What are the main characteristics of Organic Farming?

The main characteristics of Organic Farming are-

1. Protecting the long term fertility of the soil by maintaining organic matter levels, and creating optimised conditions for biological activity within the soil.
2. Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources which are made available to the plant by action of soil micro-organisms.
3. Maintaining nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation, as well as effective recycling of organic materials including crop residues and livestock manures.
4. Preventing weeds, diseases and pests by relying primarily on crop rotations, natural predators, diversity, organic manuring, resistant varieties and limited thermal, biological and chemical intervention.
5. Providing attentive care and management of livestock, paying full regard to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioural needs and animal welfare issues with respect to nutrition, housing, health, breeding and rearing.
6. Careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats.