Soil Fertility Management in Organic Farming System

Although, the difference in distribution of the plant nutrients affects the level of dependence on different inputs. This report therefore aims in detail to cover the different aspects ranging from the general health of the soil in organic farming, what determines the fertility of the soil, what organic components are introduced into the soil to boost its fertility and a final view of the problems that affect soil in relation to organic farming and better ways in which those problems can be sorted. Soil Health When soil is ready to provide a platform in which living ecosystem is capable of holding life for plants, animals and humans and that it is able to sustain the dependence cycle between the decomposition process from plants and animals later the supply of nutrients, (Darnhofer et al, 2010).

It’s ability to supply nutrients, which is water and oxygen for the plants to experience healthy growth. Its ability to resist erosion, if it can store water, retains nutrients and is able to resist diseases. The physical components relate more to the different types of soil and their structures. The chemical components focus mainly on factors which enhance the PH of the present soil nutrients compositions as well as the captions exchange capacity while biological focuses more on the presence of organic ingredients in the soil, (Norton et al, 2009). Soil Physical fertility These majors in the sustainability of organic farming through created channels that allow the biological and chemical process to provide the required nutrients by the plants, while this is achieved it should also be able to protect the soil from erosion at that time.

The organic nutrients available in the soil is only a section of the whole composition which is present in that particular soil though very much important in the soil fertility, (Dembele et al, 2016). The availability of a good percentage of organic components in the soil will also determine the amount of available nitrogen and phosphorus minerals in that particular soil. The nutrients budget groups the nutrients inputs and nutrients outputs in the soil area. These nutrients budget, however, may fail to give accurate results since it is difficult to give an estimation of contents of nutrients in the soil and what rates of manure and other composts should be applied. Soil biological Fertility Soil biological fertility is soil processes that involve organisms that affect positively the plant growth directly and indirectly, (Abiala et al, 2013).

The direct effect is the incorporation of root bacteria and fungi while the indirect effect is the mineralisation of the organic matter and certain chemical dissolutions. It can be checked through measuring of activity, size and diversity of certain soil organisms in their effect to soil functions and plant growth. Organic farming has also improved reliability and can withstand many environmental or climate challenges such as effects of global warming. For the soil to maintain its fertility and structure so that the soil health can be of sustainability, quality crops produced from organic forms play a key role. The limitation of substantial increases in certain organic components in comparison to the organic and conventional farm inputs that gives higher organic return in farm produce, (Fatima et al, 2009).

Crop rotation sequence Crop rotations sequence is occurrences that lessen the richness restraints to manufacture that remain solved in conservative organic farming systems incorporation to the synthetic inputs. Crop rotation sequence helps in maintaining healthy soil structure by prevention of build-up of soil and plant pests and diseases, during crop rotation it is also good to leave the land fallow for some time off for a while since this allows the soil to build up its structural resources and cure or heal itself from the pests and diseases that had previously invaded, (Hungria et al, 2009). Organic fertilizers also nurture the soil with some organic matter that helps the soil reduce its dependency on the use of chemical substance hence making it maintain its natural fertility and structure.

Organic fertilizers also help in restoring and maintaining soil fertility to support plant growth. It also enhances the biological activities that takes place in the soil and biodiversity which improves the soil fertility without the incorporation of chemical substance. Organic manures also facilitate the slow release of soil nutrients in response to all dynamic needs of the plants. It also boosts and facilitates the efficiency of how the water is used in the soil to make the crops more drought resistance. Organic composting helps and facilitate in improving and maintaining the soil fertility. Organic composting helps in suppressing plant diseases and pest. Incorporating organic compost into the farm soil will maintain the soil fertility by improving the soil structure. Soil with good structures has a crumbly texture, drains water well and can retain soil moisture and by decomposing, one improves the soil structure which improves soil nutrients hence maintaining soil fertility, (Pandey et al, 2010).

Composting also may add soil nutrients because it contains a variety of common basic nutrient that is required by the plants for good health, there are also micronutrients such as manganese, copper, zinc and iron found in the compost which plays a very important role in the plants' ability to extract nutrients from other food sources. Significance of Organic Agriculture Fertility Methods • Environmental sustainability Compost application which is used instead of fertilisers helps in the reduction of minerals in the soil and other sediment runoffs as it boosts the rate of carbon secluded in the soil, (Kaufmann et al, 2009). These effects can however not be realised with just a single application but rather frequent use that has accrued over many years.

Increasing the use of compost will benefit the fertility of the soil. • Soil biota health and pest control In enhancing of the soil biota through organic means such as the use of cover crops or application of wastes from animals manure, (Tuck et al, 2014) helps in keeping the soil covered hence suppressing weeds that may grow in the firm a disrupt the normal nutrients intake of other plants. Problems Associated With Organic Soil Management • Restrictions on inorganic inputs Soil management in organic agriculture discourages the use of chemicals such as herbicides and fertilisers. The organic farming systems, therefore, are required to recycle nutrients in its farming system so that the returns to the soil which are organically managed be maintained. The organic agriculture has helped in increasing the biological activities in which weed management has been greatly achieved due to the adoption of tillage practices.

Recommendations As a result of research and findings, it is, therefore, appropriate to recommend that maintaining and enhancing of soil ecosystems through the adoption of the organic agriculture is key in ensuring pliability in sustainable human agricultural systems, (Gardens et al, 2011). Organic agriculture should, therefore, be adopted to help ensure maximum food productivity through means that are environmentally friendly and does not impose certain risks to the ecosystem. It should also be adopted to ensure the maintenance of soil health and environmentally friendly ways of pest control. , Killani, A. S. & Odebode, A. C. Harnessing the Potentials of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) Fungi to Plant Growth-A Review. , Lindenthal, T. , Bartel-Kratochvil, R. , & Zollitsch, W. Conventionalisation of organic farming practices: from structural criteria towards an assessment based on organic principles.

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