevalent around the globe since World War II, such as using petroleum-based fertilizers, pesticides and monoculture or single-crop systems. Whether related to large-scale farms or in small garden plots, the question of which soil type works better has many dimensions.
Soil Quality and Biodiversity
Since 1950, one-third of soil under human use has been moderately to severely degraded, in no small part because of conventional agricultural practices. A loss of biodiversity in cultivated plants and animals, as well as wildlife and soil-dwelling organisms, has accompanied this degradation. Organic practices, however, build up more favorable, water-conserving, nutrient-retaining soil structures, and foster all these forms of biodiversity.
Crop Yields
Although the decline is difficult and complex to measure, widespread degradation of the soil, in part from industrial agricultural practices like pesticide use, has decreased its productivity. However, because it has higher levels of decomposed matter from living things and thus nutrients, organic soil deters pests. Experts say that organically grown crops yield as well or better as conventionally grown crops. The nonprofit Ecology Action states that its Grow Biointensive method of organic mini-farming can produce, in a variety of global climates, two to six times the yields of non-organic agriculture.
Crop Nutrition
Although environmental advocates often claim that organic soil results in more nutritious crops, most studies have had serious flaws. However, an increasing number of well-designed research projects show that organic fruits and vegetables have higher antioxidant, mineral, and other nutrient levels. These include field studies of U.S.-grown strawberries, oranges and blueberries, as well as a multi-crop literature review commissioned by the French Agency for Food Safety.
Energy Expenditures
Organic methods, including techniques for building up soils, can help alleviate global warming. A report from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization concludes that organic agriculture consumes 30 percent to 50 percent less energy than non-organic. Much of non-organic soil's higher energy cost is due to its reliance on synthetic pesticides and inorganic, petroleum-based fertilizers.
Carbon Sequestration
Carbon sequestration is the process of keeping carbon out of the atmospheric carbon dioxide that is responsible for much of global warming. Reforestation is one of the most widely touted methods of carbon sequestration. However, the Rodale Institute reports that organically farmed soils are even more powerful carbon sinks than forests. It estimates that if all conventional corn and soybean farms in the Unites States converted to organic methods, the carbon savings would equal that of taking 58.7 million cars---one-fourth of all in the country--off the road.
References
- International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development: Agriculture at a Crossroads
- Ecology Action: Grow Biointensive
- Organic Trade Association: Nutritional Considerations
- Organic Trade Association: Soil Health
- Rodale Institute: Organic Farming Combats Global Warming--Big Time
