http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/organic/ Organic food, organic farming and organic gardening. Learn the ecological and health benefits of organic farming as well as some surprising recent research findings. en-us Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:05:01 EDT Sat, 11 Oct 2008 12:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/organic/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081010092332.htm Sales of organic products are booming: Consumers want their food to be untainted. To avoid the use of fungicides yet nevertheless protect plants from disease, researchers have developed a method that involves bombarding seeds with electrons to kill fungal spores and viruses. Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081010092332.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080929123945.htm Researchers have shown that a plot of land on the campus of Auburn University that has been maintained by a century old practice of sustainable farming can produce similar cotton crops to those using other methods. This 110 year old continuous field experiment, called "the Old Rotation," utilizes traditional crop rotation methods and includes winter legumes to protect the soil from winter erosion. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080929123945.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080929104615.htm Pecan and other hickory woods are the third most popular hardwood group in the United States, behind only black walnut and black cherry. he pruned wood of pecan, a byproduct of forested trees, is usually burned as an economical means of disposal. Increasingly though, pruned pecan is being chipped and incorporated into the soil as an environmentally viable method of handling the waste. Although more expensive than burning, chipping and soil incorporation avoid burning controls recently imposed by many states and the Environmental Protection Agency. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080929104615.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080821110106.htm With the boom in consumption of organic foods creating a pressing need for natural insecticides and herbicides that can be used on crops certified as "organic," biopesticide pioneer Pam G. Marrone is reporting development of a new "green" pesticide obtained from an extract of the giant knotweed. The research will be reported in August at the American Chemical Society national meeting in Philadelphia. Mon, 25 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080821110106.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807082954.htm New research in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture shows there is no evidence to support the argument that organic food is better than food grown with the use of pesticides and chemicals. The study looked at the following crops – carrots, kale, mature peas, apples and potatoes – staple ingredients that can be found in most families’ shopping list. Sat, 09 Aug 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807082954.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731173125.htm As microbes in the soil break down fallen plant matter, a diet "balanced" in nutrients appears to help control soil fertility and the normal release of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080731173125.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728192942.htm Tropical soils often behave differently than temperate soils when being farmed. In tropical regions, soils lose nutrients quickly when cultivated. With food shortages looming and soil quality declining rapidly, new farming techniques are needed to make tropical and sub-tropical farming more productive and sustainable. New research from Agronomy Journal shows that no-till management combined with a winter cover crop is most effective in retaining nutrients in tropical soils. Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080728192942.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080720092205.htm Soils with native grasses such as switchgrass have higher levels of a key soil component called glomalin than soils planted to non-native grasses. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080720092205.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715190110.htm In the rush to develop renewable fuels from plants, converting crop residues into cellulosic ethanol would seem to be a slam dunk. However, that might not be such a good idea for farmers growing crops without irrigation in regions receiving less than 25 inches of precipitation annually, says a soil scientist. Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080715190110.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080629075404.htm Glomalin, the substance coating this microscopic fungus growing on a corn root, can keep carbon in the soil from decomposing for up to 100 years. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080629075404.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080528102904.htm Researchers investigated the impact of increasing crop rotation length and complexity on crop yields in organic agricultural systems over a ten year period. They found that longer, more complex rotations using corn, soybean, wheat, and hay offered up to 30 percent greater corn yield than a simple corn-soybean rotation. The additional crop variety and rotation time helps provide adequate nitrogen and decrease weed competition, thereby increasing production. Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080528102904.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519102012.htm Rice grown in the United States may be safer than varieties from Asia and Europe, according to a new global study of the grain that feeds over half of humanity. The study evaluated levels of arsenic, which can be toxic at high levels, in rice worldwide. Wed, 21 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080519102012.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080506103032.htm Researchers investigated the potential of no-tillage agricultural soils for increasing the soil organic carbon pool. The results of the study revealed that no till farming impacts on soil carbon sequestration depended on soil type and sampling depth, with greater sequestration evident only in surface (0-10 cm) no till soils. Wed, 07 May 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080506103032.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501180247.htm Fire-derived charcoal is thought to be an important carbon sink. However, a new article in Science shows that charcoal promotes soil microbes and causes a large loss of soil carbon. There has been greatly increasing attention given to the potential of ‘biochar’, or charcoal made from biological tissues (e.g., wood) to serve as a long term sink of carbon in the soil. Sun, 04 May 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080501180247.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428104525.htm Soil "unearthed" at the nanoscale: Soil scientists have seen -- for the first time -- seen soil at a scale of 50 nanometers. This view provided a beautiful glimpse of patterns, how carbon sequestration works, and what happens when soils get wet, warm and cool. Thu, 01 May 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428104525.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422150655.htm The definition of "organic" is defined by the US Department of Agriculture; "natural," however, can be defined differently depending on who's doing the labeling. But both terms mean one thing: higher costs for producers. That's why researchers hope to provide another tool to help those in the beef industry pondering whether to abandon conventional methods and go natural or organic. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422150655.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080410153658.htm Fifteen hundred years ago, tribes people from the central Amazon basin mixed their soil with charcoal derived from animal bone and tree bark. Today, at the site of this charcoal deposit, scientists have found some of the richest, most fertile soil in the world. Now this ancient, remarkably simple farming technique seems far ahead of the curve, holding promise as a carbon-negative strategy to rein in world hunger as well as greenhouse gases. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080410153658.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401200451.htm The sands of the desert are an important and forgotten storehouse of carbon dioxide taken from the world's atmosphere. Sands like those in the Kalahari Desert of Botswana are full of cyanobacteria. These drought resistant bacteria can fix atmospheric carbon dioxide, and together they add significant quantities of organic matter to the nutrient deficient sands. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401200451.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325101134.htm Scientists investigated yield differences between organic and conventional cash grain and forage crops in the Upper Midwest to compare the productivity of the two cropping systems. The researchers found that: organic forage crops yielded as much or more dry matter as their conventional counterparts with quality sufficient to produce as much milk as the conventional systems; and organic grain crops: corn, soybean, and winter wheat produced 90 percent as well as their conventionally managed counterparts. Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325101134.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080311123413.htm A recent study created a bit of a mystery for soil scientists -- increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was expected to increase plant growth, increase plant biomass and ultimately beef up the organic matter in the soil -- but it didn't. What researchers found instead was that organic matter decay increased along with residue inputs when carbon dioxide levels were increased and they think the accelerated decay was due to increased moisture in the soil. Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080311123413.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080223112253.htm Earthworms studied in agricultural fields have been found to contain organic chemicals from household products and manure, indicating that such substances are entering the food chain. Manure and biosolids, the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment, were applied to the fields as fertilizer. Earthworms continuously ingest soils for nourishment and can accumulate the chemicals present in the soil. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080223112253.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080225072624.htm Applying organic fertilizers, such as those resulting from composting, to agricultural land could increase the amount of carbon stored in these soils and contribute significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, according to new research. Wed, 27 Feb 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080225072624.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080201114140.htm As organic farming becomes more common, methods to identify fraud in the industry are increasingly important. Scientists have now successfully used nitrogen isotopic discrimination to determine if non-organic fertilizers were used on sweet peppers. Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080201114140.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071204102453.htm The so far available data set on fate and behavior of veterinary medicinal products in manure and manured soils has now significantly been enhanced by a team of researchers around Robert Kreuzig, Braunschweig University of Technology, Institute of Ecological Chemistry and Waste Analysis, Germany. The scientists investigated the fate and behavior of benzimidazole antiparasitics in manure and manured soils under laboratory as well as under field conditions. Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071204102453.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071219105808.htm A detailed analysis of soil samples taken from a forest ecosystem with artificially elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide reveals distinct changes in the mix of microorganisms living in the soil below trembling aspen. These changes could increase the availability of essential soil nutrients, thereby supporting increased plant growth and the plants' ability to "lock up," or sequester, excess carbon from the atmosphere. Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071219105808.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071211233959.htm A new study looks at a poorly understood process with potentially critical consequences for climate change. Emma Sayer, postdoctoral fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Jennifer Powers, an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota's Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and Edmund Tanner, researcher at Cambridge University, published the findings of their long-term study on the effects of increased plant litter on soil carbon and nutrient cycling in the Dec. 12 edition of PLoS ONE. Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071211233959.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203094844.htm Consumers don't like blemishes -- on apples, that is. The study of consumer values found that low tolerance for cosmetically damaged apples impacts consumers' purchasing decisions. Mon, 03 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203094844.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071128163240.htm There is a need to develop the potential of all crops for biomass production while providing a sustainable supply of cellulosic feedstock without reducing soil organic matter, according to researchers. Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071128163240.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071029172809.htm The common practice of adding nitrogen fertilizer is believed to benefit the soil by building organic carbon, but soil scientists dispute this view based on analyses of soil samples from the Morrow Plots that date back to before the current practice began. Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071029172809.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071014194212.htm If the average cow produces 100 pounds of manure a day, how does a dairy farmer manage all the excess waste? Tom Herlihy, an agricultural engineer, created a unique and environmentally friendly technology to deal with this very problem. Herlihy employs 8 million earthworms in a state-of-the-art facility to transform manure into an environmentally friendly, all organic fertilizer called Worm Power. The worms eat the organic matter and generate castings that serve as a nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer. Tue, 16 Oct 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071014194212.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071012100752.htm The cow as a killer of the climate: This inglorious role of our four-legged friends, peaceful in itself, is well-enough recognised, because, with their digestion, the animals produce methane, which is expelled continuously. Now, however, scientists have been able to show that bovine animals can also boost the production of this climate changing gas in soil. Sun, 14 Oct 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071012100752.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070813103354.htm Tobacco may be bad for human health, but a new study reports that a genetically engineered tobacco plant may be very good for the environment. It shows promise for cleaning up soil contaminated with TNT, a widely used military explosive. Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070813103354.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070808132012.htm Traditional plow-based agricultural methods and the need to feed a rapidly growing world population are combining to deplete the Earth's soil supply, a new study confirms. Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070808132012.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070805135910.htm Penguin guano in the Antarctic is adding to organic pollutant problems there, according to a new article. Scientists found unexpectedly high levels of organic pollutants in the soil around a colony of non-migratory Adelie penguins in the Antarctic. Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070805135910.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070722161725.htm To help family farmers and seed producers better meet market demands and remain independent and profitable, a new initiative is under way. Spearheaded by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant geneticist Linda Pollak, it's being called the Breeding High-Quality Corn for Sustainable, Low-Input Farming Systems--or HQ-LIFS--project. Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070722161725.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070722162434.htm Organic farming can build up soil organic matter better than conventional no-till farming can, according to a long-term study. Organic farming, despite its emphasis on building organic matter, was thought to actually endanger soil because it relies on tillage and cultivation--instead of herbicides--to kill weeds. But the study showed that organic farming's addition of organic matter in manure and cover crops more than offset losses from tillage. Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070722162434.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070719130627.htm In light of growing concern over agricultural pollution, producers are looking for ways to improve their farming practices without sacrificing crop production. New evidence suggests alternative cropping systems can reduce the impacts of fertilizer runoff. Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070719130627.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070716134018.htm Levels of flavonoids increase over time in crops grown in organically farmed fields, according to a rare long-term study scheduled for publication in the July 18 issue of ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a bi-weekly publication. Other research has suggested that consumption of flavonoids may protect against cancer, heart disease, and other age-related diseases. Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070716134018.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070711134530.htm It is estimated that between 9 and 13 million kilograms of antibiotics are used annually in the United States for raising livestock, with the majority being used for growth advancement and disease prevention purposes. Large amounts of antibiotics fed to livestock are excreted and end up in animal manure, which is commonly applied to agricultural land to provide crop nutrients. Therefore, food crops grown on manure-altered soils are exposed to antibiotics. Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070711134530.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070711134523.htm Organic farming can yield up to three times as much food as conventional farming on the same amount of land -- according to new findings which refute the long-standing assumption that organic farming methods cannot produce enough food to feed the global population. Fri, 13 Jul 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070711134523.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070709103854.htm Food manufacturers may soon have more control over the amount of sour taste that comes through in a variety of acidified food products. Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070709103854.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070610201204.htm A simple, cheap treatment using just oxygen could allow growers to store organic produce for longer and go a long way towards reducing the price of organic fruit and vegetables. One of the major contributing factors affecting the price is the short shelf life of organic produce. Losses can be high during storage. Conventional produce can be treated with inexpensive chemicals to aid preservation. Mon, 11 Jun 2007 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070610201204.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070601101106.htm Broccoli, eggplant, cabbage and capsicum grown with compost made from recycled garden offcuts have produced equivalent yields to those cultivated by conventional farm practice, but without the subsequent build up of phosphorus. Scientists have found very high levels of phosphorus and low levels of organic carbon in vegetable growing soils, during a major research project designed to help vegetable growers significantly improve soil quality and productivity. Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070601101106.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070518125608.htm Before farmers can sell carbon credits, they need to be able to reliably measure the amount of carbon in their soil. Researchers believe that the Century soil model can accurately measure soil organic content in certain land regions. Mon, 21 May 2007 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070518125608.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070507183806.htm Tropical plants are able to adapt to environmental change by extracting nitrogen from a variety of sources, according to a new study. By demonstrating that not all plants specialize in one specific source of nitrogen, the result turns a commonly held theory on its head. It also provides a dose of optimism that tropical forests will be able to withstand environmental shifts in nutritional cycles brought on by global climate change. Wed, 09 May 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070507183806.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070501075103.htm An analysis argues that semi-closed agricultural systems could enhance global sustainability of biological resources, curtail greenhouse gas emissions and groundwater contamination, and reduce farming's reliance on oil imports and water. Thu, 03 May 2007 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070501075103.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070423114239.htm Following a four-year study, North Carolina researchers report that a test accurately predicts nitrogen concentrations in humid soils. Researchers hope that this test will help to reduce under- and over-applying nitrogen fertilizer to corn crops, which can be harmful to the environment and costly to growers. Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070423114239.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070410084913.htm The supermarket sign in the produce aisle says "organic" and the higher price lends credence. But is that organically grown fruit or vegetable authentic or a mislabeled version of some conventionally grown crop? Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070410084913.htm