Co-Authored By:
Asked by: Xiara Ohe
business and finance environmental services industryHow can organic farming control pests?
Then, how do organic farmers deal with pests and weeds?
On large-scale organic vegetable farms, weed control starts with ensuring a healthy soil with fertility levels matched to the particular crop being grown. (Low fertility will often give weeds an advantage over the crop, while excess fertility allows the weeds to flourish alongside the crop.)
- Build healthy soil with compost and mulch. Soil is alive, and soil life matters.
- Plant right for your site.
- Practice smart watering.
- Learn to live with a few insects.
- Practice natural lawn care.
- Use pesticides as a last resort.
- Pest problems don't necessarily require pesticides.
- If you use garden chemicals:
Likewise, people ask, how do farmers deal with pests?
Many farmers choose to use chemicals to keep weeds and pests from destroying their crops and to add more nutrients to the soil. There are three different kinds of pesticides; herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. All three of these pesticides are used to kill different kinds of pests that can be found on a farm.
Organic weed control in field crops
- Crop stand. A healthy, vigorous, thick crop is prominent to good weed control.
- Crop rotation. Multiple year crop rotations change the weed mix and yearly weed pressures.
- Cover crops.
- Variety selection.
- Clean seed.
- Soil health.
- Soil structure.
- Spring tillage.