The Idea of an Essay, Volume 3

2016 Composition Contest Winnners 21 Collins, Cogger, and Bary (2013), from Washington State University, measured the development of nitrogen levels in soil from eight different certified organic farms. Nitrogen is essential for the growth of a crop since it is the basic building block for many proteins that plants need (Kahl, 2004). It is so important that nitrogen levels are monitored by farmers to ensure the plant is receiving the sustaining nutrition that it requires. With this in mind, if nitrogen is naturally mineralized in the soil, it will not need as much artificial fertilizer to give the plant what it needs, increasing profit margins for companies. The professors fromWashington State University found that soil building practices in organic farming are essential; they state, “…organic matter provides a bank of nutrients, including nitrogen, that are made available through mineralization” (Collins et al., p. 17, 2013). And in this study the five out of eight of the organic farms mineralized a sufficient amount of nitrogen to produce heads of broccoli. So we see how organic agriculture helps nourish soil, and it helps provide plants with natural forms of nutrients. Conversely, conventional agriculture depletes the soil of valuable nutrients, and as it degrades the soil, it becomes a candidate for fertilizer injections. The main problem with soil injections is that it decreases biodiversity. Doran and Zeiss (2000) establish the importance of soil in the environment showing how soil health directly impacts plant productivity and water quality (p. 3). They explain that soil is a critical component of life and only a thin layer of soil covering the surface of earth is what separates us from extinction (p. 3). So organic agriculture maintains soil health, which directly impacts water and air quality, animal and plant productivity. Doran and Zeiss (2000) show the necessity of having good, fertile soil, and organic agriculture should receive credit for improving soil quality. Since soil quality directly impacts the quality of the plant, it could be responsible for consumers agreeing on organic food being better- tasting, but there is no conclusive evidence to support this claim. We see how organic agriculture is better for the environment creating biodiversity by retaining nutrition in the soil, and using less pesticides. This results in a cleaner, hardier, and better tasting product, but it does not mean that the product itself is healthier. In their research report, Saba and Messina (2003) looked at consumers’ perception of organic foods. Their research shows