Assessing Organic Farm Nutrient Management

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Description
The United States Department of Agriculture provides requirements for a farm operation to become certified organic, but how do these regulations influence nutrient management on organic farms? There is insufficient evidence to show if the current regulations on nutrient sourcing

The United States Department of Agriculture provides requirements for a farm operation to become certified organic, but how do these regulations influence nutrient management on organic farms? There is insufficient evidence to show if the current regulations on nutrient sourcing and application are feasible and effective. An online survey was administered to owners and operators of organic farms. Survey respondents were offered a free soil test as an incentive to participate and to compare their practices and soil quality. Assessing the current nutrient management under organic regulations provides information to help assess the sustainability of their nutrient management practices. Early data suggest that organic farmers may most often be overapplying and creating legacy sources with this key resource.
Date Created
2022
Agent

Assessing Urban Agricultural Practices in Desert Cities

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Description

Is there a mismatch between urban farmers’ perceptions of their farm’s environmental sustainability and its actual environmental impact? Focusing on the use of water and nutrients on each farm as described by the farmers through interviews, it is evident that

Is there a mismatch between urban farmers’ perceptions of their farm’s environmental sustainability and its actual environmental impact? Focusing on the use of water and nutrients on each farm as described by the farmers through interviews, it is evident that there is some level of disconnect between ideals and practices. This project may aid in bridging the gap between the two in regard to the farmers’ sustainability goals. This project will move forward by continuing interviews with farmers as well as collecting soil and water from the farms in order to more accurately quantify the sustainability of the farms’ practices. This project demonstrates that there is some degree of misalignment between perception and reality. Two farms claimed they were sustainable when their practices did not reflect that, while 2 farms said they were not sure if they were sustainable when their practices indicated otherwise. Samples from two farms showed high concentrations of nutrients and salts, supporting the idea that there may be a mismatch between perceived and actual sustainability.

Date Created
2021-05
Agent