Influence of long term organic farming on soil parameters in different crop rotations

Abstract

The aim of the research was to assess changes in the quality of the soil under the influence of long time organic production conditions. Different crop rotations were applied at the farm of LUA Centre of Agroecology during period 1997 - 2006. In the first crop rotation plants were fertilized with organic fertilizers, while in the second crops were grown without the use of organic fertilizers. The analyses show that soil characteristics deteriorate in the field s of both crop rotations during the period of investigations. In the first and in the second crop rotations the content of humus, phosphorus and potassium decrease. For the estimation of soil quality were used standard methods of soil investigations and new methods, as measure of electrochemical parameters of soil, which give additional information on soil vital properties.