Themes and discussion
Find out more about organic arable farming and organic livestock husbandry, join the discussions, and exchange ideas and information with colleagues and scientists.
Cropping systems
The yield gap that normally exists between organic and conventional production practices is caused by different crop-specific factors. The main yield-limiting factor in cereals and tubers is nutrient availability; nitrogen deficiency particularly leads to yield reductions. Weeds and diseases can cause major yield losses in legumes, and attacks of insect pests on oil crops may limit yield significantly. Each crop group shows variations in susceptibility to the different yield-limiting factors. Choice of crop variety and crop species, mixing varieties or species, and the design of a crop rotation will all have a major impact on crop yield and quality.
On this page, you can find tools and resources that can help you improve the cultivation of specific crops, and you can discuss various crop-specific topics with others.
Recommended toolOrganic farming Guidelines for pest and disease control and weed management in organic farming and crop-specific production recommendations
This web platform gives guidelines on organic farming for crop specific production of cereals, tubers, oil crops and horticulture, which are mainly…
Most popular toolHow to successfully convert to organic arable farming
The leaflet addresses farmers who are interested in conversion to organic arable farming. Information includes contact points for workshops and…
Latest toolCultivation in rows – Nitrogen fixation by catch crops and their effect on yield
Row cultivation in cereals with nitrogen-fixing crops can improve nitrogen supply in the crop rotation, while reducing nitrogen leaching.…
Tools
| Title | Issuing organisation | Year of release | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| A farmer’s guide to organic fruit and vegetable production | Organic Centre Wales | 2008 | 3.5 (2) |
| Advanced system in wheat: Combination of agronomical levels: The French... | PURE | - | |
| Calculate the risk of wireworm infestation in the field | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | 4 (1) |
| Catch crop in maize | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | 4 (1) |
| Cereal Disease Encyclopaedia | Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board... | 2008 | |
| Challenges of Organic Arable Farming 1st module: Strategies to enhance soil... | Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM... | 2017 | |
| Challenges of Organic Arable Farming 2nd module: Fertilization strategies to... | Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM... | 2017 | |
| Challenges of Organic Arable Farming 4th module: Technical tools, strategies... | Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM... | 2017 | |
| Challenges of Organic Arable Farming 5th module: Crops specific problems and... | Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari CIHEAM... | 2017 | |
| Choosing cover crops for arable crop rotations | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | 2018 | |
| Commercial organic fertiliser as supplementary fertilisers in potato crop... | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | 4 (1) |
| Control of wireworms in organic potato cultivation | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2016 | 4 (2) |
| Controlled traffic farming: A new track for soil and weed control in organic... | INAGRO | 2018 | |
| Controlling potato beetles with Bt | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | 4 (1) |
| Cover crop and living mulch toolbox | Technical University of Munich TUM, School of Life... | 2014 | 3.4 (10) |
| Cover crop mulches and no-till soybean | Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica AIAB | 2017 | |
| Crop management of linseed | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2016 | 2 (1) |
| Crop Management of Rapeseed and Pollen Beetle Control | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2016 | 4 (1) |
| Crop rotation and its ability to suppress perennial weeds | SEGES | 2017 | 4.5 (2) |
| Crop rotation and its ability to suppress perennial weeds | SEGES | 2016 | 3 (1) |
| Crop Rotation in Organic Systems | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | - | |
| Crop rotations on diversified farms | Southern Regional Extension Forestry | 2013 | |
| Cultivating a diverse wheat population suitable for low-input and organic... | Organic Research Centre ORC, Elm Farm | 2017 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Catch crops - tolerance and regrowth | Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug , SEGES Økologi Innovation | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – cereals with catch crops | SEGES Økologi Innovation , Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Nitrogen fixation by catch crops and their effect on yield | SEGES Økologi Innovation , Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Sowing time for catch crops | Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug , SEGES Økologi Innovation | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Weed control between stubble rows | Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug , SEGES Økologi Innovation | 2018 | |
| Cultivation in rows – Weed control in spring cereal grains | Aarhus University , Copenhagen University , AgroIntelli , Økologisk VKST , Barritskov Land- og Skovbrug , SEGES Økologi Innovation | 2018 | |
| Demonstration of Hoeing Machines in Arable Farming | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2011 | |
| Demonstration of Plough Dethatchers | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2014 | 4.5 (2) |
| Direct drilling of winter cereals | Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica AIAB | 2018 | |
| Direct Sowing of Maize | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2015 | |
| Direct sowing with green manure | Foundation for organic agriculture Bioselena , IFOAM EU | 2018 | |
| Diverse fertility building leys in arable rotations | Organic Reserach Centre ORC, Elm Farm | 2017 | 3.5 (2) |
| DSS "Weed Control in Organic Winter Wheat Production" | University Bonn, Institute of Organic Agriculture | 2004 | |
| ECOPHYTOPIC – The portal for integrated crop protection of arable crops | Les Instituts Techniques Agricoles ACTA | - | 3.3 (3) |
| Efficient use of nitrogen from livestock manure | SEGES | 2017 | 4 (2) |
| Foraging sows on high-protein grassland | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | 2018 | |
| Grain legumes and soil fertility - Strategies for a successful cultivation | Federal Agency for Nature Conservation BfN | 2014 | 3.5 (2) |
| Grass protein - a golden chance to improve organic farming | SEGES | 2018 | |
| Green manure and cover crops in organic agriculture: general introduction | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | 2012 | |
| Green manure and cover crops in organic agriculture: guide to the choice of the... | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | 2012 | 4 (3) |
| Growing cover crops in organic arable crop rotations: Best practices from... | SEGES | 2017 | 4 (2) |
| Growing cover crops in organic arable crop rotations: best practices from... | SEGES | 2016 | |
| Hairy Vetch – an Excellent Green Manure for Dry Conditions | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2014 | 4 (2) |
| Highcrop picture tool | SEGES | 2013 | |
| How to successfully convert to organic arable farming | Ländliches Fortbildungsinstitut Österreich LFI | 2017 | 5 (2) |
| Incorporating Green Manures | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2013 | 4.5 (2) |
| Inter-row cultivation for mechanical weed control in winter oilseed rape | PURE | - | |
| Intercropping grain peas with barley | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2015 | |
| Knowledge exchange platform for agroecology | SOLAGRO | - | 3.2 (6) |
| LeNiBa - the KTBL / isip app for nitrogen balancing of legumes | Kuratorium für Technik und Bauwesen in der... | - | |
| Ley Destruction with Shallow Ploughing or Cultivators | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2016 | |
| Mechanical Weed Control in Maize | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2013 | |
| Mechanical weeding in arable crops | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | 2012 | 4.6 (9) |
| Modification/change of sowing date in winter wheat | PURE | 2015 | |
| Monitoring and comparing cover crop performances | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | 2018 | |
| NDICEA - Nitrogen Planer – version 6.2 | Louis Bolk Institute | 2014 | 4 (4) |
| Nitrogen budget calculator. A tool to calculate N-budgets in organic forage... | Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung... | 2013 | 3.8 (4) |
| Nitrogen supply for winter oilseed rape | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | 4 (1) |
| No-till cultivation of maize in rolled forage peas | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) | 2017 | |
| Nutrient supply | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2011 | 2 (1) |
| Oekolandbau.de: portal for organic plant production | Federal Office for Agriculture and Food BLE, Bonn | 2015 | 3 (10) |
| Oregon Tilth 2017 WEBINAR SERIES | Oregon Tilth | 2017 | |
| Organic Cereals | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2010 | 4 (2) |
| Organic Cover Cropping and Intercropping | Washington State University - Puyallup | 2011 | |
| Organic cultivation in autumn 2016 - Varieties, Seeds and Crop management | Ländliches Fortbildungsinstitut Österreich LFI | 2016 | |
| Organic Cultivation in Spring 2016 - Varieties, Seeds and Crop management | Ländliches Fortbildungsinstitut Österreich LFI | 2016 | |
| Organic Cultivation of Green Peas | Ländliches Fortbildungsinstitut Österreich LFI | 2016 | |
| Organic farming Guidelines for pest and disease control and weed management in... | Uprawy ekologiczne | - | 4 (3) |
| Organic field beans | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2009 | |
| Organic Field Crop Production | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | - | |
| Organic field peas | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2009 | |
| Organic grain legumes at a glance | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2009 | |
| Organic maize | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2008 | |
| Organic quality wheat production - Results of long-term field trials of... | Ländliches Fortbildungsinstitut Österreich LFI | 2016 | |
| Organic rapeseed | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2011 | |
| Organic Small Grain Production | Southern Regional Extension Forestry | 2011 | |
| Organic soya | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2009 | |
| Organic Soybean made easy | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2018 | |
| Organic Soybean production in Europe | Hungarian Research Institute of Organic... | 2016 | |
| Organic Weed Management: A Practical Guide | Charles Merfield | 2000 | |
| Pest and Disease Control in Grass and Forage Crops | Farming Connect | 2013 | |
| Pest Management in Organic Cropping Systems | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | - | |
| Plant breeding with farmers. A technical manual | International Center for Agricultural Research in... | 2012 | |
| Planting an outdoor area for organic laying hens | Økologisk Landsforening | 2015 | |
| Potato Crop Management | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2010 | |
| Poultry feeding in organic farming | French Research Institute for Organic Farming ITAB | 2015 | |
| Practical advice for organic production of lupines | Landesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft und... | 2014 | 4 (4) |
| Practice Abstract: Intercropping grain peas with barley | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | 4.3 (3) |
| Processing Quality of Organic Wheat | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2015 | |
| Rape pollen beetle | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2014 | 4.5 (2) |
| Reduced Tillage Systems - Practical Recommendation | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2014 | 3.7 (3) |
| Regionally adapted humus balance in organic farming | Sächsische Landesanstalt für Umwelt,... | 2013 | 3.7 (3) |
| Results an lessons learnt from field vegetables activity - cabbage | PURE | - | |
| Results and lessons learnt from wheat-based cropping system activity | PURE | - | |
| Rolling of grains to prevent winter kill damage | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | |
| ROTOR: organic crop rotation planner | Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research... | 2007 | 4.6 (9) |
| Satellite based and camera-controlled steering systems | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2015 | 2 (1) |
| SmartSOIL Tool | Aarhus University | 2015 | 2 (3) |
| Soil and Fertility Management in Organic Systems | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | - | |
| Soil protection and Crop Rotation | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2007 | |
| SOILapp | School of Advanced Studies Sant'Anna, Institute of... , Scuola Esperienziale Itinerante di Agricoltura... , The Greek Network for Biodiversity and Ecology in... | 2018 | |
| Sort Out Your Soil: A practical guide to green manures | Cotswold Seeds Ltd , Garden Organic | - | 4 (5) |
| Soybean silage | Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica AIAB | 2018 | |
| Successful cultivation of grain legumes mixed with cereals | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | |
| Testing peas for legume fatigue | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | 5 (1) |
| The Muencheberg Soil Quality Rating (SQR) | Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research... | 2007 | 4 (4) |
| The use of legumes - Nature-compatible cultivation practices | Federal Agency for Nature Conservation BfN | 2014 | |
| Transition to organic production | Dalhousie University, Organic Agriculture Centre... | - | |
| Use of variety mixtures to reduce disease, increase resource-use efficiency... | PURE | - | |
| Using crop rotation to control wireworms | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | 4 (1) |
| Weed Control in Grass and Forage Crops | IBERS Grassland Development Centre | 2013 | |
| Weed control in organic farming through mechanical solutions | University of Kassel, Agricultural Engineering | 2011 | 3.5 (4) |
| Weed control in soy with the finger weeder | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | |
| Weed harrowing in spring cereals | PURE | - | |
| Weed trimming in soybeans | Associazione Italiana Agricoltura Biologica AIAB | 2017 | |
| Winter field peas as green manure before maize | Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL | 2017 | 4.5 (2) |
Discussion forum
Here you can discuss your problems and solutions for this theme