**3. Differences between organic and conventional farming with respect to plant protection**

Few options of plant protection substances are available for certified organic growers compared to conventional ones. Thus, they should capitalize on the natural processes and management of the ecosystem to control harmful organisms. Organic farms had a more diverse arthropod fauna, on average, than conventional farms. The average for five 30-second vacuum samples per farm was approximately 40 arthropod species in conventional tomato compared to 66 species in organic tomato fields. Additionally, natural enemies (parasitoids plus predators) were more abundant on organic farms [10]. Arthropod biodiversity, as measured by species richness, was, on average, one-third greater on organic farms than on conventional farms [10].

Under organic farming systems, the fundamental components and natural processes of ecosystems, such as soil organism activities, nutrient cycling, and species distribution and competition, are used directly and indirectly as farm management tools to prevent pest populations from reaching economically damaging levels. Soil fertility and crop nutrients are managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, and cover crops and supplemented with manure, composts, crop waste material, and other allowed substances.

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biodiversity, and other criteria.

**4. Crop protection practices in organic farming**

will be intensively discussed in the following paragraphs:

**4.1 Identification and monitoring of crop pests**

*Insect Pest Management in Organic Farming System DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84483*

Synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides are not

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not

OF has larger floral and faunal biodiversity than CF

The agricultural landscape is characterized by heterogeneity (multicultural system)

Minimizing the use of nonrenewable resources by recycling plant and animal waste into the soils (on-farm

Strictly regulated by international and national institutional bodies such as Codex Alimentarius and

Crop protection depends mainly on natural processes such as soil fertility, crop cycle, and biodiversity (more

*Fundamental differences between organic and conventional farming.*

permitted

allowed

inputs)

IFOAM

preventive)

**Table 1.**

(complex crop pattern)

**Organic farming (OF) Conventional farming (CF)**

Soils have higher water holding capacity than CF Soils have less water holding capacity than OF

OF is more sustainable than CF CF is less sustainable compared to OF

Synthetic fertilizers and synthetic pesticides

CF has smaller biodiversity than OF (simple

The agricultural landscape is characterized by homogeneity (monocultural system)

Depends largely on nonrenewable resources

Crop protection relies mainly on human intervention with synthetic chemicals (more

are allowed

crop pattern)

(off-farm inputs)

Not strictly regulated

curative)

GMOs can be used

Soil-borne and root pathogens are usually found in low levels in organic farming as compared to conventional farming [11]. Pathogens such as *Pythium* spp., *Sclerotium rolfsii*, *Phytophthora* spp., and some *Fusarium* can survive on organic matter of the soil, in the absence of their hosts for long periods, and are thus difficult to be controlled with crop rotation. Additionally, airborne pathogens cannot be controlled with cultural practice such as crop rotation [12]. Powdery mildew and rust diseases (airborne) and insect pests such as aphids and whiteflies (sucking insects) are less serious in organic farming than in conventional farming due to lower nitrogen concentrations in foliar tissues or phloem of plants in the former compared with the latter [11]. Almost all pesticides available for organic farming have short residual effects and work through direct contact mode of action as compared to the persistent systemic pesticides used in conventional farming. **Table 1** gives the main differences between organic and conventional farming with respect to soil fertility,

Practices and tactics used in organic farming are based on the three management strategies, which include prevention, monitoring, and suppression. These practices

Crop pests include insects, weed, plant pathogens, invertebrate, and vertebrate animals. Identification of insect pests and their natural enemies is an important step in any pest management program. Insect pests and natural enemies could be identified using keys and field guides or otherwise consulting an official identification


#### **Table 1.**

*Multifunctionality and Impacts of Organic and Conventional Agriculture*

production as case study.

ing and evaluation.

ence to date palm as case study.

**to plant protection**

According to the IFOAM [1], organic agriculture is guided by four principles: health (soil, plant, animal, and human), ecology (living ecological systems and cycles), fairness (environment and life opportunities), and care (protect the health and well-being of current and future generations as well as the environment). The US Congress passed the organic food product act in 1990, while the European Union (EU) set up the first regulations on organic farming in 1991, and in the same year, the Codex Alimentarius Commission officially recognized organic agriculture. Gomiero et al. [3] gave more details on history of organic farming, total global areas, organic standards, and impact on the environment. The chapter deals with pest management in organic farming system with an example of organic date

**2. Principles and strategies of crop protection in organic farming system**

Pest management in organic farming is a holistic (whole-farm) approach that largely depends on the ecological processes and biodiversity in the agroecosystem. Accordingly, most IPM tactics, principles, and components match with organic farming systems [6]. The goal of this strategy is to prevent pests from reaching economically damaging levels without causing risk to the environment. Successful IPM programs in organic farming may have the following components: (1) monitoring crops for pests, (2) accurately identifying pests, (3) developing economic thresholds, (4) implementing integrated pest control tactics, and (5) record keep-

The factors that render crop habitat unsuitable for pests and diseases include limitation of resources, competition, parasitism, and predation [7]. These factors play an important role in maintaining equilibrium of the agroecosystem and suppression of harmful pests. Faunal and floral diversities play a substantial role in pest and disease management in organic farming system [8, 9]. The four principles of pest management in organic farming system, namely, prevention, avoidance, monitoring, and suppression, will be discussed in this chapter with special refer-

**3. Differences between organic and conventional farming with respect** 

Few options of plant protection substances are available for certified organic growers compared to conventional ones. Thus, they should capitalize on the natural processes and management of the ecosystem to control harmful organisms. Organic farms had a more diverse arthropod fauna, on average, than conventional farms. The average for five 30-second vacuum samples per farm was approximately 40 arthropod species in conventional tomato compared to 66 species in organic tomato fields. Additionally, natural enemies (parasitoids plus predators) were more abundant on organic farms [10]. Arthropod biodiversity, as measured by species richness, was, on

average, one-third greater on organic farms than on conventional farms [10].

waste material, and other allowed substances.

Under organic farming systems, the fundamental components and natural processes of ecosystems, such as soil organism activities, nutrient cycling, and species distribution and competition, are used directly and indirectly as farm management tools to prevent pest populations from reaching economically damaging levels. Soil fertility and crop nutrients are managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, and cover crops and supplemented with manure, composts, crop

**138**

*Fundamental differences between organic and conventional farming.*

Soil-borne and root pathogens are usually found in low levels in organic farming as compared to conventional farming [11]. Pathogens such as *Pythium* spp., *Sclerotium rolfsii*, *Phytophthora* spp., and some *Fusarium* can survive on organic matter of the soil, in the absence of their hosts for long periods, and are thus difficult to be controlled with crop rotation. Additionally, airborne pathogens cannot be controlled with cultural practice such as crop rotation [12]. Powdery mildew and rust diseases (airborne) and insect pests such as aphids and whiteflies (sucking insects) are less serious in organic farming than in conventional farming due to lower nitrogen concentrations in foliar tissues or phloem of plants in the former compared with the latter [11]. Almost all pesticides available for organic farming have short residual effects and work through direct contact mode of action as compared to the persistent systemic pesticides used in conventional farming. **Table 1** gives the main differences between organic and conventional farming with respect to soil fertility, biodiversity, and other criteria.
