Soil Management

    The objective of the soil management program must be the establishment and maintenance of a fertile soil through practices which maintain or increase soil humus levels, promote an optimum balance and supply of nutrients and stimulate biological activity.

    The organic matter produced on the farm is to be the basis of the fertilization program, with supplementation from approved off-farm sources of organic and inorganic nutrient sources when necessary.

    The frequency and nature of tillage operations must be performed as to minimize damage to soil structure and tilth.

    Fertilization practices must be directed towards conserving nutrients in the system.  Excessive levels of nutrients in the soil and crop should be avoided, as these can increase crop susceptibility to pests and disease, disrupt the soil equilibrium, reduce crop quality and pollute the environment.

    In cultivated fields, soils must be left bare as little as possible. Efforts must be made to use tillage methods which leave crop residues on the surface and to use cover crops as often as possible in the rotation.

Rotations:

    Sound rotations will aid in the maintenance of soil fertility, soil organic matter levels and soil structure, while ensuring that sufficient nutrients, particularly nitrogen, are available and nitrogen losses are minimized.  Rotations are the primary means of minimizing weed, pest and disease problems.

    The rotations of crops should include leguminous green manure crops (such as clovers, alfalfa, vetch etc.) to maximize inputs of atmospheric nitrogen to the farm.

    The planting of catch crops (such as oilseed radish, buckwheat, oats, etc.) should be encouraged to retain any residual nutrients in the soil after the main crop is harvested.

    Deep rooted crops (such as oilseed radish and sweetclover) should be included in the rotation to improve soil drainage and take up nutrients which have leached to deeper soil horizons.

Authorized Methods and Materials: Soils and Plants

1.  Organic Matter:

a.     Composted manure produced on the farm.  All imported manure must be composted prior to use.

b.    Fresh, aerated, anaerobic or "sheet composted" manures on perennials or crops not for human consumption, or when a crop for human consumption is not to be harvested for at least four months following application.  At application the soil must be sufficiently warm (about 10 C) and moist to ensure active microbial digestion.

c.     On radishes, leafy greens, beet family and other known nitrate accumulators, fresh, aerated, anaerobic or "sheet composted" manures may not be applied less that four months before planting.