Crop yield and soil nutrient status on 14 organic farms in the eastern portion of the northern Great Plains

M. H. Entz, R. Guilford, and R. Gulden
Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2N2 ; (E-mail: m_entz@umanitoba.ca).

Abstract
Cropping records from 13 organic farms in the eastern Canadian prairies and one in North Dakota (1991 to 1996) were surveyed to determine crop rotation pattern, yields and soil nutrient status. Major crops included cereal grains, forages, and green manure legumes.

Organic grain and forage yields averaged from one-half to almost double conventional yields. Soil N, K and S levels on organic farms were generally sufficient; however, levels of available soil P were deficient in several instances.

 

Source
Can. J. Plant Sci. 81: 351–354; © 2001 Agricultural Institute of Canada

 

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Posted September 2007