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FACT SHEET
Organic Agriculture Practices Linelle Rivera Rodríguez, Extension Associate Organic Agriculture
Soil Health and Fertility
Crop Rotation - growing different crops in the same field in a planned sequence to improve soil, reduce pests, and prevent nutrient depletion.
Composting-breaking down organic materials such as food scraps, leaves, wood, manure into nutrient-rich soil amendment.
Cover Cropping - planting certain certain crops between main crops to protect soil, add nutrients, and reduce weeds.
Biological Pest Control - utilizing natural predators like ladybugs, birds, or beneficial bacteria can reduce the need for pest control.
Water Management
Drip Irrigation - Watering plants slowly and directly to the roots through tubes or pipes with smaller drainage.
Rain Water - Water collected from rainfall.
Crop Diversity - growing a mix of crops to improve resilience and reduce pest pressure.
Mulching - Covering soil with materials like wood chips, straw, leaves, or plastic, to retain moisture, suppress weed, and protect the soil.
Trap Cropping - planting a crop that attracts pests away
Other Practices
- Agroforestry
- Alley Cropping
- Soil Testing
- Organic Livestock Practices
Common Crop Pests in KY and Organic Control Methods
(C) UK Entomology
White grubs
No - Till - avoiding plowing or tilling the soil, reduces erosion, protects soil organic matter, and retains moisture.
Soil Nutrients
Pest and Disease Management
Corn earworm
(C) UK Entomology
(C) UK Entomology
Squash bug
- (C) UK Entomology
Cucumber beetle
- Pheromone traps
- Beneficial insects
- Row Cover
- Beneficial nematodes
- Natural enemies (e.g., parasitic wasps)
- grubGONE (OMRI listed)
- Crop Rotation
- Removing crop residue
- Row Covers
Acknowledgment
Thank you, Katherine Kamminga, Entomologist and Kasia Bradley, Research and Extension Associate Forestry and Natural Resources for your support on preparing this fact sheet.
- Crop Rotation
- Removing crop residue Drip Irrigation - Watering plants slowly and directly to the roots through tubes or pipes with smaller drainage.
- Row Covers
- Neem oil Rain Water - Water collected from rainfall.
- Insecticidal soap (OMRI listed)
KYSU Resources
Jacob Brown, M.S., Research Associate, Soil Jacob.brown1@kysu.edu
Katherine Kamminga, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, Entomologist, katherine.kamminga@kysu.edu
Suraj Upadhaya, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Sustainable Systems, suraj.upadhaya@kysu.edu
Linelle Rivera Rodriguez, M.S., Extension Associate Organic Agriculture, linelle.rivera@kysu.edu