2. Introduction
Organic farming is prevention of use of pesticides, fertilizers, and hormones, to the maximum
approach and we rely upon biological system of nutrient mobilization, by using crop rotation
techniques, and previous crop residues.
The modern face of organic agriculture emerged in the late 1960s.
A economic efficient, relying in natural resources has a long term security of yield.
Organic farming products are more expensive than conventional farming so it can more profitable
chances for the grower. The product produced are free from chemicals healthy for human.
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3. Objectives
Economical
• Economic
Efficiency
• Long Term
security of
yield
Ecological
• Improving
Biodiversity
• Functioning
ecosystem
Social
• Saving rural
communities
• Regional food
availability
• Improving
lives
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4. Conventional Vs Organic farming
Conventional farming relies upon chemical fertilizers, pesticides and weedicides whereas there
are different approaches in organic farming which is beneficial for plants, environment as well as
humans.
Although conventional farming may be helpful in producing high yield, but it plays a very
negative role in biodiversity, effecting the environment by water pollution and air pollution,
causing loss of nutrients in the soil, pollinators being killed, and causing threats to human health.
On the other hand organic farming helps soil retaining its health, without any chemical pollution,
protection the environment and maintaining the bio diversity.
These things have encouraged organic farming to produce food in sustainable approach.
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6. Soil Fertility
Soil fertility refers to nutrients are available to the plants
Maintaining soil nutrient is one of the most reasonable factor to differentiates conventional and
organic farming.
The aim of organic farming is not only prevention of synthetic chemical but also to improve the
productivity of soil by increasing capacity and organic matter. Because we don't chemicals so we
must concentrate on building and maintaining soil fertility primarily through cultural and natural
means.
These components include crop residues, cover crops, crop rotation, organic manuring and bio
pesticides.
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7. Components of Soil Fertility
Maintaining soil fertility in organic farming is quite complex. It includes various stages and
management to obtain the goals. Following are the components of obtaining soil fertility in
organic farming which must be wisely managed:
1. Conservative tillage
2. Crop rotation
3. Cover crops
4. Crop residues
5. Organic Manuring
6. Bio fertilizers
7. Vermicomposting
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8. Conservative Tillage
It refers to reduced tillage operations in the field so we can have minimum manipulation of soil.
For successful conservative tillage, soil texture, crop we are growing, environment and climate of
the place must be known.
It is further divided into mulch tillage, ridge tillage and no-tillage.
i. Mulch Tillage: In mulch tillage, after the 100 percent of the field is tilled, crop residues are
incorporated in the soil, and some remain on the soil.
ii. Ridge Tillage: In ridge tillage raised beds are made by the grower.
iii. No-Tillage: In no tillage seed are directly put in the untilled soil with the help of discs.
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10. Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is a sequenced cropping pattern to control weed and insects and nutrient
management.
Crop rotation design should be well planned, like additive crops should be grown after an
exhaustive crop, to enhance soil fertility.
For example when legume crops are grown after the leafy vegetables, it will help in retaining
nitrogen in the soil, used by pervious crop.
As most of the microbes and insects are crop specific, so a different crop will help controlling
insect population and microbes.
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12. Cover Crops
It is a crop grown for enrichment of soil rather than the crop yield.
It is helpful in conserving soil moisture, preventing soil erosion, improving soil fertility and
controlling pest and pathogens.
If legumes are grown as cover crops they can increase nitrogen content in the soil.
They are also helpful in controlling weed by competing with them.
Due to additional costs and labor they are mostly not used by the farmers
Alfalfa, buckwheat and legumes are example of cover crops
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14. Crop Residues
Crop residues are plants parts like straws are left in the field after the crop has been harvested.
It can aid in reducing moisture loss, and improving organic matter and soil structure.
It can also be beneficial in fixation of carbon dioxide.
Anti-erosion
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15. Organic Manuring
The organic manure is obtained from biological sources (plant and animal residues).
As compared to chemical fertilizers it has lower Nitrogen and phosphorus content but it is better
for soil.
Nutrient content of organ manure should always be determined.
The organic manure should be free from weed stalks and seed, because it will promote weeds in
the field.
The nutrient content in organic manure varies with sources.
It can be classified into bulky and concentrated organic manure.
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16. Organic Manure
Bulky Organic Manure
They have less nutrients as compared to concentrated farmyard manure.
It further includes compost, farmyard manure, and green manure.
Compost: An anaerobic decomposition of plant straws, refused vegetable, animal waste, stubbles
and weeds.
Farmyard Manure(FYM): Farmyard manure is well decomposed animal and poultry dung,
roughages, fodder and farm litter.
Green Manuring: Incorporating organic matter in the soil, usually an undecomposed plant tissue.
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18. Organic Manure
Concentrated Organic Manure
It is made from the thing which are organic and made from raw
material of plant or animal origin like oilcakes, hoof meal, fish
meal or meat meal.
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20. Organic Manure
Material Composition (%, as is) Dry matter (%)
N P K
Manure
Beef cattle 0.57 0.14 0.41 8
Dairy cow 0.52 0.12 0.36 13
Poultry—layers 1.68 1.06 1.20 42
Composition and Dry matter
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21. Bio-Fertilizers
Bio fertilizer are microbes like bacteria or algae which are capable of increasing
nutrients in the soil.
Bio fertilizers are eco-friendly and cost effective.
Bio-fertilizer are further grouped in to Symbiotic nitrogen-fixation and
Asymbiotic nitrogen-fixation.
Symbiotic Nitrogen-fixation: Its includes rhizobium bacteria which form nodule
on the roots of the pants. Leguminous plants have high amount of rhizobium.
Asymbiotic Nitrogen-fixation: It includes Blue green algae, Azolla, Azobactor,
Azospirillium and Mycorrhizae.
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23. Vermicomposting
Rich in macro and micronutrients vermin-compost a humus like material produced by the use of
earthworms that generally live in soil, eat organic matter and excrete it in digested form.
It is also rich in growth hormones and vitamins.
A quicker process.
Improves soil texture.
Farm wastes like wheat straws, fresh dung water and earth warms are required for
vermicomposting.
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25. Conclusion
With urbananization, the agricultural lands are decreasing and the demand of food is increasing,
so we need a system where we can have a long term security of yield in sustainable ways.
Chemical use may give better yield for some period but it weaken the soil with time, reducing its
nutrients which will probably effect the yield later. Organic farming is a prominent approach in
the issue, meeting food requirements with sustainability, without effecting environment and
aiding in improving the effect biodiversity. Proving the people with good and healthy food, keep
the water in our streams and rivers unpolluted.
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26. References
Santhoshkumar, M., Reddy, G. C., & Sangwan, P. S. (2017). A review on organic farming-
sustainable agriculture development. International Journal of Pure & Applied Bioscience, 5(4),
1277-1282.
Palaniappan, S. P., & Annadurai, K. (2018). Organic Farming Theory & Practice. Scientific
publishers.
Šrůtek, M., & Urban, J. (2008). Organic farming.
Green, B. W. (2015). Fertilizers in aquaculture. In Feed and Feeding Practices in Aquaculture (pp.
27-52). Woodhead Publishing.
Carter, M. R. (2005). Conservation tillage Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment ed D Hillel.
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