The Rotational Benefits of Forages: Organic Farming

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

Glenlea Long-Term Crop Rotation Study

-f/-p(organic)

+f/-p

-f/+p

+f/+p (conventional)

22 bu/acre - +pesticide +fertilizer

1999

1999

22 bu/acre - 8th organic crop

Economics Glenlea Rotation - 1992-1998

Rotation +f+p +f-p -f+p -f-p

w-p-w-f Cost –104Profit- 28

Cost – 77Profit- 31

Cost – 71Profit – 26

Cost – 43Profit-40

w-a-a-f Cost- 72Profit- 78

Cost – 52Profit-93

Cost – 56Profit- 74

Cost – 36Profit- 94

Diversified system with low inputsmore profitable than straight grain system with inputs

Legume plants naturally occur in no input rotation

Rothamsted, UK No fertilizer/No weedkiller rotationsince 1843

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

Dandelion a concern in alfalfa based rotations.

Phosphorus fertilization also a concern in forage based rotations.

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