The title is perhaps misleading, as “integration” would prevent growers from certifying their products organic. For public confidence organic growers have to comply with restrictions that make crop production tricky, especially regarding pest control. H owever, the organic direction offers many advantages in producing healthy and tasty vegetables.
Growers who aren’t interested in going the certified route can still gain so much, by using organic principles without all the restrictions which go with certification. They can go for lower production costs and still have a healthy, tasty product which will keep customers coming back for more. Clearly, this system would be best suited to those who have a regular customer base. One of the drawbacks of organic certification is that no chemical fertiliser is allowed.
This is no problem with mixtures, but no organic products I know of contain only nitrogen. When more nitrogen is required, organic producers have to apply other elements with it, which may be unnecessary. Different vegetables require different quantities of nitrogen, while with organic production it’s a case of one size fits all. One may have more than enough nitrogen for carrots, yet be way down with cabbages. Cabbages will grow bigger if they’re kick-started with a little nitrogen close to the young plant.
Too much nitrogen later on can affect the quality, but not yield, of cabbages, so by controlling it we can get the best of both worlds. M any more biological products are coming onto the market with certified organic approval, making things a lot easier. Nevertheless, some bugs can be a real pain to control with these products, which are not systemic. Cabbage aphids come to mind.
They cause the leaf to curl up over them, making them virtually impossible to reach with a contact spray. Pirimicarb can get aphids well under control with very little impact on beneficial insects. Extending the withholding period makes it even safer for the consumer. ’m adopting the organic approach and can vouch for lower costs and easier management. No-till with manure on the surface and judicious use of limestone ammonium nitrate (LAN) give me high yields, with fewer diseases and pests and lower nitrogen requirements. Spraying should be done as and only when necessary, using products safe for humans and beneficial bugs. – Bill Kerr ((016) 366 0616 or e-mail [email protected]). |fw
