Organic Farming

Course: B.Sc. Agricultural

Subject :Principle of Agronomy and Agricultural Meteorology

Unit: 3

Organic Agriculture & Organic farming

Organic agriculture is

“Ecological production management system that

promotes and enhance bio-diversity, biological

cycles, and soil biological activity approaches

based on minimal use of off-farm inputs ecological

harmony”

Organic farming is

“A production system, which avoids or largely

excludes the use of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides,

growth regulators and livestock feed additives.”

(Lampkin, 1990).

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Why it is necessary ?

• With the development of high yielding varieties

coupled with improved specified inputs such as

fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, etc., lead to

environmental problem’s

The soils become sick mainly due to theexploitation through :

Use of selected and highly pure fertilizers.

Use of irrigation without proper drainage.

Employing poor quality waters and

Dumping of industrial toxic effluents in tonatural water courses.

Type of Pollution Adverse effects of Pollution

Pesticides Related

Ground water contamination

Residual effects in grains

Accumulation into body tissue

Causes cancer in human being

Fertilizer Related

Rise in concentration of nitrate in drinking

which causes blue baby

Syndrome and stomach cancer in human

being beings Rise in concentration of heavy

elements into soil, water and food

Synonyms of organic farming

• Eco-farming

• Biological farming

• Bio-dynamic farming

• Macrobiotic agriculture

ECO-FARMING• Farming in relation to ecosystem.• It aims at the maintenance of soil chemically,

biologically and physically the way nature would do itleft alone.

• Feed the soil, not the plant is the watchword andslogan of ecological farming.

BIOLOGICAL FARMING• Farming in relation to biological diversity.

BIODYNAMIC FARMING• Farming which is biologically organic and ecologically

sound and sustainable farming.

Characteristics of organic farming

• Maximal but sustainable use of local resources

• Minimal use of purchased inputs, only as

complementary to local resources

• Maintaining a diversity of plant and animal species

• Ensuring the basic biological functions of soil-water-nutrients-humus continuum

• Creating an attractive overall landscape, which givessatisfaction of the local people

• Increasing crop and animal diversity in the from of

polycultures, agro forestry systems, integrated

crop/livestock systems, etc.

Need and scope of organic farming

• Increase in awareness and health consciousness• Global consumers are increasingly looking for

organic food, which is considered safe, and hazardfree.

• The global prices of organic food are more profitableand remunerative.

• The potential of organic farming is signified by thefact that the farm sector has abundant organicnutrient resources like livestock, water, crop residue,aquatic weeds, forest litter, urban, rural solid wastesand agro industries, bio-products.

• India offers wonderful scope for organic farming as ithas local market potential for organic products

• High nutritional quality

• Work with natural system rather thanseeking to dominate them

• Encourage and enhance the biologicalcycles with framing system

• Maintain and increase the long termfertility of soils

• Closed system with regard to organicmatter and nutrient elements

OBJECTIVE OF ORGANIC FARMING

• To give all livestock, conditions of life allowsthem to perform all aspects of their innatebehavior

• Avoid all forms of pollution

• To maintain the genetic diversity of theagricultural system

• Allow agricultural producers an adequatereturn and satisfaction from their workincluding a safe working environment

• To consider the wider social and ecologicalimpact of the farming system.

Advantages of Organic farming

• 1. Organic manures produce optimalcondition in the soil for high yields andgood quality crops.

• 2. They supply the entire nutrient requiredby the plant (NPK, secondary andmicronutrients).

• 3. They improve plant growth andphysiological activities of plants.

• 4. They improve the soil physical properties suchas granulation and good tilt, giving good aerationeasy root penetration and improved waterholding capacity.

• 5. They improve the soil chemical propertiessuch as supply and retention of soil nutrient andpromote favorable chemical reaction.

• 6. They reduce the need for purchased inputs.

• 7. Most of the organic manures are wastes ofbyproduct which accumulated load to pollution.

• 8. Organic fertilizer are considered as completeplant food.

• 9. Organically grown crop are believed toprovide more healthy and nationally superiorfood for man and animals that those grown withcommercial fertilizers.

• 10. Organically grown plants are more resistantto disease and insect and hence only a fewchemical sprays or other protective treatmentare required.

• 11. There is an increasing consumer are willingto pay more for organic foods.

• 12. Organic farming helps to avoid chainreaction in the environment for chemicalspray and dusts.

• 13. Organic farming helps to preventenvironment degradation and can be usedto regenerate degraded areas.

• 14. Since the basic aim is diversification ofcrops, much more secure income can beobtained that when they reply on only onecrop or enterprise.

DISADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING:

• 1. Productivity- Low productivity is often reportedas the quantum nutrient used comparativelylower

• 2. Labour intensive - Cultivation requires morelabour especially for weed control

• 3. Skill- requires considerable skill to farmorganically

- Choice of alternatives for control of pests

• 4. Lack of convenience in management comparedto easier management like fertilizer application inconventional methods

ORGANIC FARMING PRINCIPLE

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PRINCIPLES (INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ORGANIC AGRICULTURE MOVEMENTS - IFOAM, 1972)

• 1. To produce food of high quality in sufficient quantity.

• 2. To interact in a constructive and life - enhancing waywith natural systems and cycles.

• 3. To consider the wider social and ecological impact of theorganic production and processing systems.

• 4. To encourage and enhance biological cycles within thefarming system, involving micro - organisms, soil flora andfauna, plants and animals.

• 5. To maintain and increase the long-term fertility of soils.

• 6. To maintain the genetic diversity of the productionsystem and its surroundings, including the protection ofwildlife habitats.

• 7. To promote the healthy use and proper care of water,water resources and all life therein.

• 8. To use, as far as possible, renewable resources in locallyorganized production systems.

• 9. To give all livestock conditions of life with dueconsideration for the basic aspects of their innatebehavior.

• 10. To minimize all forms of pollution.

• 11. To allow everyone involved in organic production andprocessing a quality of life which meets their basic needsand allows an adequate return and satisfaction from theirwork, including a safe working environment.

• 12. To progress towards an entire production, processing,and distribution chain which is both socially just andecologically responsible.

TOTAL AREA UNDER ORGANIC CULTIVATION ACCORDING TO CONTINENTS

3

COMPONENTS OF ORGANIC FARMING

(1) Organic manures

(a) Bulky organic manures

(b) Concentrated organic manures

- Oil Cakes

Edible oil-cakes

Non-edible oil-cakes

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(c) Green manures

(i) Green manuring in situ

Sunnhemp - 2.30 N +0.50 P2O5 +1.80 K2O

Dhaincha - 3.50 N + 0.60 P2O5 + 1.20 K2O

Sesbania - 2.7 N + 0.53 P2O5 + 2.21 K2O

(ii) Green leaf manuring

Forest tree leaf - 1.20 N + 0.60 P2O5 + 0.40 K2O

Green weeds - 0.80 N + 0.30 P2O5 + 0.20 K2O

Pongamia leaf - 3.31 N + 0.44 P2O5 + 2.39 K2O

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(2) Recycling of organic waste(a) FYM

- Pit method (Below ground level)- Heap method (Above the ground level)

(b) Compost(i) Vermicompost(ii) Rural compost(iii) Urban compost(iv) Bio compost

(c) Crop residue management

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(3) Bio fertilizers

(4) Integrated nutrient management

(5) Non-chemical weed control

measures

(6) Biological pest management

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Organic recyclable waste include – crop residues, waste, farmindustrial waste, multiple and sewage wastes.

1. Sugarcane Trash Compost:

• Fresh sugarcane trash contains 0.36% N with a wide C:N ratio of122:1. The composted trash contains – higher content of N ( 1.09%) with reduced C:N ratio ( 20.1).

2. Bio- gas Slurry:

• Organic manures from animal wastes are very important nutrientsources in building up soil fertility.

• In India, estimated production of dung and urine abort 1002 and658 million tons respectively. They contribute about 5.7 milliontons of N P K with proper utilization. Biogas advantages as fuel(gas) and fertilizer (slurry) Dry slurry contains abort 1.8% N, 1.10 %P2O5 and 1.50% K2O.

ORGANIC FARMING AND WASTE RECYCLING:

3. Vermicompost:

• Vermicompost 1.60 % N, 5.04% P205 and 0.80% K2O. The C:N ratio much lower

( 1.6) than the FYM (1.30).

4. Industrial Wastes:

• Among the industrial by products, spent wash from distilleries and molasses andpress mud from sugar factories have good manorial value.

• It is important to use only well decomposed press mud at 10 tons/ha.

5. Municipal and Sewage Wastes:

• This is one of the important components of organic wastes.

• In India, the total municipal refuse is abort 12 million tons/annum containing 0.5%N.0.3% P205 & 0.3% K2O.

• Sewage (liquid portion) sludge (solid portion) is available to on extent of 4million tons /annum containing 3 % N, 2 % P205 & 0.3% K2O. Such organic wastecan be used carefully it may contains metals thus hazard to plants, animals &human beings.

6. Crop residues:

• Residues left out after the harvest of the economic portion are called cropresidues /straw.

• Cereal straw and residues contains about 0.5+0.6+1.5 % NPK. The crop residuescan be recycled by way of incorporation compost making or mulch material.

7. Rice Husk:

• It is major by- product of the rice milling industries containing 0.3 % N, 0.2 % Pand 0.3 K.

8. Biocultures:

• PSB: - Bacillus, pseudomonas, Aspergillus, Penicillium, mycorrhiza etc.

9. Green Manuring Crops:

• Sannhemp, Dhaicha, Glyricidia, Sesbania etc.

NUTRIENT CONTENT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC MANURES.

Organic manureNutrient content

N % P2O5 % K2O %

FYM 0.5 0.20 0.5

Farm compost 0.5 0.15 0.5

Town compost 1.4 1.0 1.4

Night soil 5.5 4.0 2.0

Poultry manure 3.03 2.63 1.4

Neem cake 5.22 1.08 1.48

Linseed cake 5.56 1.4 1.28

Groundnut cake 7.29 1.53 1.33

Fish manure 4-10 3-9 0.3-1.5

Row bone meal 3-4 20-25 -

Steamed bone meal 1-2 25-30 -

Blood meal 10-12 1-2 1.0

DRYLAND AGRICULTURE

• Agriculture is the single largest livelihoodsources in India with nearly two thirds ofpeople depend on it. Rainfed agriculture isas old as agriculture itself.

• Growing of crops entirely under rainfedconditions is known as dryland agriculture.

• Depending on the amount of rainfallreceived, dryland agriculture can be groupedinto three categories:

• A) Dry farming:• Dry farming is cultivation of crops in regions with annual rainfall less

than 750 mm. Crop failure is most common due to prolonged dry spellsduring the crop period.

• These are arid regions with a growing season (period of adequatesoil moisture) less than 75 days. Moisture conservation practices arenecessary for crop production.

• B) Dryland farming:• Is cultivation of crops in regions with annual rainfall more than 750

mm. In spite of prolonged dry spells crop failure is relatively less frequent.These are semi arid tracts with a growing period between 75 and

120 days. Moisture conservation practices are necessary for cropproduction. However, adequate drainage is required especially forvertisols or black soils.

• C) Rainfed farming:• Is crop production in regions with annual rainfall more than 1150

mm. Crops are not subjected to soil moisture stress during the cropperiod.

• Emphasis is often on disposal of excess water. These are humidregions with growing period more than 120 days.

DRYLAND VS. RAINFED FARMING

Constituent Dryland farming Rainfed farming

Rainfall (mm) 750 to 1150 >1150

Moisture availability to

the cropShortage Enough

Growing season (days) 75-120 >120

Growing regions

Arid and semiarid as well

as uplands of sub-humid

and humid regions

Humid and subhumid

Regions

Cropping systemSingle crop or

intercropping

Intercropping or double

cropping

Constraints Wind and water erosion Water erosion

DRY FARMING INVOLVES THE ADOPTION OF THE FOLLOWING PRACTICES:

• Timely preparation of the land to a condition in whichit is best able to receive and conserve the availablemoisture.

• Time and proper inter culturing during growth of thecrop.

• Improving the water holding capacity of the soil bythe profitable application of organic manure.

• Use of such implements as is capable or rapidlybreaking of the surface of the soil.

• Building of fields.• Use of optimum seed rates.• Thinning of excess plant populations.• Mixed cropping.

TILLAGE AND SEEDING PRACTICES IN DRYLAND

• (1) Develop desired soil structure for a seed bedwhich allows rapid infiltration and good retention ofrainfall.

• (2) Minimize soil erosion by following practices suchas contour tillage, tillage across the slope etc.

• (3) Control weeds and remove unwanted crop plants.• (4) Manage crop residues• (5) Obtain specific land configurations for in- situ

moisture conservation, drainage, planting etc.• (6) Incorporate and mix manures, fertilizers,

pesticides or soil amendments into the soil.• (7) Accomplish segregation by moving soil from one

layer to another, removal of rocks or root harvesting.

Following are the various improved techniques andpractices recommended for achieving the objective ofincreased and stable crop production in dryland areas.

Crop planning:

• Crop varieties for dryland areas should be of shortduration through resistant tolerant and high yielding

Planning for weather:

• Variation in yields and output of the dryland agriculture isdue to the observation in weather conditions especiallyrainfall. c. Early cessation of rains towards the end ofmonsoon season.

• Farmers should make some changes in normal croppingschedule for getting some production in place of total cropfailure.

IMPROVED DRYLAND TECHNOLOGIES

Crop substitution:

• Traditional crops/varieties which are inefficientutilize of soil moisture, less responsive toproduction input and potentially low producersshould be substituted by more efficient ones.

Cropping systems:

• Increasing the cropping intensities by using thepractice of intercropping and multiple cropping isthe way of more efficient utilization of resources.The cropping intensity would depend on thelength of growing season, which in turn dependson rainfall pattern and the soil moisture storagecapacity of the soil.

Fertilizer use:

• The availability of nutrients is limited in drylandsdue to the limiting soil moisture. Therefore,application of the fertilizers should be done infurrows below the seed.

Rain water management:

• Efficient rain water management can increaseagricultural production from dryland areas.Application of compost and farm yard manureand raising legumes add the organic matter tothe soil and increase the water holding capacity.

Watershed management:• Watershed management is a approach to optimize

the use of land, water and vegetation in a area andthus, to provide solution drought, moderate floods,prevent soil erosion, improve water availability andincrease fuel, fodder and agricultural production on asustained basis.

Alternate Land use:• All drylands are not suitable for crop production.

Same lands may be suitable for range/ pasturemanagement and for tree farming and leyfarming,dryland horticulture, agro-forestry systems includingalley cropping. All these systems which arealternative to crop production are called as alternateland use systems.

1.https://lh5.ggpht.com/cDsm9FQVYRD54rgLKkKkVrZNhjY36obwfEmfGhEcV_VvyFR1-GNAMXsYO2jRcAySnKunKQ=s1012.https://lh5.ggpht.com/FGEvFEtQF-bePvp3bIIKm4yfrIph1xRrOPQWtU2IcGD8seOQtdl8nXLSWj0KaxBUsuH6QA=s1133. https://lh4.ggpht.com/yN9MiRqxJ5yvjhNKa-EAPC3rfzzMRBFM7zpAjX2djyZx19_voOKm1C98SiM_ytBiQHpKb-Y=s115 4. https://lh4.ggpht.com/FYVdcZjktb74GkD-qgMs-rMZ6KSSt4sevcNrYn_XeqRixXZPZ2RwMtBv10Ix0zB3j6RRnA=s85 5.https://lh4.ggpht.com/o3nA4C8q_gOxf9MxsFZamg7GEPICt2s6gfdql0ZKRKi_6WYUPk4T7ANIe_XqgABfUFJuII4=s1706.https://lh4.ggpht.com/-NOtxQwCbzSUUgy0G-

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Reference/Sources

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Text book and web sources

- www.agriinfo.in

- ecourses.iasri.res.in

- Principles of Agronomy by T. YellamandaReddy and G.H. Sankara Reddy

Thank you