ORGANIC AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH OF SOIL ECOSYSTEM

A.M. Semenov¹, A.P. Glinushkin², M.S. Sokolov^2
1Moscow State University of M.V. Lomonosov, Leninskie gory, 1/12, Moskva, 119234, Russian Federation
²All-Russia Research Institute of Phytopathology, ul. Institut, vlad. 5, r.p. Bol’shie Vyazemy, Odintsovskii r-n, Moskovskaya obl., 143050, Russian Federation

Summary. It is compared and discussed two different, in terms of content, farming systems: organic and intensive. In this regard, the modern definition of the soil is proposed. It is inserted the concept of “soil ecosystem” for the modern alternative to the traditional interpretation of the soil. It is examined some features of the functioning of soil ecosystems with the implementation of the different farming systems, organic and intensive. At that the inner essence and the external performance of these two alternative land-use systems are revealed. The importance of the development of organic agriculture is emphasized by the documents of Parliament, government of the Russian Federation and international organizations. It is briefly listed the tasks that need to be addressed during the transition to a knowledge-intensive system of production of environmentally friendly agricultural products under conditions of organic farming. The focus is on those aspects that are important in the transition from intensive to organic farming. It is discussed the need to introduce new characteristics of soil ecosystems – soil health. It is given the modern definition of “soil health”. It is discussed the positive impact of organic farming and its technologies on the health of soil. The list of actions for continuous maintenance and reproduction of soil health is presented. Much attention is paid to maintaining soil health, its remediation and rehabilitation. The problems of protecting plants and crops from harmful organisms in organic farming are discussed. The phenomenon “oligotrophication of agroecosystems” is considered and discussed, as an unconventional way of healing and maintaining health of soil ecosystems. The thesis about the necessity for considering the quality and fertility of the soil as the components of the new characteristics – “soil health” is tabled.

Keywords: soil, soil ecosystem, intensive agriculture, organic agriculture, soil health, diagnosis, therapy.

Author Details: A.M. Semenov, D.Sc. (Biol.), prof. (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.); A.P. Glinushkin, D. Sc. (Agr.), head of division (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.); M.S. Sokolov, D. Sc. (Biol.), member of the RAS, science advisor (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.).

For citation: Semenov A.M., Glinushkin A.P., Sokolov M.S. Organic Agriculture and Health of Soil Ecosystem. Dostizheniya nauki i tekhniki APK. 2016. V.30. No. 8. Pp. 5-8 (in Russ.).