Section 10203 - Soil Fertility and Crop Nutrient Management Practice Standard(a) A cultivator shall select and implement tillage and cultivation practices that maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of soil and minimize soil erosion.(b) A cultivator shall manage crop nutrients and soil fertility through rotations, cover crops, intercropping, alley cropping, hedgerows or the application of plant and animal materials.(c) A cultivator shall manage plant and animal materials to maintain or improve soil organic matter content, biological diversity, nutrient cycling, and microbial activity 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 shall be composted unless it is:(A) Incorporated into the soil not less than 120 days prior to the harvest of cannabis whose consumable portion has direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles; or(B) Incorporated into the soil not less than 90 days prior to the harvest of cannabis whose consumable portion does not have direct contact with the soil surface or soil particles.(2) Composted plant and animal materials produced through a process that: (A) Established an initial C:N ratio of between 25:1 and 40:1; and(B) Maintained a temperature of between 131 °F and 170 °F for three days using an in-vessel or static aerated pile system; or(C) Maintained a temperature of between 131 °F and 170 °F for 15 days using a windrow composting system, during which period, the materials shall be turned a minimum of five times.(3) Uncomposted plant materials.(d) Pursuant to the following requirements, a cultivator may manage plant nutrients and soil fertility to maintain or improve soil organic matter content, biological diversity, nutrient cycling, and microbial activity 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 plant nutrient or soil amendment included on the National List of synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production, pursuant to The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances 7 CFR section 205.601;(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 substances prohibited for use in organic crop production pursuant The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances 7 CFR section 205.602;(4) Ash obtained from the burning of a plant or animal material, except as prohibited in paragraph (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, pursuant to The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances 7 CFR section 205.602; 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 Allowed and Prohibited Substances 7 CFR section 205.601.(e) The cultivator shall not use: (1) Any fertilizer or composted plant and animal material that contains a synthetic substance not included on The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances 7 CFR section 205.601;(2) Sewage sludge in accordance with section 10105(a)(6) of this chapter; 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 consistent with local and state laws and regulations.Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 3, § 10203
1. New section filed 7-14-2021; operative 7-14-2021 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2021, No. 29). Note: Authority cited: Sections 26012 and 26013, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 26013, 26062 and 26062.5, Business and Professions Code.
1. New section filed 7-14-2021; operative 7/14/2021 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2021, No. 29).