---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 C.F.R. § 205.203"
title: "7"
number: "205.203"
heading: "Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/7/205.203"
---

# §205.203. Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standard.

- (a) The producer must select and implement tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil and minimize soil erosion.
- (b) The producer must manage crop nutrients and soil fertility through rotations, cover crops, and the application of plant and animal materials.
- (c) 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 131 °F and 170 °F for 3 days using an in-vessel or static aerated pile system; or
    - (iii) Maintained a temperature of between 131 °F and 170 °F for 15 days using a windrow composting system, during which period, the materials must be turned a minimum of five times.
  - (3) **Uncomposted plant materials.**
- (d) A producer may manage crop nutrients and soil fertility 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 by applying:
  - (1) A crop nutrient or soil amendment included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production;
  - (2) A mined substance of low solubility;
  - (3) **A mined substance of high solubility—** Provided, That, the substance is used in compliance with the conditions established on the National List of nonsynthetic materials prohibited for crop production;
  - (4) Ash obtained from the burning of a plant or animal material, except as prohibited in [paragraph (e)](#e) of this section: Provided, That, the material burned has not been treated or combined with a prohibited substance or the ash is not included on the National List of nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop production; and
  - (5) **A plant or animal material that has been chemically altered by a manufacturing process—** Provided, That, the material is included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production established in [§ 205.601](/cfr/7/205.601.md).
- (e) The producer must not use:
  - (1) Any fertilizer or composted plant and animal material that contains a synthetic substance not included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production;
  - (2) Sewage sludge (biosolids) as defined in [40 CFR part 503](/cfr/40/part503.md); and (3) Burning as a means of disposal for crop residues produced on the operation: Except, That, burning may be used to suppress the spread of disease or to stimulate seed germination.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 7 U.S.C. 6501-6524.

### Source

Source: 65 FR 80637, Dec. 21, 2000, unless otherwise noted.