ScienceDaily: Organic Farming News

Fertilizers provide mixed benefits to soil in 50-year study

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 09:46:46 EDT

In a Kansas study, 50 years of inorganic fertilization increased soil organic carbon stocks but failed to enhance soil aggregate stability —- a key indicator of soil structural quality that helps dictate how water moves through soil and the soil’s resistance to erosion.

Strengthening legumes to tackle fertilizer pollution

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:19:19 EDT

Scientists create the first model of legume iron transportation aimed at maximizing nitrogen fixation, even in poor soil.

Organic labels bias consumers perceptions through the 'health halo effect'

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:15:15 EDT

In a new study, researchers show that an organic label can influence much more than health views: perceptions of taste, calories and value can be significantly altered when a food is labeled "organic". Certain people also appear to be more susceptible to this 'health halo' effect than others.

Fruit flies fed organic diets are healthier than flies fed nonorganic diets, study finds

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:17:17 EDT

Fruit flies fed an organic diet recorded better health outcomes than flies fed a nonorganic diet, according to a new study. Researchers found that fruit flies raised on organic foods performed better on various health tests. Flies on organic diets showed improvements on the most significant measures of health, namely fertility and longevity, according to new research.

Improving climate protection in the agricultural sector

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:41:41 EST

Agriculture is responsible for around 10 to 12 percent of all greenhouse gases attributable to human activities. This raises the question of how these emissions could be reduced. A recent study has investigated -- for the first time -- the full range of factors that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, namely soil and climate conditions, the agricultural model and the farming intensity on both organic and conventional holdings.

Organic tomatoes accumulate more vitamin C, sugars than conventionally grown fruit

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 18:49:49 EST

Tomatoes grown on organic farms accumulate higher concentrations of sugars, vitamin C and compounds associated with oxidative stress compared to those grown on conventional farms, according to new research.

Can simple measures of labile soil organic matter predict corn performance?

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:23:23 EST

Researchers are characterizing simple, cheap measurements of labile soil organic matter that could predict the performance of corn crops and help farmers optimize their cropping systems.

Thailand: Astonishing ten new species of semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms revealed

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:13:13 EST

An astonishing ten new species of semi-aquatic freshwater earthworms have been discovered in river systems in Thailand, documenting a remarkable level of biodiversity. The animals occur in a wide range of natural freshwater habitats, including rice fields, where they might play an important role in the development of organic farming.

Mix-and-match cover cropping can optimize organic production, USDA scientists say

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:42:42 EST

Farmers can fine-tune their use of cover crops to help manage costs and maximize benefits in commercial organic production systems, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists.

How shrubs are reducing the positive contribution of peatlands to climate

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:00:00 EST

Peatlands (bogs, turf moors) are among the most important ecosystems worldwide for the storage of atmospheric carbon and thus for containing the climate warming process. In the last 30 to 50 years the peat (Sphagnum) mosses, whose decay produces the peat (turf), have come under pressure by vascular plants, mostly small shrubs.

Fertile soil doesn't fall from the sky: Contribution of bacterial remnants to soil fertility has been underestimated until now

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 09:10:10 EST

Remains of dead bacteria have far greater meaning for soils than previously assumed. Around 40 per cent of the microbial biomass is converted to organic soil components, researchers report. Until now, it was assumed that the organic components of the soil were composed mostly of decomposed plant material which is directly converted to humic substances. In a laboratory experiment and in field testing, the researchers have now refuted this thesis. Evidently the easily biologically degradable plant material is initially converted to microbial biomass which then provides the source material to soil organic matter.

Haymeadows are good for the environment say researchers

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:43:43 EST

Traditional haymeadows are much better at supporting biodiversity and preventing water pollution than intensively farmed fields according to new research. This is because haymeadows lose five times less nitrogen from the soil, which is needed for plant growth. However, nitrogen becomes a pollutant if it leaches into rivers and contaminates the water supply.

Antibiotic-eating bug unearthed in soil: Newly discovered bacterium degrades an antibiotic both to protect itself and get nutrition

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:07:07 EST

Canadian and French scientists have uncovered a soil microbe that degrades a common veterinary antibiotic both to protect itself and get nutrition, an ability the researchers suggest could be widespread.

'Organic' leaves a bad taste in the mouths of some consumers

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 08:55:55 EST

Labeling food as “organic” may not always lead to a positive impression, according to a recent study. The research flips the notion of a “halo” effect for ethical food labels.

Mites to save Valencian orange exports

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:38:38 EST

A new study by researchers in Spain and Belgium has found that soil-dwelling predatory mites are a perfect partner to address the plague of thrips in citrus caused by Pezothrips kellyanus, a tiny insect that affects the skin of the fruit.

Plants' exposure to light influences organic weed control methods

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:23:23 EST

The popularity of organic foods and products continues to climb, creating greater demand for organic agriculture. Effective natural alternatives to synthetic chemical weed and pest management are needed to meet organic standards. Essential oils, such as clove oil, offer an avenue to explore.

Researchers unlock ancient Maya secrets with modern soil science

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 09:07:07 EST

Soil scientists and archeologists have uncovered evidence that the Maya grew corn sustainably in the lowlands of Tikal, Guatemala, but that they may also have farmed erosion-prone slopes over time.

Stirred not mixed: How seawater turbulence affects marine food webs

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:00:00 EST

New research shows that ocean turbulence directly affects the ability of microscopic marine organisms to recycle organic material back into the food web.

Not-so-permanent permafrost: 850 billion tons of carbon stored in frozen Arctic ground could be released

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:54:54 EDT

As much as 44 billion tons of nitrogen and 850 billion tons of carbon stored in Arctic permafrost, or frozen ground, could be released into the environment as the region begins to thaw over the next century as a result of a warmer planet, according to a new study led by the U.S. Geological Survey. This nitrogen and carbon are likely to impact ecosystems, the atmosphere, and water resources including rivers and lakes. For context, this is roughly the amount of carbon stored in the atmosphere today.

Research shows legume trees can fertilize and stabilize maize fields, generate higher yields

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 09:00:00 EDT

Inserting rows of "fertilizer trees" into maize fields, known as agroforestry, can help farmers across sub-Saharan Africa cope with the impacts of drought and degraded soils, according to a 12-year-long study.

Little evidence of health benefits from organic foods, study finds

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 22:11:11 EDT

Researchers have carried out the most comprehensive meta-analysis to date of existing studies comparing organic and conventional foods. They did not find strong evidence that organic foods are more nutritious or carry fewer health risks than conventional alternatives, though consumption of organic foods can reduce the risk of pesticide exposure.

Plants' fungi allies may not help store climate change's extra carbon

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:13:13 EDT

Fungi found in plants may not be the answer to mitigating climate change by storing additional carbon in soils as some previously thought, according to plant biologists.

Researchers improve soil carbon cycling models

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 17:03:03 EDT

A new carbon cycling model better accounts for the carbon dioxide-releasing activity of microbes in the ground, improving scientists’ understanding of the role soil will play in future climate change.

Mediterranean earthworm species found thriving in Ireland as global temperatures rise

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 20:03:03 EDT

Scientists have discovered a thriving population of Mediterranean earthworms in an urban farm in Dublin, Ireland. Scientists suggest that rising soil temperatures due to climate change may be extending the geographical habitat range of the earthworm Prosellodrilus amplisetosus.

Key to life in the desert: What new research reveals about the importance of soil crusts

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 10:34:34 EDT

Biological soil crust organisms found to play an active role in the development of soil structures and the allocation of water and nutrients.

Glyphosate-resistant 'superweeds' may be less susceptible to diseases

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 13:13:13 EDT

Scientists searching for clues to understand how superweeds obtain resistance to the popular herbicide glyphosate may have been missing a critical piece of information, a study shows.

Rising carbon dioxide in atmosphere also speeds carbon loss from forest soils

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 11:58:58 EDT

Elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide accelerate carbon cycling and soil carbon loss in forests, biologists have found. The new evidence supports an emerging view that although forests remove a substantial amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, much of the carbon is being stored in living woody biomass rather than as dead organic matter in soils.

Grasshoppers frightened by spiders affect whole ecosystem

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:27:27 EDT

Grasshoppers ‘stressed’ by spiders affect the productivity of our soil. A grasshopper who is in fear of an attacker, such as a spider, will enter a situation of stress and will consume a greater quantity of carbohydrate-rich plants -- similar to humans under stress who might eat more sweets.

Rapid coral death by a deadly chain reaction

Wed, 23 May 2012 11:47:47 EDT

Most people are fascinated by the colorful and exotic coral reefs, which form habitats with probably the largest biodiversity. But human civilization is the top danger to these fragile ecosystems through climate change, oxygen depletion and ocean acidification. Industrialization, deforestation and intensive farming in coastal areas are changing dramatically the conditions for life in the oceans. Now scientists have investigated how and why the corals die when exposed to sedimentation. According to their findings, oxygen depletion, together with an acidification of the environment, creates a chain reaction that leads to coral death.

Agricultural bacteria: Blowing in the wind

Wed, 09 May 2012 09:24:24 EDT

The 1930s Dust Bowl proved what a disastrous effect wind can have on dry, unprotected topsoil. Now a new study has uncovered a less obvious, but equally troubling, impact of wind: Not only can it carry away soil particles, but also agriculturally important bacteria that build soil and recycle nutrients.

Can organic food feed the world? New study sheds light on debate over organic vs. conventional agriculture

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:01:01 EDT

Can organic agriculture feed the world? Although organic techniques may not be able to do the job alone, they do have an important role to play in feeding a growing global population while minimizing environmental damage, according to researchers. A new study concludes that crop yields from organic farming are generally lower than from conventional agriculture. That is particularly true for cereals, which are staples of the human diet -- yet the yield gap is much less significant for certain crops, and under certain growing conditions, according to the researchers.

Plant perfumes woo beneficial bugs to their roots

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:54:54 EDT

Scientists have discovered that maize crops emit chemical signals which attract growth-promoting microbes to live amongst their roots. This is the first chemical signal that has been shown to attract beneficial bacteria to the maize root environment.

Microbiologists can now measure extremely slow life, deep ocean study shows

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 11:17:17 EDT

Microbiologists have developed a new method for measuring the very slow metabolism of bacteria deep down in the seabed. The results can provide knowledge about the global carbon cycle and its long-term impact on the climate.

Findings on biochar, greenhouse gas emissions and ethylene

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:47:47 EST

Adding a charred biomass material called biochar to glacial soils can help reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, according to scientists.

Vermicompost beneficial for organically grown tomatoes

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:06:06 EST

A study evaluated the effects of adding vermicompost to substrates in organically grown greenhouse tomatoes. Results showed the incorporation of vermicompost into organic substrates to be beneficial in terms of growth and marketable yield. The substrates containing vermicompost also produced a significantly lower incidence of defective fruit when compared with rockwool-grown tomato plants.

Coneheads (Protura) of Italy: What we know in their 'native' country after a century

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 12:57:57 EST

Coneheads collected from all over the territory of Italy were studied by three researchers. 40 species have been identified (belonging to eight genera and four families), six of which are new records for the Italian fauna.

How soil carbon responds to climate change: Scientists work to improve predictions

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 17:21:21 EDT

Soils store more carbon than the atmosphere and living plants. But scientists don't know why some organic compounds persist for centuries or even thousands of years in soils, while others quickly decompose. This longstanding mystery is addressed in a review by an international team of scientists.

Organic tomato juice contains more beneficial phenolic components than juice from conventionally grown crops

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 11:20:20 EDT

Organic tomato juice contains more phenolic components than juice from conventionally grown crops, according to a new study.

Economic analysis reveals organic farming profitable long-term

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:37:37 EDT

In an analysis of 18 years of crop yield and farm management data from a long-term trial, an organic crop rotation was consistently more profitable and carried less risk of low returns than conventional corn and soybean production, even when organic prime premiums were cut by half.

Farming Commercial Miscanthus

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:16:16 EDT

A new article examines the carbon sequestration potential of Miscanthus plantations on commercial farms. Researchers evaluated Miscanthus plantations in Ireland, where planting has been subsidized by the government. Carbon sequestration is expected to vary among different farming practices and soil characteristics.

Using ground covers in organic production

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:45:45 EDT

Scientists indicate that organic farmers who need to periodically amend their soils with compost after planting can still control weeds -- and hold down costs -- by using fabric ground covers. This will be welcome news to organic farmers who till composted manure into their crop fields after planting.

Permafrost could release vast amounts of carbon and accelerate climate change by end of century

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:56:56 EDT

Billions of tons of carbon trapped in permafrost may be released into the atmosphere by the end of this century as the Earth's climate changes, further accelerating global warming, a new computer modeling study. The study also found that soil in high-latitude regions could shift from being a sink to a source of carbon dioxide by the end of the 21st century as the soil warms in response to climate change.

Tundra fires could accelerate climate warming

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:14:14 EDT

After a 10,000-year absence, wildfires have returned to the Arctic tundra, and a new study shows that their impact could extend far beyond the areas blackened by flames.

Future of cover crops: Although beneficial, farmers are often hesitant to use cover crops because of costs, time

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:13:13 EDT

Cover crops can play a vital role in nutrient cycling, organic matter content and soil cover. Self-seeding cover crops may prove to be an efficient and cost-effective way for farmers to utilize cover crop systems.

E. coli can survive in streambed sediments for months

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:16:16 EDT

Scientists have confirmed that the presence of Escherichia coli pathogens in surface waters could result from the pathogen's ability to survive for months in underwater sediments.

Dairy manure goes urban: Organic compost improves soil, enhances ornamental plants in residential landscapes

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:42:42 EDT

Researchers tested whether the addition of compost, with or without the application of shallow tillage or aeration, improves soil properties and plant growth compared with an unamended control in simulated residential landscapes. Results suggested that the addition of composted dairy manure solids can improve soil properties and enhance plant growth in residential landscapes when sandy fill soils are used. Shallow tillage and aeration methods had little effect on soil properties or plant growth.

Fly larvae used to remove organic waste on an industrial scale

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 08:18:18 EDT

Researchers have used fly larvae to reduce animal feces and manure in a sustainable manner.

With feedlot manure, it pays to be precise

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 10:24:24 EDT

The same precision farming techniques that work with crops can work with manure management on cattle feedlots, according to agricultural scientists.

Global warming may increase the capacity of trees to store carbon

Wed, 25 May 2011 12:00:00 EDT

One helpful action anyone can take in response to global warming is to plant trees and preserve forests. Trees and plants capture carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, thereby removing the most abundant greenhouse gas from the atmosphere and storing some of it in their woody tissue. New research shows that global warming may affect the capacity of trees to store carbon by altering the forest nitrogen cycling. A field experiment showed that warmer temperatures stimulated the gain of carbon stored in trees as woody tissue.

Expert panel calls for 'transforming US agriculture': Changes in markets, policies and science needed for more sustainable farming

Thu, 05 May 2011 14:26:26 EDT

A group of leading scientists, economists and farmers is calling for a broad shift in federal policies to speed They say current policies focus on the production of a few crops and a minority of farmers while failing to address farming's contribution to global warming, biodiversity loss, natural resource degradation and public health problems.

Organic and conventional farming methods compete to eliminate weed seeds in soil

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:12:12 EDT

Weeds are hard to kill; they seem to come back no matter what steps people take to eradicate them. One reason is because of the persistence of weed seeds in the soil. Organic farming and conventional farming systems both have their methods of taking on weed seeds, but does one show better results than the other?

Cost-effective manure management, thanks to computer-simulated farms

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:17:17 EDT

Scientists have used computer-simulated farms with the support of field research to compare the environmental impact and economic efficacy of using alternative manure application methods in farming systems.

Formaldehyde: Poison could have set the stage for the origins of life

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:13:13 EDT

Formaldehyde, a poison and a common molecule throughout the universe, is likely the source of the solar system's organic carbon solids -- abundant in both comets and asteroids. Scientists have long speculated about the how organic, or carbon-containing, material became a part of the solar system's fabric. New research shows that these complex organic solids were likely made from formaldehyde in the primitive solar system.

Improve crop yield by removing manure solids

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:43:43 EDT

Scientists have tested the effectiveness of removing solids from dairy manure to improve yield by increasing the nitrogen to phosphorus ratio and reducing the loss of nitrogen by hastening soil infiltration.

Manure runoff depends on soil texture

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:43:43 EDT

A new study investigated the influence of dairy slurry on leaching of manure nutrient components.

How plants absorb pollutants

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 13:41:41 EDT

Scientists have investigated the distribution of contaminants in the roots of ryegrass. Recent studies had indicated that contaminated fungi attached to the root of plants were responsible for the plant's uptake of toxic contaminants.

Alternatives eyed for methyl bromide

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 10:41:41 EDT

Scientists trying to help Florida growers find a replacement for methyl bromide are studying an alternative soil treatment that uses molasses as one of its ingredients. Farmers have been using methyl bromide since the 1930s to control a broad spectrum of nematodes, pests and pathogens. But because methyl bromide depletes Earth's stratospheric ozone layer, growers worldwide are being required to find a replacement. That's a tall order in Florida, where the sandy soils limit organic alternatives and the mild winters serve as a safe harbor for many nematodes, weeds and pathogens.

Natural sequence farming could affect global climate change

Tue, 15 Mar 2011 10:35:35 EDT

Improving land management and farming practices in Australia could have an effect on global climate change, according to a new study.

Grazing of cattle pastures can improve soil quality

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:16:16 EST

Scientists have given growers in the Piedmont guidance on how to restore degraded soils and make the land productive. Researchers found that if cattle are managed so that they graze moderately, soil quality can be restored and emissions of carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) can be reduced.

Transitioning to organic farming

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 14:05:05 EST

Scientists conducted a four-year study examining the impact of reduced-tillage and cover crops managed for hay and forage production on the agronomic and economic performance of feed grain production.