Contents
Preface
I. Introduction
II.
Organic Farming-Principles & Advantages
III.
Manuring
A.
Organic manuring
B.
Green manuring
III.
Mulching
IV.
Vermiculture
V.
Biological Nitrogen Fixation
VI.
Bio fertilizers
VII.
Biological Control of Pests
VIII.
Fertilizer Method vs Organic Farming
IX.
Integrated Plant Nutrient System
X. Conclusion
Preface
The growing concern for consumption of chemical-free foods has focused attention on organic farming which does not use any chemicals for crop production. This booklet discusses several facts on sustainable organic farming as the need of the hour. The technical processes involved in different methods of farming are elaborately described here.
Dr. K. T. Chandy, Agricultural & Environmental Education
I. Introduction
Nature is the mother of human race. Life has evolved as a part of the natural processes. It plays a dominant role in providing things first for the survival of mankind. In the use of nature, cultivation was the major task man involved himself with.
It is rightly said that at heart, every human being is a farmer. Agriculture is the main occupation for most people in our country. Many people consider agriculture as a way of life and not as an industry. In good olden days, cultivation was easy and nature had things plenty in store, which could suffice for the need of mankind. Man never harmed it, never spoiled it, never exhausted its energy. But over the years the population increased and the needs of the man increased, which forced him to use the non conventional cultivation practices. To extract the maximum from the soil, he adopted modern inventions.
Among the modern technologies, some were harmful and some were extremely useful. Agricultural equipment reduced the physical strain of the fanners but the excess use of inputs like chemicals and fertilizers left the soil in a most miserable condition for the next generation. Chemical fertilizers when used contributes to maximum yield but their residual effects are harmful to soil health if they are not supplemented by adequate organic manures. They disturb the soil life, suppresses the population, soil organisms, hastens the depletion of essential nutrients and thus leads to soil degradation. Continuous application of chemicals contaminates ground water and accumulates heavy metals. The plants when grown on such soils takes up heavy metals which affects the health of living beings besides spoiling soils and nature. The present situation is, the balance in nature has been upset. If nature is destroyed, survival of life would be difficult on earth.
Sustainable agriculture is the only possible way to meet the demands of the present generation, at the same time, preserving the natural capacity of the soil without any contamination for future generations. In other words, it is a system of production and cultivation practices, which can fulfill the food and nutrition needs of a particular society without depleting the essential natural resources of agriculture like water, soil fertility and diverse biological resources, making it economically, -socially and ecologically sustainable. Natural and organic farming systems are linked with sustainable agriculture which considers the beneficial influence of organics on soil health and the environmental problems associated with the excessive and Continuous use of chemicals. In the absence of optimum levels of soil organic matter, inorganic fertilizers and chemicals, on the long run will damage the physico-chemical structure of the soil and fail to maintain consistency in crop production. Thus, It is very essential that each farmer should be made aware of these aspects and encouraged to adopt natural farming systems.
II. Organic Farming- Principles and Advantages
Organic farm or bio-culture is the uninterrupted flow or course (cycle) of the natural elements by following the rules of nature and with the minimum use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, or without disturbing the structure of the soil.
In nature, recycling of the organic wastes like straw, grass, leaves, twigs, excreta, weeds, sawdust etc. (animal and plant wastes) always occur. Whatever comes out of the soil must return to the soil, and is never burnt or thrown away. In this way the soil never gets exhausted and keeps its balance. The organic wastes that reaches soil will be broken down by micro-organisms into nutrients by bacterial transformation and conversion. The nutrients Will be assimilated by the root system and they are utilized in the photosynthesis in the growing plants which results in the better yield.
And so the cycle continues forever, throughout the year, throughout the ages, enriching the soil. Recycling results in a layer of mulch or compost on the top soil which contain all the essential elements a plant needs.
Advantages of organic farming
Here are some advantages of organic farming.
1. Bio-culture increases the resistance of plants against pests
and diseases, thus eliminating the excess use of harmful and
expensive pesticides. However, this is a debated issue as it
has not been proved beyond doubt.
2. Vegetables, fruits and other agricultural products in such
soils taste sweeter, smell better contain more vitamins and
other nutrients, and preserve better (very important for marketing)
because they have a more compact cell structure and less water.
It
is significant that many farmers in the westem countries grow
vegetables in massive quantities using chemicals, to make money
and for dumping on the market and grow vegetables with compost
for their own consumption
