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# 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.

No - Till - avoiding plowing or tilling the soil, reduces erosion, protects soil organic matter, and retains moisture.

## Soil Nutrients

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_207_3288_905_4807.jpg" alt="Image" width="21%" /></div>


Soil Structure

## Pest and Disease Management

Biological Pest Control - utilizing natural predators like ladybugs, birds, or beneficial bacteria can reduce the need for pest control.

Crop Diversity - growing a mix of crops to improve resilience and reduce pest pressure.

Trap Cropping - planting a crop that attracts pests away

## Common Crop Pests in KY and Organic Control Methods

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1279_2893_1620_3073.jpg" alt="Image" width="10%" /></div>


Corn earworm

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1276_3304_1608_3577.jpg" alt="Image" width="10%" /></div>


White grubs

(C) UK Entomology

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1254_3740_1647_4008.jpg" alt="Image" width="11%" /></div>


Cucumber beetle

(C) UK Entomology

• Pheromone traps

<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="imgs/img_in_image_box_1227_4160_1615_4443.jpg" alt="Image" width="11%" /></div>


(C) UK Entomology

• Beneficial insects

## Squash bug

• Row Cover

• Beneficial nematodes

• Natural enemies (e.g., parasitic wasps)

• grubGONE (OMRI listed)

Crop Rotation

(C) UK Entomology

• Removing crop residue

• Row Covers

Crop Rotation

## Water Management

• 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)

## Other Practices

Mulching - Covering soil with materials like wood chips, straw, leaves, or plastic, to retain moisture, suppress weed, and protect the soil.

• Agroforestry

• Alley Cropping

• Soil Testing

• Organic Livestock Practices

## 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.

## 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