Biological farming - Soil Essentials: Managing Your Farm's Primary Asset - page 79

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Biological farming
Background
All farming is 'biological', in that crops and pastures are produced from soil and
are used to feed and clothe people. Some farming systems use 'natural' inputs such
as organic fertilisers including compost, seaweed, animal manure, biological
cultures and so on (organic and biodynamic farming), while others choose to use
manufactured fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides (conventional farming).
There is much disagreement between the proponents of these systems as to
which is best. There is no clear answer in absolute terms, and each side can
produce compelling arguments as to why their system should be used, with some
farmers opting for a hybrid system built on the best of both systems.
Both systems in their own way rely heavily on the natural cycle of birth,
growth, death and recycling of the remains, and all the complexities of the
biological processes that make this happen. The conventional interpretation of
biological farming, however, is a system that relies on maintaining or increasing
soil fertility using plant or animal residues and other naturally available inputs to
supply nutrient elements for future crops, often in a cyclic way. Of course, it is not
as simple as just that, as there are many other issues such as soil management, crop
rotations, biological enhancement of the soil, pest and disease management, and
not destroying the environment with toxic chemicals.