Organic Culture of Plants

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Organic Culture of Plants

• By
• Robert Tomesh
• UW-Extension

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Three Primary Concepts

• 1. Build and maintain the soils organic content
• 2. Use nature materials as a source of mineral
  nutrients
• 3. Use cultural and biological pest control
  methods.

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1. Use soil building techniques which maintain or
increase the organic content in the soil.
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Use organic and natural materials as a source of
mineral nutrients to feed plants.(Use natural
occurring and organic fertilizers.)
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Utilize cultural practices, biological methods,
and resistant varieties to control plant
pests.(Do not use chemical pesticides to control
insects, disease, and weeds.)
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History of Organic Culture1. Sir Albert Howard
19312. Chinese composted over 2000 years ago3.
Romans used organic soil management and cultural
pest control4. Rodales Organic gardening
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Detail Concept 1Use soil building techniques
which maintain or increase the organic content in
the soil.
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Organic matter content of soils is part of a
routine soil test report.Given in percent3
30 Ton/A6 60 Ton/A
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A Volume of Soil-25 Water-25 Air-42 plus
minerals (sand)-0 to 8 O. M.
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Organic Soil Building

• O.M. is in the upper 6 inches of soil
• O.M. is difficult to maintain
• O.M. is transient

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Loss of Organic Matter-Cultivation increases
aeration and increases the loss of O.M.-About
90 of the humus added to the soil is lost the
first year-Lost as carbon dioxide, oxygen and
water
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Factors Contributing to the Loss of Organic
Matter-Cultivation-High temperatures-Moisture
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Value of O.M. in Soil1. Improve physical
condition2. Increase moisture holding capacity
of sandy soils3. Increase pore-space of clay
soil and aides in dry-down
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Value of O.M. in Soil4. Increases soil
fertility5. Increases the ability of soil to
release nutrient chemicals6. Improves conditions
for beneficial soil micro-organisms
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Value of O.M. in Soil7. Enhances the pH
buffering capacity8. Helps reduce soil
crusting9. Lends soils to be less drought
resistant
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Value of O.M. in Soil10. Increases spring soil
warming11. Enhances root development in the
warm, porous soil
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When selecting an O.M. source, avoid high
carbon/nitrogen ratio materials as sawdust,
woodchips, newspapers and cardboard.
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Goal of Organic Soil BuildingContinually add
O.M. which influences the physical and chemical
properties of the soil.
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Sources of O.M. for the Soil

• Compost
• Utilization of Mulch
• Green Manure Crops
• Crop Residues
• Animal Manure (Safety)
• Grass Clippings
• Yard Waste

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Develop a Plan for Soil Building

• Read collected resources
• Accumulate soil amendments
• I.D. source of O.M.
• Prepare a management plan using O.M. sources

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Compost vs.MulchMulch is any material placed on
top of soil to benefit plants.Compost is
decomposed plant and animal materials.Compost
can be used as a mulch material.
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Concept 2 Use organic and natural materials as a
source of mineral nutrients to feed plants.(Use
natural occurring and organic fertilizers.)
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Organic Matter as a Fertilizer

• Many Choices of Organic Fertilizer
• Composted high N/P/K/ ratio materials
• Applied and a 2 to 4 inch compost layer in fall
  and tilled
• Spring and Fall green manure crops tilled into
  soil

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Organic Matter as a Fertilizer

• Beginning the deep soil improvement with compost
  and deep digging.
• Consider doing this every 3 to 5 years.
• Use a combination of a fallow area with a season
  of green manure crops tilled-in.

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Wood AshesMonitor soil pHWood ashes have a
liming affectIf pH is below 6, add 10 to 30
per 1000 sq. feetIf pH is above 6, add 10 or
less per 1000 sq. feetApply dry weight, in fall
and till into the soil.
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Concept 3 Utilize cultural practices, biological
methods, and resistant varieties to control plant
pests.(Do not use chemical pesticides to control
insects, disease, and weeds.)
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Weed Management Strategies

• Avoidance
• Tillage (Aerate/Till)
• Hand pulling
• Hoeing
• Mulch (Soil temp.)
• Inorganic, plastics, etc.
• Organic

• Mowing/weed wacker
• Digging
• Hot water
• Burning
• Green mulch
• Rye, clover, Brassicas

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Disease and Insect Protection

• Exclude pests before they get there
• Establish a barrier
• Plan ahead

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Insect Management Strategies

• Remay products
• Paper Bags
• Hand Picking
• Vacuuming
• Shaking
• Sticky Traps
• Light Traps (benefical insects)
• Sanitation

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Insect Prevention (P) and Therapeutic (T) Products

• Barriers (P)
• Wood Ashes (P)
• Chitin/Diatoms (P/T)
• BT (T)
• Insecticidal Soaps (P/T)
• Water Spray (rain) (P/T)
• Alcohol (T)
• Superior oils (P/T)

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Disease Management Strategies

• Crop Rotation
• Select Disease Resistant Plants
• Space Plants
• Watering Program
• Trellis Plants
• Avoid Shade
• Weed Control
• Manage Borders
• End of Season Clean-up

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Disease Protection Products(Protection vs
Theropeutic)-Bordeaux mis-Lime-sulfur-Copper
-Sulfur-Horticultural oils-Sodium
bicarbonate/oils-Antitranspirants-Bagging
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Disease Protection ProductsProtection vs.
Theropeutic

• Bordeaus mix
• Lime-sulfur
• Copper
• Sulfur
• Compost tea

• Horticultural oils
• Sodium bicarbonate/oils
• Antitranspirants
• Bagging

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Summary of Organic Management Strategies1.
Identify problem areas2. Gather information on
management strategies3. Develop a list of
resources and suppliers4. Practice IPM for pest
management
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FinallyPlan ahead, be preparedKeep and
almanacPractice daily scoutingTake immediate
actionConsider all prevention opportunities