The Rotational Benefits of Forages: Organic Farming

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The Rotational Benefits of Forages Organic
Farming

• Forages are an integral part of an organic system
  due to soil building and pest suppression factors

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Glenlea Long-Term Crop Rotation Study
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f/-p
f/p (conventional)
-f/p
-f/-p (organic)
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1999
22 bu/acre - pesticide fertilizer
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1999
22 bu/acre - 8th organic crop
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Economics Glenlea Rotation - 1992-1998
Diversified system with low inputs more
profitable than straight grain system with inputs
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Rothamsted, UK No fertilizer/No weedkiller
rotation since 1843
Legume plants naturally occur in no input rotation
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Crop and Weed Populations Glenlea, 2000
wheat G foxtail RR Pweed WM
--------------- plants/m2 -------------- rotation/
input wpwf full 268 46
45 11 organic 380
328 11 409 wscwf
full 318 18 123
545 organic 367 110
31 446 waaf full
314 6 5
24 organic 387 88
6 977
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Dandelion a concern in alfalfa based rotations.
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Phosphorus fertilization also a concern in forage
based rotations.
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