Soil erosion risk and mitigation through crop rotation on organic and conventional cropping systems

Organic cropping systems are often accused of increasing soil erosion risk through an increased use of tillage for weed control. However, little research has been conducted in Canada regarding soil erosion risk on organic farms. It is known that crop rotations can be used to ameliorate a variety of agronomic problems encountered in cropping systems, including soil erosion. Organic systems, which do not use synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, rely more heavily on crop rotations than conventional systems to solve agronomic problems such as weeds and insects. The objective of this study was to compare cropping practices (including crop rotations and tillage regime) on organic and conventional cropping systems, and examine the effect of crop rotation (annual-, biennial-, or perennial-containing rotations) and management (organic or conventional) on soil properties relating to wind and water erosion risk. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...