2. 2
“Aim of organic farming
is to develop viable and sustainable agriculture”
Environmentally sustainable
Economically profitable
Socially acceptable
3. 3
Scenario
India has about 43,000
ha land under organic
farming, which is only
0.03% of total Ag. Land.
Organic Ag. Started long
back in 1900.
India has 1,426 certified
organic farms.
Produce annually 14,000
tones of OF.
OF started in Kandhamal
for Turmeric Production.
About 66% soil are acidic
Low organic matter
Poor physical properties
INDIA ORISSA
Major exports are of rice,
wheat, raw tobacco, spices, cashew nut-in-shell, oil meals, sugar and molasses,
fresh and processed fruits, vegetables, meat and meat preparations and marine
exports.
4. 4
The environmental problems started due to excessive,
injudicious, imbalanced application of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides becoming a matter of concern with modern farming.
Intensive agricultural practices during last four decades have
proved detrimental to the natural resource base and the
environment, hence a search for alternate agriculture was felt.
International Federation for Organic Agriculture Movement
(IFOAM) was initiated in France with five members during 5th
November, 1972.
Thereafter the recommendations of the Atlanta Conference of
1981 on “Organic Farming” have acted as catalysts in the
triggering interest in Organic Agriculture systems across the world.
5. 5
Organic Initiative
Concern for health and Environment
Preference of organic food
Organic farming hailed as the panacea for many
problems
Research works based on the principles of
organic farming with a holistic approach are very
meager. However, lot of work has been done on
some of the components in an isolated manner.
6. 6
After green revolution more food grains produced due to use
of new HYVs, chemical fertilizer and pesticides.
Food grain production has been increased many fold, but
indiscriminant and recurrent use of chemicals has led to the
pollution of own water, air and food.
Increased the soil acidity, salinity and alkalinity leading to the
unproductively of the soil.
Decreasing the population of beneficial micro organism in soil
and water.
Result the ecological balance is affected knowingly or un
knowingly our environment gradually becomes unfit for
upcoming generation.
So organic farming gaining importance with an objective of an
clean environment and maintaining soil productivity.
7. 7
Organic farming is the cultivation of crops naturally
without impairment the climate and productivity of the soil.
Farming with culture of living organism
“Organic agriculture is a unique production management
system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem
health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil
biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-
farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in
exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs”.
Organic Farming is defined as production system, which
avoids or excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth
regulators, pesticides and livestock feed additives.
8. RAINBOW REVOLUTION……
Green revolution – 4 fold increase in food grains (50 to 210 mt)
Yellow revolution - 5 fold increase in oilseeds (5 to 25 mt)
Blue revolution - 7 fold increase in fish (0.75 to 6.6 mt)
Red revolution – 4 fold increase in fruits & veg. (38 to 160 mt)
White revolution - 5 fold increase in milk (18 to 100 mt)
Forth coming revolutions:
Grey…………..
Brown…………..
Golden…………..
Silver……………
Pine…………..
Round……………
Black ……………..
Food chain……..……
10. 10
Produces high quality, nutritious food that contributes
preventive health care and well-being.
Improve the physical structure, Chemical properties of the
soil.
It improves the biological properties of the soil (enrichment of
micro-organisms, addition of growth hormones such as
auxins and gibberellic and addition of enzymes, such as
phosphates, cellulose, etc.).
Soil health restoration for better land husbandry.
Ecological balance as well as productivity of life supporting
system.
Maintain soil fertility and productivity.
Neutralize the soil PH.
Promote microbial activity.
It attracts deep-burrowing earthworms already present in the
soil.
11. 11
Management Practices for
Rainfed Agriculture
Proper Tillage
Choice of crops and varieties (Crop rotation, Crop
Diversification & Cover crops
Timely sowing of crops
Optimum plant population
Weed Management
Pest management
Proper use of low-cost organic fertilizer
Alternative land use
Dry land Horticulture
Agro-forestry Model
Timely Harvesting
12. 12
MAJOR PROBLEMS
Flood
Erratic rainfall
Crop Pests & Diseases
Poor irrigation facility
Poor availability of agri-inputs
Lack of up to date information
Poor risk bearing capacity
Grazing by Animals
Shortage of labour
Migration
Small size of land holding
Poor soil & water conservation measures
13. 13
Cropping Pattern
Profitability
EnvironmentQuality of Life
Sustainability
Economically viable
Socially acceptable
Practically feasible Environmentally sustainable
Diversity
Adaptability
Reduce input cost
Multiple enterprise
Environment awareness
Information awareness
Financial support service
Knowledge sharing and blending
Holistic
14. 14
Forms of Organic Farming
FYM
Compost
Green Manuring
Azolla
Vermin compost & vermi wash
Night soil
Molasses
Green Algae
Gnut cake, Neem cake, karanja cake & Mustard cake
Use of fish mill, blood meal and bone meal
Intensive farming
17. 17
Facets of Organic Farming System
Biological Farming
Nature farming
Permaculture
Ecological Agriculture
Low External Input Supply Agriculture (LEISA)
Integrated Intensive Farming System (IIFS)
18. 18
1. Biological Farming
Use selected fertilizers
Adoption low input approaches to use of
herbicides & insecticides
Use indicator plants
Use trap crops
Use ITKs
19. 19
2. Nature Farming
System developed in Japan by Mokichi
Okada (1930)and he was given more
emphasis on soil health through compost
rather than organic fertilizers.
More use of microbial preparation.
Emphasis on tradition nature farming.
(California & Hawaii)
20. 20
3. Permaculture
Contraction of permanent Agriculture
Land use planning philosophy
Site-specific eco-logical farming system is
amenable to permaculture
Designed with eco-logical human habit
and food production system
21. 21
4. Ecological Agriculture
Farming region & individual farms must be
treated as ecological system.
It reduces the pressure on land and water.
No adverse effect on Ag. Production and
nutritive value.
Accelerate ecological production.
Use of organic inputs i.e. compost,
vermicompost
Successful implementation & expansion of
farming areas.
22. 22
5. Low External Input Supply
Agriculture (LEISA)
Less use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides
& herbicides.
More emphasis on cultural practices, INM
& IPM.
Uses locally available resources.
23. 23
6. Integrated Intensive Farming
System
Agricultural Intensification
Crop diversification
Value addition through integrated farming
including livestock
Pisciculture
Agro-forestry model
Intensive use of farm resources
Promotion LISA & SAREP (Low input sustainable
agriculture & Sustainable Ag. Research & Education Programme)
24. 24
• FYM is the traditional manure and is mostly readily
available to the farmers.
• Farm yard manure is a decomposed mixture of Cattle
dung and urine with straw and litter used as bedding
material and residues from the fodder fed to the cattle.
• Good quality FYM is most valuable organic matter
applied to the Soil.
• Traditional method of preparing & storing FYM causes
nutrient losses.
• Well rotten FYM should apply to the field about three to
four weeks before sowing.
25. 25
Value of FYM
Improve the soil tilth
and aeration.
Increase the water
holding capacity of
soil.
Stimulate the activity
of micro-organisms.
Supply organic matter
to the soil.
Nutrient content (dry weight basis)
Organic
source
% N %
P2O5
%
K2O
C:
N
FYM 0.4 – 1.5 0.3 –
0.9
0.3 –
1.9
31
Compost 0.5 - 1.0 0.4 –
0.8
0.4 –
1.2
30
Biogas
slurry
1.41 0.92 0.84 19
29. 29
Composting is the process of a quickly
utilizable condition for improving and
maintaining soil fertility. Compost is the
composition of all waste materials.
30. 30
Why to make and why to use
compost?
Because...
It is a well balanced fertilizer.
It is not costly to make.
The heating phase destroys
weed seeds and disease germs.
It suppresses soil borne
disease germs.
It raises the pH in acid soils.
It increases soil organic
matter content.
31. 31
How to make compost
Collect the
composting
material
Choose a shady location
• Pile up seperately
• Collect plenty of plant
material
• Chop coarse mater
Humidify the materials
• Pile up loosely in layers
• Cover with earth or straw
When temperature
declines.
• Outside material
goes inside.
Set up the heap
earth layer
From bottom up:
N-rich material
Coarse C-rich material
Twigs and branches
Turn the heap
1st after 2–3 weeks
2nd after 3 months
Let it rest to mature
for 3 months earth layer
1.0 –
1.5 m
1 – 2 m
earth layer
32. 32
C/N-ratios of composting
materials
Low C/N high N content Nitrogen content Carbon to nitrogen
(% of dry matter) ratio (C/N ratio)
Chicken manure 3 to 6 10 to 12
Young grass hay 4 12
Cassava leaves 4 12
Farmyard manure 2 to 3 14
Groundnut straw 2 to 3 20
Medium C/N medium N content
Crotalaria 2 26
Cassava stems 1.3 40
Fallen leaves 0.4 45
Maize stalks and leaves 0.7 60 to 70
High C/N low N content
Wheat or rice straw 0.4 100
Sugar cane trash 0.2 150
Saw dust 0.1 500
33. 33
Magic Compost-I
Materials required:
Cow dung: 1 kg
Cow urine: 1 liter
Jaggery or curd or oil cake: 50 gram
One mud pot or plastic bucket with lid.
One piece of polythene
One small rope
34. 34
It is good for all types of plants, crops & soil. But the quantity
can be decided based on the crops stages, age of plant.
It can be given 3-4 times in paddy field during growth stage
at one week interval at least.
One part of magic tonic can be added with 5-10 part of
water for all the crops.
In case of fruit trees and flowers 2-5 parts of water can be
added and then applied.
The ideal way of applying is to provide the magic tonic a few
cm or inch away from the spread of roots by little digging the
soil & cover it again.
Best time to apply is evening or late after noon. It should not
be applied directly over leaves and avoid using during
daytime. Apply a bit of ash at the root of the plant if
vegetative growth is more.
35. 35
Magic Compost-II
Kitchen waste like tea, fish skins and
others,vegetable residues.
Flower waste from vessel or praying room
Jaggery or curd: 50 gram
Waste from garden like small grasses.
Two pots/buckets & a piece of polythene &
rope Ash.
36. 36
• It is good for all types of plants, crops & soil. But the quantity can be
decided based on the crops stages, age of plant.
• It can be given 3-4 times in paddy field during growth stage at one-week
• interval at least.
• One part of magic tonic can be added with 5-10 part of water for all the
crops.
• In case of fruit trees and flowers 2-5 parts of water can be added and
then
• applied. The ideal way of applying is to provide the magic tonic a few cm
or
• inch away from the spread of roots by little digging the soil & cover it
again.
• Best time to apply is evening or late after noon. It should not be applied
• directly over leaves and avoid using during daytime.
• Apply a bit of ash at the root of the plant if vegetative growth is more.
• This is very good for urban area also, where getting cow dung and urine
is a problem and waste management is an issue. This can be used in
pot culture effectively.
• Similarly the villagers who don’t have animals but want to create their
own manure can produce in this way round the year.
37. 37
Magic Compost-III
Materials required:
Cow dung: 1 kg
Cow urine: 2 liter
Jaggery or curd or oil cake: 50 gram
3 types of leave having bitter taste, pungent
smell, milk or gums excreting together of 1kg
Crushed garlic of 50 gram,
Powdered or paste of turmeric of 50 gram
One mud pot or a plastic bucket with lid.
One polythene and small rope.
38. 38
After one month, add two times water to the mixture
and filter it to plastic bottle or glass bottle.
Then add one spoon of milk & half spoon of
turmeric powder and close the bottle.
After one week add 3-7 times water and spray
incrops as pesticide.
This can be used and kept for 6 months time.
Whatever residue after filtration is left can again be
recycled in preparation of the same pesticide again.
39. 39
3. Bio-fertilizer
Microbial biofertilisers are biologically active (living or
temporarily inert) inputs and contain one or more
types of beneficial microorganisms such as bacteria,
algae or fungi.
Every microorganism - and hence each type of
biofertiliser - has a specific capability and function.
It would be relevant to mention that vermi-compost is
not a biofertiliser as is propagated by some, but
merely an improved form of compost.
There are broadly seven types of biofertilisers:
40. 40
Bridging fertilizer demand and supply
gaps
Maintaining soil fertility and
biological quality
Sustaining crop productivity
Reducing ground water and
environment pollution
42. 42
1) Rhizobia
Rhizobia is a group of bacteria that fixes nitrogen in
association with the roots of leguminous crops.
Rhizobia can fix 40-120 kgs of nitrogen per acre
annually depending upon the crop, rhizobium
species and environmental conditions.
They help improve soil fertility, plant nutrition and
plant growth and have no negative effect on soil or
the environment.
Every leguminous crop requires a specific
rhizobium species
43. 43
2) Azotobacter
Azotobacter is also a group of nitrogen-fixing
bacteria but unlike rhizobia, they do not form root
nodules or associate with leguminous crops.
They are free-living nitrogen fixers and can be used
for all types of upland crops but cannot survive in
wetland conditions.
In soils of poor fertility and organic matter,
azotobacter needs to be regularly applied.
In addition to nitrogen fixation, they also produce
beneficial growth substances and beneficial
antibiotics that help control root diseases.
44. 44
3) Azospirillum
Like azotobacter, azospirillum species also do not
form root nodules or associate with leguminous
crops.
They are, however not free-living and live inside
plant roots where they fix nitrogen, and can be
used in wetland conditions.
This group of microorganisms also produces
beneficial substances for plant growth, besides
fixing atmospheric nitrogen.
Azospirillum does well in soils with organic matter
and moisture content, and requires a pH level of
above 6.0.
45. 45
Blue-green algae or cyanobacteria are free-
living nitrogen-fixing photosynthetic algae that
are found in wet and marshy conditions.
Blue-green algae are so named for their
colour but they may also be purple, brown or
red.
They are easily prepared on the farm but can
be used only for rice cultivation when the field
is flooded and do not survive in acidic soils.
46. 46
5). Azolla Cultivation
Pit covered by polythene.
Allow 10-15kg soil inside warped
out polythene pit and equally
distributed the surface.
Mixed 2 kg decomposed cow
dung +30gm SSP+ 10 litter water
and fill the tank with up to 10 cm
water.
Add ½ kg or 1kg azolla seeds.
Harvest ½ kg or 1kg azolla after
7 to 10 days.
Every 5 days interval put 1kg
cow dung & 20 gm super
phophate can increase the
Azolla yield.
Depth-.2 m
2m-Length
2 m-Width
Azolla Tank
48. 48
Inoculum production
Simple, efficient and easily
adaptable
Divide field into small plots
Maintain 5-10 cm standing water
49. 49
Advantages
Azolla is a free-floating water fern that fixes nitrogen in
association with a specific species of cyanobacteria.
Azolla is a renewable biofertiliser and can be mass produced
on the farm like blue-green algae.
It is a good source of nitrogen and on decomposition, a
source of various micronutrients as well.
Its ability to multiply fast means it can stifle and control
weeds in (flooded) rice fields.
Azolla is also used as a green manure.
It contains 90 to 92 per cent water & 50 -60 per cent protein
Azolla yield per acre is about 3000 qt.
It is a high-quality feed for cattle, Goat, Sheep, Pig, Rabbit
and poultry.
Azolla increases 15 to 20 per cent milk production.
Minimize the expenditure of stall feed of livestock.
50. 50
6) Phosphate-solubilising
Microorganisms
These are a group of bacteria and fungi
capable of breaking down insoluble
phosphates to make them available to crops.
Their importance lies in the fact that barely a
third of phosphorous in the soil is actually
available to the crop as the rest is insoluble.
They require sufficient organic matter in the
soil to be of any great benefit.
51. 51
7) Mycorrhiza
Mycorrhiza is a sweeping term for a number of
species of fungi which form a symbiotic association
with the plant root system.
Of these, the most important in agriculture is
vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza or VAM.
Plants with VAM colonies are capable of higher
uptakes of soil and nutrients and water.
VAM strands acts as root extensions and bring up
water and nutrients from lateral and vertical
distances where the plant root system does not
reach.
52. 52
NITROGEN BIOFERTILIZERS
SR
N
O
.
NAME OF
BIOFERTILIZER
FUNCTION /
CONTRIBUTION
LIMITATION BENEFICIARIES
(Crops)
1 RHIZOBIUM
(symbiotic)
1. Fixes 50-100 kg N /
ha
Fixation only with legumes.
Visible effect not reflected in
traditional area. Need
optimum P & Mo. Demands
bright sunlight. Great
demand for phosphorus.
Pulse legumes,
Oilseed legumes,
Fodder legumes,
Forest legumes
2. Increase yield from
10-35%
3. Leaves residual
nitrogen
2 AZOTOBACTER 1. Fixation of 20-25 kg
N / ha
Demands high organic matter. Wheat, maize,
cotton, sorghum,
sugarcane, pear
millet, rice,
vegetables and
several other
crops
2. 10-15% increase in
yield
(non-symbiotic) 3. Production of growth
promoting
substances
3 AZOSPIRILLUM 1. Fixation of 20-25 kg
N / ha
Demands high organic matter Wheat, maize,
cotton, sorghum,
sugarcane, pear
millet, rice,
vegetables and
several other
crops
2. 10-15% increase in
yield
(associative) 3. Production of growth
promoting
substances
53. 53
Sl NAME OF
BIOFERTILI
ZER
FUNCTION /
CONTRIBUTION
LIMITATION BENEFICIAR
IES
(Crops)
4 BLUE GREEN
ALGAE
(BGA)
1. Fixation of 20-30
kg N / ha
Effective only in
submerged rice.
Demand bright
sunlight.
Flooded rice.
2. 10-15% increase
in yield
(phototropic) 3. Production of
growth
promoting
substances
5 AZOLLA
(symbiotic)
1. Fixation of 30 -
100 kg N / ha
Survival difficult at
high
temperature.
Great demand
for phosphorus.
Only for
flooded
rice.
2.Yield increase 10-
25%
54. 54
PHOSPHORUS BIOFERTILIZERS
S NAME OF
BIOFERTILI
ZER
FUNCTION /
CONTRIBUTION
LIMITATION BENEFICIARIE
S (Crops)
6 Phosphate
solubilizing
microorga
nisms
(Bacteria/fun
gi)
1. Solubilizes
insoluble
Phosphates.
Bacteria can be used
in neutral to
alkaline soils and
fungi can function
better in acidic
soil.
All types of
crops.
2. Yield increase 10-
20%
7 VAM 1. Enhance uptake of
P, Zn, S Fe, Cu
and water
Can be maintained
only on growing
plants.
Forest trees
(obligate
symbionts)
2. Promotes uniform
crop, increase
growth and yield
55. 55
Biofertilizers
Biofertilizers may broadly be classified into the
following four groups.
- N2-fixears
o Symbiotic, eg., Rhizobium in
legumes and Anabaena azollae in
Azolla
o Associative, eg. Azospirilium
o Free-living, e.g., Azotobacter, BGA
- P-solubilizers, e.g., phosphate solubilizing
bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes
- P-mobilizers, e.g., Vesicular arbuscular
mycorrhizae (VAM)
- Organic matter decomposers, e.g.,
cellulolytic bacteria.
56. 56
Use of Plant Products for Pest Control
Azadirachtin is the most popular insecticide
isolated from the seeds, wood, bark, leaves and
fruits of neem tree, Azadirachta indica A.
Neem leaf bitters, neem seed bitters (5%) and neem
oil (3%) are effective against green leaf hopper,
BPH, WBPH, thrips, leaf folder and cut worm.
Polygonum hydropiper (water papper) BPH, Case
worm.
Though enough reports are available on the efficacy
of neem products, there are also reports on their
inefficiency in controlling the insect pests of rice.
57. 57
Vermicomposting is a modified and specialized
method of composting - the process uses
earthworms to eat and digest farm wastes and turn
out high quality compost in two months or less.
Vermicompost is not a biofertiliser as is touted by
some, merely improved compost.
Vermicompost is the end-product of the breakdown
of organic mater by some species of earthworm.
Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer
and soil conditioner. The process of producing
vermicompost is called vermicomposting .
58. 58
Remember…
• Tender Loving Vermicompost is 100% organic,
safe, non-toxic, and odor-free.
• Tender Loving Vermicompost will not burn even the
most delicate plants.
• Tender Loving Vermicompost helps plants grow
faster and stronger. It increases the size of the fruit
or flower.
• Added to potting mix or soil, Tender Loving
Vermicompost will out last and out perform any
commercial fertilizer.
59. 59
BYGON OF EARTHWORMS
About 3000 Species are
available in WORLD, 500
hundred are available in
India and ORISSA has
recognized about 40 species
61. 61
Defi--- Prof. B.K. Senapati
As a method
converting wastes
into useful products
through actions of
earth-worms
comprising three main
component processes
2. VERMICOMPOSTING
3. VERMI-CONSERVATIOBN
1. VERMICULTURE
64. 64
1-2 inch Pieces of Bricks, Metal
2-3 inch Sand
1-2 inch loamy soil
3 inch decomposed cow dung
Vermi bed-Earthworms
5-6 inch Semi decomposed materials
Gunny Beg
68. 68
4. Mulching
All these techniques are different but somewhat
interrelated.
Mulching is the use of organic materials (plastic
mulch is expensive and non-biodegradable) to
cover the soil, especially around plants to keep
down evaporation and water loss, besides adding
valuable nutrients to the soil as they decompose.
Mulching is a regular process and does require
some labour and plenty of organic material, but has
excellent effects, including encouraging the growth
of soil fauna such as earthworms, preventing soil
erosion to some extent and weed control.
69. 69
Residues % N % P % K
Rice 0.61 0.09 1.15
Wheat 0.48 0.07 0.98
Maize 0.58 0.09 1.25
Potato 0.52 0.09 0.85
Groundnut 1.65 0.12 1.23
Sugar cane 0.45 0.08 1.20
Nutrient content of crop residues
70. 70
5. Green manuring
Green manuring is an age-old practice prevalent since
ancient times. A crop like dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata),
sunnhemp or horsebean is sown (usually) just before the
monsoons. A mix is also possible.
Just around flowering (30-45 days after sowing), the crop is
cut down and mixed into the soil after which the season's
main crop is sown.
Green manuring is beneficial in two ways - firstly it fixes
nitrogen, and secondly the addition of biomass (around five
to ten tons/acre) greatly helps in improving the soil texture
and water holding capacity.
Green leaf manuring can also be carried out if sufficient
leguminous tree leaves are available.
71. 71
Green manures
Common green manures are,
- Sunhemp, Dhaincha, Cowpea, Mungbean and
Guar contribute 8-21 t green manure and 42-
91 kg N/ha.
For lowland waterlogged situation
- Sesbania spp.
Several workers have reported that the substitution
of 50-120 kg N/ha is possible with green manuring in
rice.
72. 72
6. Cover Cropping
Cover cropping is normally carried out also with
nitrogen-fixing crops that grow fast and require little
or no inputs like water or additional manuring.
While cover crops can yield some returns, they are
mostly used for covering the soil in the fallow
months, adding nitrogen to the soil, suppressing
weeds, preventing soil erosion and later used as
biomass or fodder.
Velvet bean is an example, and it finds use as a
fodder crop and biomass generator.
Another useful cover crop is Dolichos lablab, which
is a source of fodder and food.
73. 73
7. Crop rotation and Polyculture
One of the most important aspects of organic farming is the
strict avoidance of monoculture, whether annuals or
perennials.
Besides the proverbial "putting all eggs into one basket",
monoculture systems are unhealthy for the ecosystem they
are a part of.
The prime requirement for any natural ecosystem to thrive
and be healthy is diversity.
Traditional farmers till date follow the systems of crop
rotation, multi-cropping, intercropping and polyculture to
make maximum use of all inputs available to them,
including soil, water and light, at a minimum cost to the
environment.
The home gardens of Kerala are an excellent example.
74. 74
8. Crop rotation
Crop rotation is the sequence of cropping where
two dissimilar type of crops follow each other - a
few examples include cereals and legumes, deep-
rooted and short rooted plants and where the
second crop can make use of the manuring or
irrigation provided some months earlier to the first
crop (eg. rice + wheat, rice + cotton).
The combinations possible are endless and will
depend to a great deal on the local situations.
75. 75
9. Multi-cropping
• Multi-cropping is the simultaneous cultivation
of two or more crops.
• In Indian agricultural tradition, farmers have
been known to sow as many as 15 types of
crops at one time.
• An example of multi-cropping is Tomatoes +
Onions + Marigold (where the marigolds
repel some of tomato's pests).
76. 76
10. Inter-cropping
Inter-cropping is the cultivation of another crop in
the spaces available between the main crop.
A good example is the multi-tier system of coconut
+ banana + pineapple/ginger/leguminous
fodder/medicinal or aromatic plants.
While ensuring biodiversity within a farm, inter-
cropping also allows for maximum use of resources.
All these are forms of polyculture and biodiversity
and help in keeping pest populations in control.
Fallen leaves and other crop residues in
combination add more value to the soil or compost
heap they become a part of, again because of the
nutritional mix.
77. 77
11. Effective Microorganisms
As the name suggests, it makes use of
microorganisms, mainly lactic acid bacteria,
photosynthetic bacteria, yeast, filamentous fungi
and ray fungi.
These microorganisms are both aerobic and
anaerobic and are not genetically modified.
EM, like Biodynamics can be useful in many
different ways on the farm, including improving soil
health, as a pest repellent and prophylactic, in
composting, and in animal feeds, animal health and
hygiene, aquaculture, etc.
Different EM cultures are used for agriculture,
animal husbandry, and aquaculture.
78. 78
12. Integration of systems
In nature, the whole is greater than the sum of
its parts and the key to the success of any
natural system is diversity.
Diversity adds complexity to the farm system
lending it greater stability. There are economic
and productivity benefits too.
A larger and more permanent example of
integration could be: annual crops + tree crops +
dairy cows + honey bees.
79. 79
13. Living Fencing
Having a living fence around the farm has
multiple benefits.
Besides protection from trespassers and
cattle, a living fence also provides a buffer,
and with a sensible choice of plants, even
some revenue.
It does however take two to three years to
develop.
80. 80
What is bio-pesticide ?
• Chemicals of plant origin, plant parts, their
extracts
• Microbials as such like virus, bacteria,
nematode, fungi, rickkettssia, protozoa
• Microbial toxins
• Predators and parasites
81. 81
Plant parts, extracts as
Biopesticides
• Plants which are used as bio-pesticides
are neem, mahaneem,karanja,begunia,
mahua,custardapple,tulsi,chrysanthemum,
ryania,sabadilla,tobacco,thuja,piper,onion,
eucayptus, palmarosa, lemon grass, clove,
ginger grass, citronella,castor etc.
• Either their extracts of parts or oils or
oilcakes are used as bio-pesticides
82. 82
Neem as bio-pesticide
• Mention of neem in Kautilya’s Arthasastra
during 4th century BC
• Susruta during 1000 AD used neem for
preparation of medicines
• In ancient days neem was used for preparation
of ayurvedic, unani and homeopathy medicines
• Neem Research in India started in 1962 by
Pradhan (neem kernel powder showed
antifeedant property against locust)
83. 83
Why neem plant product is used as
pesticide?
• Neem plant parts contain a wide number
of limonoids (a group of phytochemicals)
called terpenoids out of which
Azadirachtin,Epinimbin,Nimbin,Salanin,De
acetylnimbin,Deacetylsalanin,Azadiradion
etc are important.
• Most important is AZADIRACHTIN which
has insecticide property
84. 84
• Antifeedant action against locust,bph,wbph,glh,cutworm
gundhibug through NSKE ,stored grain pests by leaf
powder,lepidopterous larvae by neem oil application
• Repellent action against stored grain pests
• Growth deformities in DBM,tobacco caterpillar,epilachna
beetle
• Oviposition deterrent effect on fruit fly, tomato fruit borer,
tobacco caterpillar
• Contact toxicity against aphids,termites,caterpillars
• Sterilant in okra fruit borer
• Fungicidal and nematicide property by oil cake application
• Dong and Zhao(1996) studied
antifeedant,stomach,contact,growth inhibition effects
• Stark (1997) studied antimoultimg,precocious
metamorphosis and irregularity in reproduction effects
Various uses of Neem
85. 85
Virus as bio-pesticide
• Viruses are sub-microscopic entities
capable of self-duplication which derive
their nutrition from host ribosome and are
capable of causing disease in host
resulting in death or severe ailment in
host.
86. 86
Characteristics of virus
• Viruses controlling insects fall into 3 categories. They are
nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV), cytoplasmic
polyhedrosis virus (CPV) and granulosis virus GV)
• Viruses are host specific in nature
• Resistance against viral preparations have not been
encountered with.
• Compatible with certain insecticides, neem oil.
• Do not cause any health hazard
• They are eco-friendly and non-destructive in nature
• Provide long term control
• NPV is most widely used in insect pest management
87. 87
Mode of action of virus
• Viral preparations are sprayed on the crop
• Virus particles stick to the foliage
• The insect feeds on the foliage
• The viral particles enter the stomach
• NPV spreads in nucleus, CPV spreads in
cytoplasm and GV spreads in fat bodies
• On full proliferation, the organelles split
• Viral particles come to blood and attack other
organelles
• Insect move to highest point of plant and die in a
hanging manner
88. 88
Examples of use of virus in insect
control
• Ha NPV is used to control H armigera on
different crops at a dose of 250-500 LE/ha
• Sl NPV is used to control tobacco caterpillar on
different crops at a dose of 250-400 LE/ha
• GV is used to control rhinoceros beetle in
coconut
• Viruses are also used against red hairy
caterpillar, bihar hairy caterpillar and other
caterpillars and coleopterous insects
89. 89
The following strategies should be
followed for adoption of organic farming.
1. Site selection/land consolidation
Places which have history of producing rice
with out using chemical inputs or with minimum
intervention, should be preferred.
2. Cooperative/Community approach
In view of the fragmentation of land-holding, the
community approach is a must for the organic
farmers.
3. Availability of organic inputs
Easy availability of organic inputs is the pre-
requisite for organic farming. The farmers, in
due course, have to produce their own organic
inputs.
The suitability/adaptability of different green
manure crops should be tested. Contd…
90. 90
4. Selection of crop and cultivars
Whether grown for domestic consumption or
export purpose.
Selection of crops suited for a particular
location.
5. Quality of organic inputs
The organic inputs are sold in different brand
names, no standards are yet available.
Quality control laboratory should be set up to
standardize the quality.
6. Cropping system approach
The cropping system approach will be more
remunerative in organic farming.
Selection of shallow and deep-rooted crops in
the rotation.
Part of the crop residue should be returned to
soil/fed to cattle or be used for compositing.
Contd…
91. 91
7. Developmental and promotional activities
Incentive and encouragement for the production
of quality organic manure bio-pesticide, bio-
fertilizer and green manuring crop should be
considered.
Effort should be made for the development of
new pesticide of plant origin. The use of bio-
agents need to be promoted.
8. Certification and accreditation
Cost of inspection and certification is cost
prohibitive.
It should be simple and at a lower cost.
9. Sales and marketing
Organic farming is labour intensive.
So, it will be more remunerative if the farmer get
a premium price for their produce.
92. 92
“Without new technology, we won’t be able to
provide food for 6.4 billion people (worldwide)”---
------Dr. Norman Borlaug
Sasanka Lenka
Consultant
E-mail: lenka57@gmail.com
