Final answer:
The correct answer is (a) avoiding synthetic fertilizers, one of the central tenets of organic farming, which prioritizes soil quality and biodiversity through natural resources and methods. The correct answer is option (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
A key principle of organic farming includes avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which can be harmful to both human health and the broader ecosystem. Instead, organic farming seeks to improve soil quality and biodiversity through practices such as crop rotation, the use of organic fertilizers like compost or manure, and encouraging natural predators of pests. Organic fertilizers help maintain soil structure, make the soil more resistant to erosion, and support water infiltration. These practices help keep nutrient and water cycling balanced in the ecosystem and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Regarding the multiple-choice question, the correct answer would be: (a) avoiding synthetic fertilizers. This is because organic farming emphasizes the use of natural inputs and methods for growing crops, in contrast to conventional farming that often relies on synthetic chemicals and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
As for the practice that allows farmers to improve soil fertility and reduce pesticide costs by naturally breaking the cycle of weeds, insects, and diseases, that would be crop rotation. Crop rotation contributes to soil health and diversity, which are central to organic agriculture.