The water pollution impact of organic cotton has been shown to be 98 per cent less than non-organic cotton production 6. The leaching of nitrate from farming soil into water drainage systems is a major source of water pollution in the upper Midwestern states. Many of the commonly traded agricultural crops grown today are grown in large plots of monocultures and require large amounts of water to produce them. Mulch made from organic materials such as straw or wood chips will break down into compost, further increasing the soil’s ability to retain water. Pesticides derived from natural sources (such as biological pesticides) may be used in producing organically grown food. Importantly organic cotton farming does not allow the use of toxic chemicals or GMOs (genetically modified organisms). They can improve soil structure by burrowing and moving organic matter through the soil profile. Research, innovation, and access to improved technologies, seeds, and improved irrigation techniques are essential to increasing the efficiency of water use. Organic farming methods combine scientific knowledge of ecology and some modern technology with traditional farming practices based on naturally occurring biological processes. South Africa’s average annual rainfall is only 492mm, which is about 50% lower than the global average. Moreover, organic farming showed to have higher water use efficiency and a positive impact on water and soil quality (Sivaranjani and Rakshit, 2019). By implementing advanced organic farming techniques, it has cut down its usage of artificial fertilizers and pesticides by more than 90% and achieved a growth of 30% in production. The issue is particularly topical in Sweden, with the government pushing for an expansion in organic farming. Their burrows also allow water and air to get into the soil. Water quality will determine just what the water may be used for. Crop rotation also supports reduced or no-till farming, which ensures even better protection against erosion. "Organic HAS NOTHING to do with water usage," Joel Nelson, a California citrus grower and president of the California Citrus Mutual growers association, wrote in an email to CNBC. Conclusion. Water is a precious resource so improving its use is essential. Crop rotation helps control the erosion of soil from water and wind by improving the soil structure and reducing the amount of soil that is exposed to water and wind. More recently, a study published in Nature titled Comparing the yields of organic and conventional agriculture revealed that: Organic farming is agriculture that makes healthy food, healthy soils, healthy plants, and healthy environments a priority, along with crop productivity. Sourcing cotton from certified sustainable farming can make a major difference to fashion’s water footprint. Adopting proven sustainable agricultural practices reduces water use per bushel. As populations have grown, farming practices have become more intensified to maximise crop yields and ensure we can feed the ever growing population. "The environmental costs and benefits of high-yield farming." Organic farming is the method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones. Organic farms do use less water per farm, but because organic methods tend to have lower yields, organic may use more water per crop in some cases. Published: Sept 2018. doi: 10.1038/s41893-018-0138-5 PRI Zaytuna Farm main crop. Conventional farming has been heavily criticized for causing biodiversity loss, soil erosion, and increased water pollution due to the rampant usage of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. These practices help maintain water quality, while enhanced soil structure, water infiltration, and better nutrient retention also protect water quality. “The water consumed to grow India’s cotton exports in 2013 would be enough to supply 85% of the country’s 1.24 billion people with 100 litres of water every day for a year. Organic farming covered 13.4 million hectares of agricultural land in the EU-28 in 2018. These benefits are counterbalanced by higher food costs for consumers and generally lower yields. The bottom line is clear: Organic farms produce fewer crops and are worse for the environment. Now, Kerlink, a specialist in solutions dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT), and Sensoterra, a specialist in wireless soil-moisture-sensor solutions, have announced a partnership to take care of water waste. Meanwhile, more than 100 million people in India do not have access to safe water”. The countries with the highest shares of organic land were Austria, Estonia and Sweden. "The greater land-use in organic farming leads indirectly to higher carbon dioxide emissions, thanks to deforestation," explains Wirsenius. They hypothesize that farmers could lower their costs with data-driven farming and reduce water consumption by up to 30%. Herbicides, pesticides, and artificial growth hormones are all forbidden on an organic farm. Agriculture, an important sector of our economy accounts for 14 per cent of the nation’s GDP and about 11 per cent of its exports. Organic farming helps to prevent environmental degradation and used to regenerate degraded areas. Organic farming is much eco-friendly, and produces safe healthy food by compared to the conventional farming. Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli, who witnessed the presentation of the certification, noted that the increasing demand for organic food has growth potential for local farms. Refer to Water quality for farm water supplies for more information on salinity. Organic Farming - Organically grown food is food grown and processed using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. Soil-less & Vertical, This Style of Farming Will Reduce Water Usage By 95%! A 2001 study on organic cotton farming efficiency conducted in Greece, showed that organic farms produced only 73% of the yield of those of a conventional farm and 86% of the revenue (p. 40). Organic farmers use biological fertilizer inputs and management practices such as cover cropping and crop rotation to improve soil quality and build organic … Go for organic … Post Author: Surekha Kadapa-Bose Well-managed organic systems rely on slow-release forms of nutrients, which reduce the risk of nutrient runoff and leaching. If one has a 1000 sq ft plot of land, vertical farming on it yields a harvest which is equivalent to 3,000-4,000 sq ft of plot. India has the second largest arable land base (159.7 million hectares) after US and largest gross irrigated area (88 milion hectares) in the world. Credit: Youtube / Richard Perkins #4 Growing more water efficient crops according to regional climate. Water has to be applied in the right amounts at the right time in order to achieve the right crop result. These policy decisions have an impact on the climate across the globe, the researchers point out. Therefore, Organic Cotton is commercially far more beneficial than conventional non-Organic Cotton. This corresponds to 7.5 % of the total utilised agricultural area of the EU-28. But generally a cotton plant requires the same amount of water whether it’s organic or not, and non-organic farmers also use plenty of methods to keep their soil healthy. Principles and Practices for Sustainable Water Management in Farming Production (version 2010) Water is a vital component of agricultural production. Don't build more of them. Soil organisms such as earthworms are also very good for soil. Courtesy of Nadia Lawton. Which method of farming uses the most water? Therefore, the time has come to shift from conventional farming to organic farming to safeguard the lives of people from … Organic farming in India received attention after launching of National Project on Organic Farming (NPOF) in 2004-05. In each of these countries the organic share was above 20 % of the total agricultural land. Page 4 ATTRA‘s Organic Matters//Protecting Water Quality on Organic Farms How Organic Farms Sometimes Fail to Protect Water Quality Sustainable, well-managed organic farms do not focus on a single crop, but involve a diversity of crops that represent multiple nutrient utilization strategies, water uptake requirements, and pest preferences. When we talk about a Green Revolution, we really mean a nitrogen revolution—along with a lot of water. Rice, wheat, cotton, oilseeds, jute, tea, sugarcane, milk and potatoes are the major agricultural commodities produced. Water quality. They use all natural methods that do not harm the consumer or the environment that they are grown in. Compost and mulch help Allstar Organics, Tierra Vegetables, and many other Ferry Plaza Farmers Market farms retain more water in the soil during the dry season. Cool and clean water of low salt content is best for stock health and for household use. Irrigation farming makes up about 60% of all water usage in South Africa, while rural and urban municipalities (including household use) account for about 30% of water use, and mining 5%, according to the Department of Water and Sanitation. Source: Andrew Balmford, et al. organic contamination. By growing a variety of less thirsty crops, including perennial crops with deep roots, this should reduce the demand for water in agriculture. Area under organic farming was 42,000 hectares during 2004-05 which had increased to 1.08 hectares by March 2010. Agriculture needs to be part of watershed management. In attempt to reduce the environmental impacts associated with heavy fertilizer use in conventional agriculture, some producers have begun to investigate organic methods. Salinity is the most common water quality issue. The Squelch test can be carried out to work out when to avoid certain farming operations in order to prevent soil compaction. Organic advocates cite numerous studies that suggest the environmental and economic impact of organic farming is less than conventional farming. Areas like Southern California care about that question, because they grow much of the nation’s food but suffer from frequent water shortages. Organic cotton is cotton that is produced and certified to organic agricultural standards. Organic farming does not use any type of harmful chemicals to keep pests away, unlike the majority of industrial farming. It is essential to maximise both yield and quality. 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