Organic Agriculture - principles and practices

Principles of Organic Agriculture

1. Principle of health

Organic Agriculture should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, anima,l human and planet as one and indivisible.

2. Principle of ecology

Organic Agriculture should be based on living ecological systems and cycles, work with them, emulate them and help sustain them.

3. Principle of fairness

Organic Agriculture should build on relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the common environment and life opportunities.

4. Principle of care

Organic Agriculture should be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment.

The principles are to be used as a whole.

Key characteristics of organic agriculture ·                     relies primarily on local, renewable resources ·                     makes efficient use of solar energy and the production potential of biological systems ·                     maintains the fertility of the soil ·                     maximises recycling of plant nutrients and organic matter ·                     does not use organisms or substances foreign to nature (e.g. GMOs, chemical fertilisers or pesticides) ·                     maintains diversity in the production system as well as the agricultural landscape ·                     gives farm animals, life conditions that correspond to their ecological role and allow them a natural behaviour Organic agriculture is also a sustainable and environmentally friendly production method, which has particular advantages for small-scale farmers. Organic agriculture contributes to poverty alleviation and food security by a combination of many features, such as; ·                     increasing yields in low-input areas; ·                     conserving bio-diversity and nature resources on the farm and in the surrounding area; ·                     increasing income and/or reducing costs; ·                     producing safe and varied food; ·                     being sustainable in the long term.

Organic Management - An Integrated approach Philosophy ·                     Organic farming package is an integrated approach, where all aspects of farming systems are interlinked with each other and work for each other. ·                     A healthy biologically active soil is the source of crop nutrition, on-farm biodiversity controls pests, crop rotation and multiple cropping maintains the systems health and on-farm resource management with integration of cattle ensure productivity and sustainability. ·                     Organic management stresses on optimization of resource use and productivity, rather then maximization of productivity and over exploitation of resources on the cost of resources meant for future generations.

Important steps ·                     Enrichment of soil ·                     Management of temperature ·                     Conservation of rain water ·                     Maximum harvesting of sun energy ·                     Self reliance in inputs ·                     Maintenance of natural cycles and life forms ·                     Integration of animals ·                     Maximum reliance on renewable energy sources, such as animal power

How to achieve 1. Enrichment of soil – Abandon use of chemicals, use crop residue as mulch, use organic and biological fertilizers, adopt crop rotation and multiple cropping, avoid excessive tilling and keep soil covered with green cover or biological mulch. 2. Management of temperature - Keep soil covered, Plant trees and bushes on bund 3. Conservation of soil and rain water – Dig percolation tanks, maintain contour bunds in sloppy land & adopt contour row cultivation, dig farm ponds, maiantain low height plantation on bunds. 4. Harvesting of sun energy – Maintain green stand throughout the year through combination of different crops and plantation schedules. 5. Self reliance in inputs – develop your own seed, on-farm production of compost, vermicompost, vermiwash, liquid manures and botanical extracts. 6. Maintenance of life forms – Develop habitat for sustenance of life forms, never use pesticides, create enough diversity. 7. Integration of animals – Animals are important components of organic management and not only provide animal products but also provide enough dung and urine for use in soil. 8. Use of renewable energy – Use solar energy, bio-gas and bullock driven pumps, generator and other machine.

Developing organic farm As organic management is an integrated approach. Manipulation and adoption of one or few steps may not yield significant results. For optimization of productivity all the essential components need to be developed in a systematic manner. These steps include: (i) Habitat development, (ii) on-farm facilities for input production (iii) cropping sequence and combination planning, (iv) 3-4 year rotation plan and (vi) growing of crops suiting to the region, soil and climate.

Development of farm facilities and habitat i. Infrastructure ·                     Reserve 3-5% space for utilities, such as space for cattle, vermicompost bed, compost tank, Vermiwash/ compost tea unit etc. 3-4 trees should be planted only on this space, as all utility infrastructure need shade. ·                     Dig some percolation tanks (7x3x3mt) for rain water conservation (1 pit per ha) at appropriate places depending upon slope and water flow. ·                     If possible develop a farm pond of preferably 20x10 mt size. ·                     Keep few 200 lit tanks (1 per acre) for liquid manure preparation and few containers for botanicals. ·                     For 5 acre farm, develop 1-2 vermicompost beds, 1 NADEP tank, 2-3 compost tea/ vermiwash units. ·                     Irrigation well, pumping infrastructure etc can also be in this utility area ii. Habitat ·                     Plant Glyricidia, perennial Sesbania, Luecanea leucocephala, Casia tora etc for biological nitrogen fixation on bunds (1.5 mt wide, on at least 800-1000mt for 5 acre). ·                     Planting of some trees, bushes at appropriate places e.g. Neem (Azadirachta indica) 3-4 trees, Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) one, Gular (Ficus glumerata), 1-2, ber (Zizyphus sp) bushes 8-10, Aonla (Embilica officinalis) 1-2, Drumstick, Custard apple 2-3 and 2-3 fruit trees. ·                     In between Glyricidia rows insert few plants of pesticidal value such as Adathoda vesica, Vitax nigundo, Calotropis, Datura alba, Ipomea (Besharam) etc. ·                     Trees on utility space can be allowed to grow fully. Trees and bushes on farm bunds should be placed randomly at sufficient distance and pruned at repeated intervals. ·                     Glyricidia plants should be planted at close spacing on all major bunds and all around the farm. They will act not only as biological fence but also provide biologically fixed nitrogen to soil. ·                     A 400 mt long Glyricidia strip can provide 22.5 kg N/ha per year from the year 3 and up to 77 Kg N/ha from year 7 under rainfed conditions. This can be 75-100% higher under irrigated conditions. Three to four harvests can be made under irrigated conditions and two harvests under un-irrigated conditions. Never allow them to grow above 5.5 ft to avoid shading effect. Lopping is used as green leaf manure. Simply harvest them and incorporate in soil before sowing or use as mulch. Schematic model of an 10 acre organic farm Conversion of soil to organic a. Low input alternative ·                     In first year simultaneously sow three different types of legumes, first of 60 days, second of 90-120 days and third of more than 120 days in strips. Extract only grains or green pods, use entire crop residue as mulch along with uprooted weeds. ·                     In second season apply compost @ 2.5 ton/ha and sow cereal crop with legume as inter or companion crop. After harvest use entire legume and remaining part of cereal crop as mulch. ·                     If irrigation facilities are there, take summer legume with some vegetable crop. Recycle entire residue as mulch. ·                     Use 3-4 application of liquid manure during each cropping season for soil application. b. High input alternative ·                     Incorporate 2.5 ton compost/ vermicompost, 500 kg crushed oil cakes, 500 kg rock phosphate, 100 kg neem cake and 5kg PSB biofertilizer in soil. ·                     Sow 3-4 types of different crops in strips. 40% crop stand should be of legumes. After harvest incorporate entire residue in soil or use as mulch after sowing of the next crop. For second crop also use similar quantities of manures. ·                     Use liquid manure @ 200lit/acre 3-4 times during cropping season along with irrigation water After about 12-18 months the soil will be ready for organic cultivation of any crop combination. For next two-three years, along with any crop incorporate legumes as inter or companion crops. Ensure that crop residue should always have at least 30% residue from legumes. Also treat crop residue with liquid manure before incorporating into soil or using as mulch. iv. Multiple cropping and crop rotation ·                     In organic farming there is no place for mono cropping. ·                     Entire farm should have at least 8-10 types of crops at all the times. ·                     Each field/ plot should have at least 2-4 types of crops out of which one should be legume. ·                     In case if only one crop is taken in one plot then adjacent plots should have different crops. ·                     Follow 3-4 years rotation plan. ·                     All high nutrient demanding crops should precede and follow legume dominated crop combination. ·                     For maintenance of diversity and pest control, randomly plant 50-150/acre vegetable seedlings for home consumption and 100 plants/acre of marigold (Genda) in all crop fields. ·                     Even high nutrient demanding crops such as sugarcane can also be grown with suitable combination of various legume and vegetable crops with optimum productivity. v. Status of rich and live organic soil ·                     A fertile and live organic soil ideally should have organic C between 0.8-1.5%. ·                     At any point of time it should have adequate quantity of dry, semi decomposed and fully decomposed organic matter for the use of micro-flora and fauna. ·                     Total microbial load (bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) should be above 1 x 108 /gm of soil. ·                     There should be at least 3-5 earth worms/cubic ft of soil. ·                     There should be enough quantity of small life forms and insects such as ants etc. vi. Manuring and soil enrichment ·                     Lopping from Glyricidia and other plants grown on bunds, on-farm produced compost and vermicompost, animal dung and urine and crop residue should form the major source of nutrient. ·                     Suitable combination of biofertilizers and concentrated manures such as crushed oil cakes, poultry manure, vegetable market waste compost and other novel preparations such as biodynamic formulations EM produced composts etc can also be used in appropriate quantity. ·                     Use of high quantities of manures should be avoided. ·                     Changing crop rotations and multiple crops ensure better utilization of resources. ·                     Depending upon the type of crop and requirement of nutrients for different crops, the quantity of externally produced inputs is determined. ·                     Application of liquid manure is essential to maintain the activity of microorganisms and other life forms. 3-4 applications of liquid manure is essential for all types of crops. ·                     Vermiwash, compost tea and cow urine are excellent growth promoters when used as foliar spray. 3-5 sprays after 25-30 days of sowing ensure good productivity. ·                     As organic management is a complex integrated process, where all the components are interlinked and independent on each other and no single crop is grown at a time it is very difficult to develop a package for any single crop, one example of nutrient management is given below (just as an example): - Cereal legume combination In kharif, jowar, bajra or maize (cotton also) can be grown in combination with legumes. Main cereal crop should occupy 60% of total space while two legumes can be grown in remaining 40% space in strips. 1.5-2.0 tons of compost, 500 kg of vermicompost mixed with 100 kg rock phosphate is applied as basal dose. Biofertilizers are used as seed and soil treatment. Previous crop residue is treated with liquid manure and spread over the soil surface immediately after sowing. Weeding is done manually and weed-biomass is used as mulch. 3-4 application of liquid manure @ 200lit/acre/application is essential and applied along with irrigation or sprinkled uniformly over one acre during rains. Biodynamic preparations, cow pat pit or EM formulations can also be used along with or in place of composts. 2-3 foliar sprays of vermiwash or cow urine or both (1:1) ensure good productivity. In rabi, first take a quick crop of green leafy vegetables such as Trigonella or spinach (Palak) and then take wheat. Instead of wheat, vegetable can also be grown in combination with legumes. Similar quantities of manures can be used if wheat is grown. In case of vegetables add 500 kg of crushed oil cakes, 100 kg neem cake and 50 kg rock phosphate per acre to the compost. As the soil builds up, the use of composts can be reduced to 50% after 3-4 years of starting the organic management. vii. Seed Treatment In organic management, protection measures are used only in the case of problematic situations. Use of disease free seed and stock and resistant varieties is the best option. There is no standard formulation or treatment methodology, available as on today, but farmers use different methods. Few of such innovative seed treating formulations are as follows: ·                     Hot water treatment at 530C for 20-30 min. ·                     Cow urine or cow urine-termite mound soil paste ·                     Beejamrut (mix 50 gm cow dung, 50 ml cow urine, 10 ml milk, 2-3 gm lime in one lit of water keep overnight). ·                     Asphoetida 250gm in one lit. of water for 10 kg seed ·                     Turmeric rhizome powder mixed with cow urine ·                     Pachgavya extract ·                     Dashparni extract ·                     Trichoderma viride (4gm/kg seed) or Pseudomonas fluorscens (10gm/kg seed) ·                     Biofertilizers (Rhizobium/ Azotobacter +PSB) viii. Preparation of liquid manures Many variants of liquid manures are being used by farmers of different states. Few important and widely used formulations are given below ·                     Sanjivak – Mix 100 kg cow dung, 100 lit cow urine and 500 gm jaggary in 300 lit of water in a 500-lit closed drum. Ferment for 10 days. Dilute with 20 times water and sprinkle in one acre either as soil spray or along with irrigation water. ·                     Jivamrut – Mix cow dung 10 kg, cow urine 10 lit, Jaggary 2 kg, any pulse grain flour 2 kg and Live soil 1 kg in 200 lit water and fermentation for 5 to 7 days. Stir the solution regularly three times a day. Use in one acre with irrigation water. ·                     Panchgavya – Mix cow dung slurry 4 kg, fresh cow dung 1 kg, cow urine 3 lit, cow milk 2 lit, curd 2 lit, cow butter oil 1 kg and ferment for 7 days with twice stirring per day. Dilute 3 lit of Panchgavya in 100 lit water and spray over soil. 20 lit panchgavya is needed per acre for soil application along with irrigation water. ·                     Enriched Panchgavya – Mix fresh cow dung 1 kg, cow urine 3 lit, cow milk 2 lit, curd 2 lit, cow deshi ghee 1 kg, sugarcane juice 3 lit, coconut water 3 lit, banana paste of 12 fruits and ferment for 7 days. Method of application is same as Panchgavya above. ix. Pest management As in organic farming management, use of synthetic chemicals is prohibited, the pest management is done by: (i) cultural or agronomic (ii) mechanical (iii) biological or by (iv) organically acceptable chemical alternatives ·                     Cultural alternative Use of disease free seed or stock and resistant varieties are best preventive practice in organic pest management. Maintenance of biodiversity, effective crop rotation, multiple cropping, habitat manipulation and use of trap crops are also effective practices which can keep the population of pests below economical threshold limit (ETL). ·                     Mechanical alternative Removal of affected plants and plant parts, collection & destruction of egg masses and larvae, installation of bird perches, light traps, sticky colored plates and pheromone traps are most effective mechanical methods of pest control. ·                     Biological alternative Use of pest predators and pathogens has also proved to be effective method of keeping pest problem below ETL. Inundative release of Trichogramma sp. @ 40,000 to 50,000 eggs per hectare, Chelonus blackburni @15,000 to 20, 000 per hectare, Apanteles sp.@15,000 to 20,000 per ha and Chrysoperla sp.@ 5,000 per ha., after 15 days & others parasites & predators after 30 days of sowing, can also effectively control pest problem in organic farming . ·                     Use of Biopesticides Trichoderma viride or T. harazianum or Pseudomonas fluorescence formulation @ 4gm/kg seed either alone or in combination, manage most of the seed borne & soil borne diseases. There are other formulations viz. Beauvaria bassiana, Metarizium anisopliae, Numeria rileyi, Verticillium sp, which are available in the market and can manage their specific host pest. Bacillus thurengensis stenebrionis and B.thurengensis sandigo are effective against coleopterans as well as some other insect species. Bt. has been used in the management of diamond back moth on crucifers and vegetables @ 0.5-1.0 kg. formulation per ha. Viral biopesticides of baculovirus group viz. granulosis viruses (GV) and nuclear polyhedrosis viruses provided a great scope in plant protection field. Spray of nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPV) of Helicoverpa armigera (H) or Spodoptera litura (S) @ 250 larval equivalents are very effective tools to manage the Helicoverpa sp. or Spodoptera sp. respectively. ·                     Botanical pesticides Many plants are known to have pesticidal properties and the extract of such plants or its refined forms can be used in the management of pests. Among various plants identified for the purpose, neem has been found to be most effective. Neem (Azadirachta indica) – Neem has been found to be effective in the management of approximately 200 insects, pests and nematodes. Neem is very effective against grasshoppers, leaf hoppers, plant hoppers, aphids, jassids, and moth caterpillars. Neem extracts, are also very effective against beetle larvae, butterfly, moth and caterpillars such as Mexican bean beetle, Colorado potato beetle and diamondback moth. Neem is very effective against grasshoppers, leaf minor and leaf hoppers such as variegated grasshoppers, green rice leaf hopper and cotton jassids. Neem is fairly good in managing beetles, aphids and white flies, mealy bug, scale insects, adult bugs, fruit maggots and spider mites. ·                     Some other pest control formulations Many organic farmers and NGOs have developed large number of innovative formulations which are effectively used for control of various pests. Although none of these formulations have been subjected to scientific validation but their wide acceptance by farmers speak of their usefulness. Farmers can try these formulations, as they can be prepared on their own farm without the need of any purchases. Some of the popular formulations are listed below: Cow urine – Cow urine diluted with water in ratio of 1: 20 and used as foliar spray is not only effective in the management of pathogens & insects, but also acts as effective growth promoter for the crop. Fermented curd water – In some parts of central India fermented curd water (butter milk or Chaach) is also being used for the management of white fly, jassids aphids etc. Dashparni extract – Crush neem leaves 5 kg, Vitex negundo leaves 2 kg, Aristolochia leaves 2 kg, papaya (Carica Papaya) 2 kg, Tinospora cordifolia leaves 2 kg, Annona squamosa (Custard apple) leaves 2 kg, Pongamia pinnata (Karanja) leaves 2 kg, Ricinus communis (Castor) leaves 2 kg, Nerium indicum 2 kg, Calotropis procera leaves 2 kg, Green chilly paste 2 kg, Garlic paste 250 gm, Cow dung 3 kg and Cow Urine 5 lit in 200 lit water ferment for one month. Shake regularly three times a day. Extract after crushing and filtering. The extract can be stored up to 6 months and is sufficient for one acre. Neemastra - Crush 5 kg neem leaves in water, add 5lit cow urine and 2 kg cow dung, ferment for 24 hrs with intermittent stirring, filter squeeze the extract and dilute to 100 lit, use as foliar spray over one acre. Useful against sucking pests and mealy bugs. Brahmastra - Crush 3 kg neem leaves in 10 lit cow urine. Crush 2 kg custard apple leaf, 2 kg papaya leaf, 2kg pomegranate leaves, 2 kg guava leaves in water. Mix the two and boil 5 times at some interval till it becomes half. Keep for 24 hrs, then filter squeeze the extract. This can be stored in bottles for 6 months. Dilute 2-2.5 lit of this extract to 100 lit for 1 acre. Useful against sucking pests, pod/fruit borers. Agneyastra - Crush 1 kg Ipomea (besharam) leaves, 500 gm hot chilli, 500 gm garlic and 5 kg neem leaves in 10 lit cow urine. Boil the suspension 5 times till it becomes half. Filter squeeze the extract. Store in glass or plastic bottles. 2-3 lit extract diluted to 100 lit is used for one acre. Useful against leaf roller, stem/fruit/pod borer.