Organic Farming Techniques

Organic Farming Technologies

Organic farming is a production system, which avoids the use of synthetically compounded fertilizers, pesticides and growth regulators. In other words, it relies upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic wastes, microbial preparations and aspects of biological pest control to maintain soil productivity and tilt, to supply plant nutrients and to control pests & diseases thus paving a way to Sustainable Agriculture.

Aims of Organic Farming

	To maintain the long term fertility of the soil
	To reduce the input cost.
	To effectively utilize the available water.
	To avoid all forms of pollution caused by agricultural techniques.
	To provide a quality foodstuff

General Principles

Soil Fertility

Multi variety Cropping

Mulching

Bio-fertilizers

Vermicompost

Seeds & Seed Treatment

Growth Promoters

-	Starter Solution
-	Amara (arappu) leaf extract
-	Fermented Buttermilk and Coconut milk solution
-	Panchakavya

Crop Protection

-	Pest repellent
-	Management of crop diseases
-	Parasites & Predators
-	Micro-organisms
-	Trap crop
-	Light trap
-	N. P. Virus Spray

Water Management

Weed Control

Poly Culture

Intercropping

Soil Fertility

Soil being the natural medium for plant growth, is comprised of mineral matter. In order to exploit these minerals, sufficient manures are applied to the soil by which adequate physical condition is provided favoring the biological changes and naturally, the chemical composition of the soil gets changed favorably. Along with these changes, soil structure will improve and the quantity of humus content, beneficial micro organisms and earthworms will also increase thus ultimately the soil attains fertility

Multi Variety Cropping

Insitu cultivation of different green manure crops acts as a good manure to the soil. This enhances the availability of macro and micro nutrients. Hence the productivity of the land gets augmented

Cereals
Sorghum 750 g, Cumbu 250 g, Thinai 200 g, Samai 250 g, Finger millet 300 g, Kuthiraivali 250 g, Panivaragu 200 g, - any four of the above

Spice crops
Coriander 1 kg, Mustard 0.5 kg, Fennel 0.25 kg, Fenugreek 0.25 kg

Pulse crops
Red gram 2 kg, Black gram 2 kg, Horse gram 1 kg, Green gram 2 kg, lab-lab 1 kg – any four of the above

Oilseeds
Sesame 250 g, Groundnut 2 kg, Castor 3 kg, Sunflower 1 kg, Soya 2 kg – any four of the above

Green manure crops
Sun hemp 2 kg, Daincha 1 kg, Tephrosia 1 kg, Sesbania 1 kg, Sithagathi 1 kg – any four of the above

Seeds of any four crops of the above mentioned are required @ 20 kg / acre

45 days prior to the cultivation of Paddy, the above mentioned crops are grown, decomposed for 10 days after which Paddy seedlings can be transplanted

60 days prior to the cultivation of Sugarcane, Banana and Turmeric adequate quantity of FYM / Poultry manure / Vermicompost are applied to the field followed by the sowing of above mentioned crops that can be ploughed insitu. Through this practice, 25 – 35 tonnes of green manure is incorporated to the field. This will improve the physical condition of the soil.

During the cultivation of Sugarcane, Banana and Turmeric the first weeding operation could be followed by the raising of green manure crops and insitu mulching is done in alternative rows

With respect to Banana cultivation, within 5 months of planting, the crops are grown twice; they are cut and are evenly spread in between the rows of Banana. This practice will suppress the weed growth

In order to enhance the crop growth as mentioned above, 100 litres of cow dung solution is mixed with 50 litres of starter solution and can be applied for 1 acre twice in a month during irrigating the crop. This solution will increase the beneficial microorganisms in the soil through which, the process of decomposition of the materials become faster. Hence crop growth gets enhanced. Moreover consistency of the soil will increase by which the crops could obtain all types of nutrients

Measures for Reclamation of Waste land

To increase the fertility of the soil, different types of green manure crops can be grown and ploughed insitu on 40th day. This operation is repeated on 60th & 90th day

For each sowing of green manure crop, 10% starter solution is applied during irrigation operation after a gap of 15 days

This solution will increase the beneficial micro organisms in the soil through which the process of decomposition of the materials become faster. Hence crop growth gets enhanced. Moreover consistency of the soil will increase by which the crops could obtain all types of nutrients

Mulching

Mulching is the Natural or artificial application of layers of organic residues or other materials on the surface of the soil.

Benefits of Mulching:

	Reduces the impact of splash erosion
	Reduces the rate of evaporation
	Increase the Infiltration capacity of the soil
	Suppress the weed growth
	Improve the soil structure
	Conserve the moisture content of soil
	Increase Irrigation Interval
	Create favorable environment for multiplication of micro organisms and earthworms
	Reduce the cost incurred for Inter cultivation
	All these benefits will ultimately lead to the increase in yield

Following materials can be employed for Mulching

Coir waste, Farm waste, Dried leaves, Dried grasses, Sugarcane trash, Paddy straw and Groundnut husk

E.g. After the harvesting of Sugarcane, trash can be spread as such or spread in alternative furrows instead of firing the trash. After planting, trash can be collected and spread in alternative furrows in 5th and 7th month

After planting of Banana, well decomposed Sugarcane trash can be spread

Bio-Fertilizer

Micro organisms convert the unavailable form of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash present in plants root nodules and atmosphere into available form. They also enrich the crops with vitamins, amino acids and growth promoters

In the fields where chemical fertilizers are applied, number of micro organisms gets reduced because fertilizers are harmful to the survival of micro organisms

Bio-fertilizers can be classified under 2 categories

	Fixes atmospheric nitrogen thereby enhancing crop growth
	Converts insoluble form of phosphorus into soluble form thus making it available to roots

Generally seeds are treated with bio-fertilizers or are applied to the soil after mixing with Farm Yard Manure. Bio-fertilizers are mixed with water in which roots of crops can be dipped for 10 minutes

E.g. Azospirillum, Phospho-bacterium, Rhizobium

Vermi-Compost

Vermicompost is a method of making compost with the use of earthworms, which generally live in soil, eat biomass and excreta in digested form. This compost is generally called Vermi-compost. It is estimated that 1800 worms which is an ideal population for 1 sq.m. can feed on 8 tonnes of humus per year.

Benefits of earthworms:

	The upward and downward movement of earthworms (tunneling) improves the aeration of soil and facilitates the easy draining of water during rainy season. This increases the infiltration capacity of soil
	It absorbs soil residues adding fertility to the soil
	Prevents soil erosion
	When Vermicompost is applied to the soil, earthworms number will increase
	Increases the water holding capacity of soil by which irrigation interval is also increased
	Tunnels made by the earthworms are helpful in withholding the water which increases the ground water level
	Generally nutrients embedded in upper portion of the soil go very deep and are not available to the crops. In order to bring those nutrients to the upper portion, endogenic and anacic type of earthworm help in promoting this to a larger extent

Benefits of Vermi waste

	When Vermicompost is applied to the soil, there is a chance for increase in earthworms population
	Maintains bacterial population since nitrogen fixing bacterias and bacterias solubilizing insoluble phosphorus are present in large number in Vermi waste
	It contains all micro nutrients hence micro nutrient deficiency gets rectified
	Contains growth promoters such as Cytokinin, Auxins and several enzymes, harmones and vitamins
	Controls nematodes multiplication

Seeds and Seed Treatment

Seeds of traditional and improved cultivars have to be selected. Reason for avoiding the hybrid seeds is that they cannot be multiplied in future generation as that of traditional one.

The selected one should be free from pest and disease.

Selected seeds can be treated with 3-4ml of Panchakavya and 3-4gm of Pseudomonas/kg of seeds, kept for 24 hours and used for sowing.

Growth Promoters

a. Starter Solution:
20 kg of cow dung, 20 litres of cow urine, 3-4 kg of Jaggery are to be mixed in 200 litres of water. After 24 hours, the solution is applied to crops by mixing it with irrigation water (1:10). This solution could convert the infertile soil into a productive one.
The solution is applied 2-3 times for 3-4 months old crop and for long duration crops, this applied twice in a month. Along with this solution, water may also be mixed and is sprayed over the crops

b. Amara Leaf Extract:
1 kg of leaf is to be mixed with 5 litres of buttermilk and is kept for 7 days. 1 litre of this solution is mixed with 10 litres of water and can be applied to the crops as foliar spray.

c. Fermented Buttermilk & Coconut milk Solution:
5 litres of fermented buttermilk and 5 litres of coconut milk are mixed and kept in a mud pot or plastic drums for 1 week during which period it has to be stirred often. Then the solution is mixed with water @ 1 litre solution in 10 litres of water. This also is applied as foliar spray.

d. Panchakavya:
Ingredients –

	Cow dung 5 kg
	Cow urine 5 litres
	Curd 2 litres (fermented for 15 days)
	Ghee 0.5-1 litre
	Jaggery 1 kg or Sugarcane juice 2 – 3 litres
	Tender Coconut water 2 – 3 litres
	Well ripened Banana (Poovan variety) 12
	Yeast 50-100 gm or toddy 2 litres

Method of Preparation:

5 kg of cow dung is to be mixed with 5 litres of cow urine, sufficient quantity of water is also added and kept in mud pot or plastic drum and the mixture is stirred clockwise and anticlockwise (50 times each) every day.

On the 16th day, following ingredients are added.

Curd fermented for 15 days, milk 2 litres, Ghee 0.5-1 litre, Jaggery 1 kg or sugarcane juice 2-3 litres, Tender coconut 2-3, Poovan banana and yeast 50 gm or toddy 2 litres. This mixture is kept for 7 days. On the 22nd day, Panchakavya will be ready for use. This can be used for 6 months. (Panchakavya has to be stirred well every day until use)

Note: 2kg of cow dung is mixed with 0.5-1 litre of Ghee and is kept for 15 days which will facilitate the decomposing of ghee

Depending upon the growth of crops, the solution is sprayed once in 7 – 10 days by which the plant growth gets enhanced. Following are the effects of the solution,

	Rectifies the micro nutrient deficiency
	Acts as growth promoter
	Acts as pest repellent
	Provides immunity power to crops

Method of Application:

	For short duration crops, it is sprayed twice – before and after flowering
	For flowering plants, it is sprayed once.
	The solution can also be used for seeds and seedling treatment.

Spraying duration for Fruit Trees

I time – one month before flowering
II time – 15 days after flowering
III time – fruit attains pea size
IV time – After harvesting, it is applied to all fruit trees once.

The solution is sprayed twice or thrice for each crop. For 1 litres of water, 25-30 ml of Panchakavya is mixed and sprayed.

Crop Protection

a. Pest repellent

Method of selection of herbal pest repellents:
1. Leaves that could not be eaten by cattle e.g. Lantana camera
2. Plants with milky latex e.g. Calotropis
3. Leaves with bitter taste e.g. Neem, Aloe vera
4. Leaves with sour taste e.g. Jatropha
5. Leaves with bitter & sour taste

Method of Preparation:
1. Soaking method
2. Boiling Method (Fastest method)

Soaking Method:

Leaves of Any 5 of the following species are selected
Neem, Parthenium, Vitex negunda, Tobacco, Sweet flag(Acorus curcus), Garlic, Bogainvillea flower and leaves, Jatropa, Custard apple leaves & seeds, Adathoda, Calotropis, Lantana camera, Palathalai, Aloe vera, Pirandai (Cissus quadrangularis)

2 kg of each plant leaves are cut into pieces and mixed with 1 part of cow dung solution, 4 parts of cow urine and kept in a mud pot. This is placed in a shady place.

The solution is stirred well every day. After 1 week, the mixture is filtered and is applied at the rate of 1 litre solution in 10 litres of water. This solution acts as pest repellent as well as growth promoter. Depending upon the pest infestation, the solution is sprayed twice or thrice once in 7-10 days.

Boiling Method:

Above mentioned leaves are cut into pieces and is taken in a mud pot to which 10 litres of water is added and is boiled till 5 litres of solution is obtained. After cooling the leaf extract, 1 kg of turmeric powder is added and is kept for 24 hours. Then 1litre of solution is mixed with 10 litres of water and sprayed.

Preparation of Solution to control fruit borers:

	Neem Seed	1 – 2 kg
	Malaivembu	1 - 2 kg
	Pungam seed	1 - 2 kg
	Kadukkai seeds	1 - 2 kg
	Ettikkai seeds	100 – 200 gm
	Custard apple seeds	100 – 500 gm
	Golden Nerium (Thevettia) seeds	100 – 500 gm

Any one seed of the above mentioned plants is powdered and is stirred in 3 – 6 litres of water. This is taken in a mud pot and the mixture is boiled till the solution becomes half the amount of original mixture. After cooling the solution, it is mixed with either soaked or boiled solution and can be used.

Method of Spraying
The solution is sprayed in the morning and evening time.

b. Management of Crop Diseases:

Turmeric Leaf spot

Elongated eye shaped spots are seen on the upper surface of the leaves. Black coloured sperms of the fungus are observed in the centre of the spots. When the disease intensifies, several spots will coalesce into a big one, turning to yellow colour subsequently the leaves will get dried.

To control this disease, Pseudomonas florescence 0.5 – 1 kg is mixed with sufficient amount of water and is sprayed on the leaves

(or)

Aloe vera 3 - 5 kg, Bougainvillea, Papaya leaf 3 – 5 kg, Custard apple leaves 3 – 5 kg, Lantana camera 3 – 5 kg,– Any two of the above mentioned leaves along with Aloe vera are cut into pieces, mixed with 15 litres of water and is boiled till 10 litres of solution is obtained. After filtering the solution, 1 kg Turmeric powder is added and is kept for 12 hours. Then Pseudomonas florescence 250 – 500 gm is added and is sprayed at the rate of 1 litre solution in 10 litres of water.

Note: This solution is applied to control the diseases of Tomato and Paddy leaf blight

Wilt disease and Nematode in Banana

Ingredients : Pseudomonas florescence, Paecilomyces and Trichoderma viridi

Method of Preparation:
Before planting, the above mentioned fungal agents are mixed with well decomposed FYM @ 2 kg / acre and are put inside the planting pits. Then a solution containing 1 litre water and 3 ml Panchakavya is also poured in the pits.

The fungal agents are mixed with cowdung solution and are applied on 3rd, 5th & 7th months during irrigation.

c. Parasitoids & Predators:

Two types of pests are there:
1. Beneficial to crops.
2. Harmful to crops.

When the beneficial pests are made to control the harmful pests such method is known as Biological control. Especially in crops like Sugarcane and Coconut, spray of chemicals becomes difficult because of their height. This method becomes the only alternative.

Beneficial pests are classified as Parasitoid and Predators

Parasitoid – They will live over the body of the harmful pests for some days subsequently killing the pest.
Predators – They will eat the smaller insects.

Parasitoids

Parasitoids such as wasps and flies live on other insect’s eggs, larvae & pupa ultimately leading to their death
1. Egg Parasitoid:
Parasitoid will search and oviposit on the harmful insects eggs thereby eating the egg’s yolk of the host
E.g. Sugarcane Internode borer, Paddy stem borer, Tomato and cotton fruit borer
The eggs of these are destroyed by an egg Parasitoid – Trichogramma
2. Larval Parasitoid:
Parasitoids will lay their eggs directly on larvae, by which the parasite starts growing thereby killing the larvae
E.g. Coconut Black headed Caterpillar
This is controlled by Ichneumonid, Bracconid and Bethylid species
3. Pupal Parasitoid:
These Parasitoid will catch the pupa of harmful pests and will oviposit on it. So the adults will not emerge and thus get killed.
E.g. Coconut Black headed Caterpillar
This is controlled by Tetracadikkus and Trichospilus

Predators

	Brown plant hopper affecting Paddy will be eaten by Tortoise Beetle and Spiders
	Aphids affecting cotton, lablab and cowpea are eaten by Chrysopa
	Wasps will carry the larvae of other insects, keep them in their nests and feed their young
	Spiders, Praying mantids, ants, dragon fly and some flees will eat the harmful pests

d. Micro-organisms:

Multiplication of Microorganisms
1 kg each of Azospirillum, Phospobacterium, Trichoderma viridi and Pseudomonas florescence are mixed with 100 kg FYM, over which water mixed with 1 kg Jaggery is sprinkled.

While stirring this, it is advisable to check for the presence of sufficient amount of moisture. This FYM mixture is covered with wet gunny bag or sugarcane trash over which water has to be sprinkled every day. Heaped FYM is stirred once in 5 days and again covered with wet gunny bag or sugarcane trash. This will facilitate the multiplication of micro organisms.

Half the amount of this enriched FYM mixture is used during planting, the remaining portion is applied evenly 15 days after planting in 1 acre of land during irrigation.
This will enhance the crop growth. I.e. this will absorb the Nitrogen present in air and will also convert the insoluble form of Phosphorus present in soil into soluble form. It will also control the diseases such as root and rhizome rot.

e. Trap Crop:

It is a usual practice for farmers cultivating some crops as inter crops in between the main crop. These inter crops act as trap crop by helping the main crop in controlling their major pests. Following are the examples.

Main Crop	Trap Crop	Pests Controlled
Bhendi	Bitter Gourd (emits a bitter substance momordicin)	All pests
Pulses	Sun hemp Castor	Beetles Spodoptera and Hairy caterpillar
Crosandra	Castor	All pests
Cabbage*	Mustard *(1 row of mustard for every 25 rows of cabbage)	Diamond Back Moth*
General	Marigold	Nematodes
Vegetables	Onion (emits allicin compound which irritates the pest)	All pests
Paddy	Live fencing of Vitex negunda	Stem borer & Earhead bug
Red gram	Marigold	Fruit borer
Tomato	Marigold (1 row of marigold for every 16 rows of Tomato)	Fruit borer

* 10 days before planting of cabbage, mustard is sown in a dense manner along the borders of cabbage field. After planting cabbage, mustard is sown in between cabbage as per the above mentioned ratio

f. Light trap

Light trap should be placed in the centre of the cropped field. In the evening time, female adults used to roam about here and there in search of males for mating. Plastic bucket or Plastic plate filled with water and 200 ml Kerosene is placed at the bottom of light trap.
It is placed in the field in the evening from 6 pm till 10 pm. This will attract the adult insects.

g. N P. Virus Spray:

Nuclear Polyheterosis Virus infested larvae’s bottom portion of the body will turn to red colour. Larvae feel difficulty in eating. Before dieing, larvae will climb to the top portion of trees and hang upside down and will die after which mucous like liquid will emanate from the body surface. This is collected and sprayed to crops.

Two types of N. P. Virus
1. Protinea
2. Helicoverpa

Protinea is used against the pests of Cotton, Tomato, Castor, Sunflower, Tobacco and cowpea

For 1 acre, 1 litre of N .P. virus solution is used. 2 kg Jaggery is solibilized in 2 litres of water. This is again added to 100 litres of water and is sprayed in the evening time.

Water Management

Since water is applied in alternative rows, 50% of the water will be saved. Unirrigated rows if covered with dried leaves and farm wastes, the moisture will be preserved.

Weed Management

Naturally every weed seed has got germination capacity. For germination of seeds, proper moisture and sunlight are essential. Plants will fulfil their growth needs by utilising sunlight and air. Weeds are not harmful to farming. They will preserve moisture by not allowing the sunlight to reach the soil. Weeds could be pulled out and is mulched insitu after which they will decompose and fertilise the soil.

Crop leaf residues, farm wastes, dried leaves and stems of banana and dried leaves of other trees are buried beneath the rows. Even though enough moisture is available, sunlight will not be there for weed germination subsequently they will decompose making the soil fertile.

Poly Culture

Usually single type of fruits is grown in farms. Hence only one crop is harvested in a year. Too much production of a single type of fruit do not fetch good price. Incidence of pests and diseases will be more in mono cropping. Subsequently yield gets reduced and inputs cost also increases.

By planting multi-purpose trees in a farm, income is earned throughout the year. If one crop fails, income earned from other crops can compensate the loss.

Selection of Fruit trees:

1. Long duration fruit trees:
E.g. Mango, Sapota, Tamarind, Gooseberry, Jack and Guava

2. Short duration fruit trees:
E.g. Pomegranate, Lemon and Orange

3. Short duration, giving yield for several months in a year:
E.g. Lemon, Papaya and Guava

4. Giving yield after long time
E.g. Teak, Phyllodendron, Vengai, and Neem

• Trees giving yield in short duration and enriching soil

E.g. Casuarina, Subabul, Glyricidia, Casia fistula, Albizzia amara and Casea siamia

• Fruit trees tolerating drought

E.g. Jamun, Wood apple, Tamarind, Gooseberry, Custard apple, Ber

• Vegetables

E.g. cow pea, snake gourd, bitter gourd, winged bean, and lablab

After selecting long duration fruit trees as main crop, they are planted at a distance of 10-12 m in square form. Short duration fruit trees are planted in between the space of long duration fruit trees. Long duration timber trees are planted along the borders.

Several types of Nitrogen fixing trees (Sesbania sp.) are planted in field borders and in between fruit trees. This will provide green manure and also fixes atmospheric nitrogen. Also acts as feed for livestock.

By growing creeping vegetables along the borders in the fencing, the vegetable requirement of household gets fulfilled.

Before planting different fruit trees, soil fertility, soil type, temperature conditions, water facility and marketing facility are all to be taken into consideration.

Benefits

1. Good environmental condition is created.
2. If one crop fails, income from other crops can compensate the loss.
3. One crop acts as a trap crop for others which will control the pests and diseases naturally
4. Income is obtained for several months in a year
5. Nutrients required for crop growth are available naturally
6. Dried leaves required for composting are easily available
7. Feed for livestock are also available

Inter Cropping

Cultivating companion crops in between main crops
Space in between main crops are utilised judiciously. The intercrops should be selected such that they should be fast growing than main crop. Inter crops should not compete with main crop. Also they should fix atmospheric nitrogen.

E.g.
1. In rain fed lands, when ground nut is grown as a main crop, green gram, black gram and red gram are grown as inter crops.
2. Banana, Tapioco and Turmeric are grown as inter crops in Coconut
3. Onion, Chillies, Yam, creeping vegetables and Castor are grown as inter crops in Turmeric
Inter crops in vegetables

Main crop	Inter/Companion crop
Ash gourd	Palak
Cabbage	Beetroot
Carrot	Tomato, Peas &Onion
Cucumber	Beans & Radish
Potato	Peas
Radish	Peas
Tomato	Carrot & Onion

Uses:

	Increase crop yield
	Fixes atmospheric nitrogen and makes it available to other crops
	Inter crops acts as trap crop for main crop
	Controls weed growth
	It does not allow the penetration of sunlight deep inside the soil. Hence soil gets protected.

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