Soil organic matter quality and aggregate stability under eight potato cropping sequences in a fine sandy loam of Prince Edward Island

Angers, Denis A.; Edwards, Linnell M.; Sanderson, J. B.; Bissonnette, Nicole

doi:10.4141/s98-033

Cited by 82 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In Atlantic Canada, organic potato farms utilize extended (5-yr) rotations, including legume cover crops compared with much more frequent cropping of potatoes (and associated tillage) in conventional production systems [11,113]. Recent studies suggest these rotations confer marked benefits to soil organic matter and soil health including micro-and macro-fauna.…”

Section: Soil C Sequestrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World?

2011

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About 130 studies were analyzed to compare farm-level energy use and global warming potential (GWP) of organic and conventional production sectors. Cross cutting issues such as tillage, compost, soil carbon sequestration and energy offsets were also reviewed. Finally, we contrasted E and GWP data from the wider food system. We concluded that the evidence strongly favours organic farming with respect to whole-farm energy use and energy efficiency both on a per hectare and per farm product basis, with the possible exception of poultry and fruit sectors. For GWP, evidence is insufficient except in a few sectors, with results per ha more consistently favouring organic farming than GWP per unit product. Tillage was consistently a negligible contributor to farm E use and additional tillage on organic farms does not appear to significantly deplete soil C. Energy offsets, biogas, energy crops and residues have a more limited role on organic farms compared to conventional ones, because of the nutrient and soil building uses of soil organic matter, and the high demand for organic foods in human markets. If farm E use represents 35% of total food chain E use, improvements shown of 20% or more in E efficiency through organic farm management would reduce food-chain E use by 7% or more. Among other food supply chain stages, wholesale/retail (including cooling and OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2011, 3 323 packaging) and processing often each contribute 30% or more to total food system E. Thus, additional improvements can be obtained with reduced processing, whole foods and food waste minimization.

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Section: Soil C Sequestrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World?

2011

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“…This may explain the contrasting observations made for physical soil properties such as aggregate stability, i.e. increase under legume species (Angers et al 1999) and decrease compared to grasses (Peres et al, 2013). …”

Section: Impact Of Grassland Management On Biogeochemical Cyclesmentioning

confidence: 96%

The impact of grassland management on biogeochemical cycles involving carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus

Rumpel

Creme²,

Ngo

et al. 2015

J. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr.

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Grassland introduction into intensively managed agricultural landscapes may enhance soil organic matter (SOM) content and ecosystem services. However, the magnitude of this effect depends on grassland management practices, and their influence on the soil system. The aim of this paper is to highlight these impacts and their consequences for SOM dynamics and element cycling. We focused in particular on the effect of different grassland management practices in terms of grazing regime, fertilization, and species choice.While carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles are more strongly coupled under grassland as compared to permanent cropping, uncoupling of elemental cycles may occur through management intensification. Grazing regime, fertilization and species choice affect elemental coupling and SOM turnover via organic matter input and rhizosphere activity to different extent, thereby resulting in contrasting SOM storage. Grazing may be more beneficial for SOM contents compared to mowing up to a certain animal density depending on soil type and pedoclimatic context. SOM storage may be increased in some cases through specific fertilizer additions, whereas in others no change was observed. Species choice, e.g. high diversity or introduction of legumes, influence element budgets and soil nutrient availability through plant physiological constraints as well as intraor interspecific interactions. The effect of different plant species mixtures on soil parameters has rarely been elucidated.We conclude that the impact of grassland management practices on SOM of different soil types and the resulting ecosystem services, such as C and nutrient storage need further research in contrasting pedoclimatic contexts. More studies on the controls of belowground biogeochemical cycling of elements are necessary in order to fully understand and manage belowground processes via aboveground plant communities.

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“…Organic farming correspondingly tends to achieve improved outcomes with respect to preserving or improving soil quality (see studies cited within Gomeiro et al [4]). In Atlantic Canada, organic potato farms utilize extended (5-year) rotations, including legume cover crops, compared with much more frequent cropping of potatoes (and associated tillage) in conventional systems [72,73]. On four organic farm sites, earthworm abundance and biomass, and soil microbial quotient, was shown to particularly benefit from these extended rotations, recovering from marked reductions during potato cropping to levels found in adjacent permanent pastures after 3-4 years of the rotation [74].…”

Section: Soil Organic Matter Storagementioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental impacts of organic agriculture in temperate regions.

Lynch

Halberg²,

Bhatta³

et al. 2012

CABI Reviews

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Can organic agriculture elaborate a scientifically based, resource-efficient and agroecological approach to low-input farm management? This review examines the literature from temperate regions, with a particular emphasis on Canadian and US studies that relate to environmental and ecological impacts of organic agriculture with respect to (i) soil organic matter storage, (ii) soil quality/soil health, (iii) nutrient loading and risks of off-farm nutrient and agrochemical losses, (iv) biodiversity and (v) energy use and global warming potential. The context and implications of semi-arid conditions and low soil P levels, common to many organic farms in North America, and widespread adoption of genetically engineered crops in conventional production, is also considered. The consensus of the data available to date indicates the distinctiveness of cropping, floral and habitat diversity, soil management regime, nutrient intensity and use efficiency, and energy, and pesticide use in organic farming confer important environmental and ecological benefits. These include maintenance of soil organic matter and added return of carbon to soil, improved soil health, reduced off-farm nitrogen and phosphorus losses, enhanced vegetative and wildlife (bird) biological diversity, extended sometimes to other taxa depending on landscape context, improved support for pollinators and pollination and reduced energy use and improved energy efficiency. The continued evolution of organic agriculture to a more outcomes-based, agroecological production system will require an expanded multi-disciplinary research effort, linked ideally to support from consumers and policy-makers on the basis of renewed understanding of its potential contribution to global environmental sustainability.

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Soil organic matter quality and aggregate stability under eight potato cropping sequences in a fine sandy loam of Prince Edward Island

Cited by 82 publications

References 29 publications

The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World?

The Carbon and Global Warming Potential Impacts of Organic Farming: Does It Have a Significant Role in an Energy Constrained World?

The impact of grassland management on biogeochemical cycles involving carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus

Environmental impacts of organic agriculture in temperate regions.

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