Chapter 9 - Future Perspective in Organic Farming Fertilization: Management and Product

Abstract

The concept of “organic farming” is based on a holistic view of farming systems, in which components are completely integrated into the system, such as the soil and its microbiota, climatic conditions, plants, and/or animals. The maintenance and the increase of fertility rely on the use of management practices and the application of different products from natural origins, which have the aim of providing high availability of nutrients for plant crops in agricultural soils.

In this chapter, we will summarize the available information related to several inputs and practices allowed in the organic farming concept and vision, focusing on the benefits of their single or combined application. Moreover, we will introduce the latest novel applications of some of them, such as anaerobic digestion of manure, and present new alternatives, such as the use of biochar or the design of new biofertilization schemes.