Practices followed in organic farming
During the eras of 70’s intensive agriculture was promoted to increase the crop production. Such intensive agriculture depended heavily on the new technologies invented, use of chemical fertilizers and use of better quality seeds. Though the crops productivity increased tremendously, they also harmed the environment in the process. The excessive uses of the chemicals not only changed the nature of the soils but also caused what is known as ‘fertilizer burns’ in plants. These chemicals also affect the health of the people. So, now there is a gradual shift in the agricultural practices and the focus is now on the organic farming. The objective of organic farming is to reduce the application of synthetic chemicals and apply the natural way as far as possible. It is a sort of improvised tradition agricultural practices and includes a combination of various practices such as:
Mulching
In traditional practices, tilling forms an important part of soil preparation. Tilling loosen up the soil and also aerates it. However, it exposes the top soils which are fertile to the agents of erosion like wind and rain. So, nowadays, farmers are encourages to leave the crop residues, leaves, manure, straw etc on the field itself. Such practices not only prevent the soil erosion but also prevent water loss from evaporation. The crop residues also increase the manure content of the soil.
Vermicompost
Vermicompost is special humus rich organic manure which is gaining much importance in present days. It is prepared by allowing the earthworm to decompose the organic waste. Almost all the dry agricultural waste like stubble, fruit rind, stalk, leaves stem, animal waste, sludge, urine, etc can also be used as a raw materials for vermicomposting. However very citric fruits and flesh of animals, egg shells etc is avoided. Vermicompost are popular as it can be easily prepared at home and do not cost much. In addition to adding nutrients to the soil, vermicompost contain worm mucus which binds the nutrients to the soil and also increases the water holding capacity of the soil.
Green Manure
Another important method of enriching the soil with nutrients is by cultivating the crops like sesbania, sun hemp, centro etc. When the crops are still young with lots of foliage, they are turned into the soil where the leaves and other parts decompose into manure. They are usually grown in between the cropping season. Also known as the cover crops, they improve the soil fertility and soil structure while increasing the microbial population.
Crop Rotation
Instead of growing the same types of crops in the same plot of fields every year which reduces soil fertility, different types of crops are cultivated in the same plots of fields in successive order. Generally crops are selected in such a way as to include both deep rooted and shallow rooted crops. The deep rooted plants make the nutrients at deeper soil available to the shallow rooted crops. Generally crop rotation farming includes both leguminous and cereal crops. The leguminous plants enriches the soil with nitrogen.
Bio Pest Control
One important features of organic farming is controlling the pest population using biological methods. It can be done in several ways such as:
- Using beneficial insects or natural predators of the pests like toads, ladybugs etc
- Using naturally derived pesticides such as those derived from neem, chrysanthemum etc
- Cultivating crops in such a way that their maturation period does not coincide with the time when the pests cause maximum damage to the crops.
Companion Plants
Certain crops grow better in the company of companion plants. The companion plant may attract the pests towards itself. They may also protect the crops by producing scent which hide the smell of the crops and confusing the pests. For instance, growing castor beans among vegetables repel moles and plant lice. Likewise, coriander and marigold also act as a companion to many vegetable crops as they repels pests like aphid, nematods etc while attracting bees which help in pollinations.
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