Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Environmental Aspects Of Organic Farming
http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/58298
The soil liveliness is indicated by a number of indicators: An important role is played by
earthworms which are subjects of many studies precisely because of their sensitivity to the
soil environment disturbance. Organic farming has up to 50% more biomass and abun‐
dance of earthworms as compared to integrated farming, greater biodiversity of earth‐
worm species, changes in the population composition indicated by a larger number of
juvenile earthworms. Earthworms are useful-they aerate and mix the soil, help with organic
matter decomposition [35].
evaporation, precipitation
input of nutrients, organic
matter
macro
flora
grazing
AIR
and xenobiotics
erosion runoff
predation
gas exchange
grazing
soil
fauna
predators
damping-off
microflora
damping-off
migration
of organisms
intake
mineralization
intake
SOIL
nutrients
excretion
capillary rise
runoff
GROUNDWATER
Scheme 2.
Diagram of the soil ecosystem function (adapted according to [54])
An important indicator of the soil organic matter decomposition is the biological activity.
However, it is possible to state that changes on biological activity are slow and in many studies
comparing organic and conventional farming systems, there were no differences experienced.
Some changes (species diversity increase, biomass production decrease resp. yield decrease)
occur almost immediately, other (increase of natural soil fertility, soil organic matter content,
system stability) show up in the longer term.
On the other hand, the soil deterioration leads to a biodiversity reduction. Biological degra‐
dation of soils is usually associated with their physical and chemical degradation. The
biodiversity of soil microorganisms is reduced by an intensive cultivation through the use of
