BTW the NOP just put out a memorandum July 21, 2016 regarding hydroponic and terrestrial plants grown in containers that supports and clarifies the 2010 recommendations. It addresses whether container grown plants qualify as organic. The main issue with pot culture is that the purpose of organic culture is to feed the soil not the plant. If most of the nutrients cannot be supplied by the soil but rely on continuous inputs primarily to feed the plants not the soil, then it is not improving the soil which is the goal of organic culture. Container media should be recycled. Hydroponics are not grown in soil and do not qualify as organic. The nutrient solution in hydo systems are primarily to feed the plant. Container plants that get most of their nutrition from additions of fertilizer regardless of source rather than from the soil are not organic since the fertilizer is to feed the plant not the soil. Small containers cannot meet the requirements of having the majority of the nutrients coming from the soil for most plants.
https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/ ... Report.PDF
Organic farming practices are centered on the basic principle of feeding the soil rather than the
crop.
We believe, that although some international standards allow crops to be grown in containers
of biologically active media mimicking a soil system, and also restrict the amount of crop
nutrients coming from direct feeding, there is no international organic standard that allows the
bulk of the crop nutrients to come from direct crop feeding.
The NOSB in their 2010 recommendation made it clear that they support the historical premise
that organic production should take place in soil. Our subcommittee of the
Hydroponic/Aquaponic Task Force agrees, and has worked to clarify any ambiguities that we
and/or the NOP recognized.
The crux of our conclusion is to clarify the distinction between organic fertility management
and conventional fertility management. In organic management, the source of the bulk of the
crop nutrients are from the biological activity decomposing complex organic molecules
(compost, manures, seed meals, etc.) and the mineral fractions in the soil. In contrast, in non
organic production the bulk of the plant nutrients are supplied in available forms. It is the
management of the soil that is at the heart of organic production. In contrast, in a non organic
system it is the management of the fertilizers.
Some container grown systems that use a combination of soil/compost as the
source of fertility may be close enough to soil-grown that they could be certified
with some amendments to USDA organic regulations.
7) Container production of crops to maturity (Debatable, not in full alignment with USDA
organic regulations, but may be in alignment with 2010 NOSB recommendation) The media in
containers may or may not contain soil and the corresponding biological activity creating
available nutrients for plants. Furthermore, the amount of the media may or may not be large
enough to supply the bulk of crop nutrients. This is fodder for debate in the NOSB and NOP.
Options include:
a) simply prohibiting the production of crops to maturity in containers,
b) or requiring containers of such size that the bulk of the crop nutrients comes from the soil
in a container. In other words, limiting the amount of crop nutrients coming from soluble, plant
available fertilizers.
Based on the work of this subcommittee, there appear to be the following choices to satisfy both
the language of OFPA and the intent of the 2010 recommendation:
● Limit organic certification to what is grown in the ground, with the exceptions of
transplants, ornamental, and herbs (The common standard used in most European
organic certification). This would be the single path that is in clear alignment with the
language of OFPA. The majority of the subcommittee supports this option.
● If certification includes crops grown in containers, it will require additional standards to
cover the practices that are not covered by existing regulations. The critical question is
how to ensure that container grown plants get most of their fertility from the natural
processes of the soil or compost based media in the containers. This could require a
limitation on the percentage of nutrition that could be gained from additional fertilizers
after planting, and the amount of fertility obtained from liquid feeding. We suggest a
limitation of no more than 50% of the required fertility being added after planting, and
no more than 20% to be added as a liquid fertilizer after planting. For perennials these
limitations should be on an annual basis. A similar limitation suggested by IFOAM EU is
intended for field crops as well as greenhouse crops. Another suggestion is to follow the
recommendation of Dr. Martine Dorais of Laval University and the Agassiz Research and
Development Centre to grow in 100 to 180 liters of soil per m2
. At this volume she has
demonstrated that no liquid fertilizing is necessary, and fertility can be provided by the
biological activity of the growing medium in the beds. We recommend defining the
growing area to include the paths between rows. This choice deviates from a strict
interpretation of the language of OFPA, but is closer to the intention.
Thanks for sharing. I did have to look up NOP. Anyway, interesting on the container grown plants.
I don't try for total organic or certification, but stay away from heavy chemicals etc. Especially when growing herbs for market (fresh cut) used more 'fish' than approved by NOP. With the herbs and perennials in large containers have a living soil and worms in residence. In a couple of weeks if all goes as planned, I'll be doing a Growing Herbs (especially growing more than just own's use) workshop at my house. I'll mention all of this. Of course if anyone plans to certify organic will be following those guidelines.
I don't try for total organic or certification, but stay away from heavy chemicals etc. Especially when growing herbs for market (fresh cut) used more 'fish' than approved by NOP. With the herbs and perennials in large containers have a living soil and worms in residence. In a couple of weeks if all goes as planned, I'll be doing a Growing Herbs (especially growing more than just own's use) workshop at my house. I'll mention all of this. Of course if anyone plans to certify organic will be following those guidelines.