An Examination of the Connection between Stoichiometry and Ecosystem Services in Organic Agricultural Systems

Anika Reetsch^*
*Correspondence: Anika Reetsch, Department of Environmental Sciences, Institute of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Chair of Site Ecology and Plant Nutrition, Technische Universität Dresden, Pienner Str. 19, 01735 Tharandt, Germany, Email:

Keywords

Ecosystem services • Agricultural systems • Stoichiometry

Introduction

The philosophy of organic farming is an integrated strategy in which all components of farming systems are connected to one another and support one another. Crop nutrition comes from a healthy, biologically active soil, pest control comes from on-farm biodiversity, crop rotation and multiple cropping keep the system healthy, and on-farm resource management with livestock integration ensure productivity and sustainability. Organic management places more emphasis on maximising productivity and minimising resource use than it does on maximising productivity and overusing resources at the expense of resources intended for future generations. The philosophy of organic farming is an integrated strategy in which all components of farming systems are connected to one another and support one another. Crop nutrition comes from a healthy, biologically active soil, pest control comes from on-farm biodiversity, crop rotation and multiple cropping keep the system healthy, and on-farm resource management with livestock integration ensure productivity and sustainability. Organic management places more emphasis on maximising productivity and minimising resource use than it does on maximising productivity and overusing resources at the expense of resources intended for future generations [1].

Description

The purposeful efforts of motivated individuals to establish the finest possible relationship between the land and humans have given rise to organic agriculture. The environment surrounding organic agriculture has significantly expanded in complexity since its inception. Certainly, its emergence into the world of policymaking, its presence in the anonymous global market, and the conversion of organic products into commodities present significant challenges today. The worldwide community has become significantly more aware of the need of protecting the environment and ensuring the quality of food during the past two decades. Dedicated supporters of organic farming believe that it can satisfy both of these needs and serve as the foundation for the full development of rural areas. The general public is now accepting organic agriculture after almost a century of growth. The guiding principle of organic farming is an integrated approach in which all elements of farming systems are interconnected and mutually supportive. Crop rotation and multiple cropping maintain the system healthy. On-farm resource management with livestock integration ensures productivity and sustainability. Crop nutrition comes from a healthy, biologically active soil. Pest control comes from on-farm biodiversity [2].

Organic farming theory this region is well accustomed to organic farming. Anyone who attempts to write a history India and China must be mentioned when discussing organic farming. These two's farmers Countries have been farmers for forty centuries, and organic farming has kept them alive. The following concepts form the foundation of the organic farming concept: The best agricultural model is nature because it doesn't require any inputs. Neither asks for excessive amounts of water. The foundation of the entire system is a profound knowledge of nature's workings. The system does not support nutrient mining in the soil and does not alter it in any way to suit modern requirements. In this approach, the soil is a living thing. Nearly 70% of the population of India depends on agriculture for their livelihood, which has been the foundation of the Indian economy. Organic farming coexists with nature, as opposed to than opposed to it [3].

This entails employing methods to increase crop productivity without endangering the natural environment, the inhabitants or those who work and live there. Here, a farmer makes use of all his or her knowledge, various methods and resources for collaborating with nature. Farmer creates a good equilibrium in this way. Organic farming is extremely important in the current environment because everyone is aware of their health. If we look at the agricultural situation over the last three to four decades, the careless usage of the destruction of soil was caused by pesticides, chemical fertilisers, synthetic growth regulators, etc. quality, risky produce, and negative effects. The organic agriculture sector is expanding quickly, and statistical data are currently available from 154 sources [4].

For a sizeable portion of the world's population, wheat serves as their primary source of food and is the second most widely farmed crop in the world. For the processing sector, modern wheat cultivars must meet particular technological quality standards. Intense genetic breeding efforts have been made to produce products that meet these requirements. Contrarily, conventional breeding has reduced genetic diversity and crop tolerance to pedoclimatic and various habitats. Ancient wheat cultivars are being used more frequently lately, which can be attributed to its improved nutraceutical characteristics, increased resilience to climate change, and cheaper input needs. On the one hand, organic farming focuses on preserving the natural fertility of the soil while using less outside inputs. On the other side, the system is hampered by the lower yields per hectare and, thus, the greater amount of land needed to meet the demand for food. To evaluate the actual environmental effects of organic and conventional farming systems, a thorough evaluation of the literature was recently conducted throughout the scientific community. Principal findings revealed significant variation, primarily owing to pertinent differences in management techniques as well as differences in the two agricultural systems' analytical approaches that make comparisons challenging [5].

Conclusion

Even when using similar agricultural practises, zoning various agricultural aptitude groups may result in distinct outcomes. Recent research confirmed that organic farming is not an effective way to maximise land use efficiency, supporting the findings of who reported that organic farming requires about 84% more land than conventional farming. This is mostly caused by the lower yields (from crops and animals) compared to conventional farming, which range from 20 to 34% less. Lower yields in organic farming are typically caused by nutritional deficiencies, weeds, pests, and illnesses. Based on the discrepancies described in the literature, a thorough analysis that takes into account the most significant effect categories is essential. The present literature mostly concentrates on a small number of effect categories. There aren't many articles that examine every category that exists, and they hardly ever compare organic with conventional farming. The dearth of studies on the environmental effects of growing ancient wheat types in both conventional and organic farming systems emphasises the importance of this research.

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

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