1.2 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice

Cross references

USDA NOP: § 205.203 Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard.
NZFSA Technical Rules for organic production:
Section 5, point 5.2-5.3
Section 6, point 6.1.3, 6.7.2
Section8, point 8.9
Table 1

The producer must manage plant and animal materials to maintain or improve soil organic matter content in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops, soil, or water by plant nutrients, pathogenic organisms, heavy metals, or residues of prohibited substances. Animal and plant materials include:
(1) Raw animal manure, which must be composted unless it is:
(i) Applied to land used for a crop not intended for human consumption;
(ii) Incorporated into the soil not less than 120 days prior to the harvest of a product whose edible portion has direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles; or
(iii) Incorporated into the soil not less than 90 days prior to the harvest of a product whose edible portion does not have direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles;

(2)  Composted plant and animal materials produced through a process that:
(i)  established an initial C:N ratio of between 25:1 and 40:1; and
(ii) maintained a temperature of between 131F and 170F for 3 days using an in-vessel or static aerated pile system; or
(iii) maintained a temperature of between 131F and 170F for 15 days using a window composting system, during which period, the materials must be turned a minimum of five times.

(3) Uncomposted plant materials.  The producer must not use sewage sludge (biosolids).