Soil Nutrition Management in Organic Farming

Organic farming assures not using any conventional fertilization and plant protection measures.

1. Soil Fertility in Organic Farming 1

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. 2

3. Objectives 3

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. 4

5. Conventional Vs Organic farming 5

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. 6

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 a re the components of obtaining soil fertility in organic farming which must be wisely managed: Conservative tillage Crop rotation Cover crops Crop residues Organic Manuring Bio fertilizers Vermicomposting 7

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. 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. Ridge Tillage: In ridge tillage raised beds are made by the grower. No-Tillage: In no tillage seed are directly put in the untilled soil with the help of discs. 8

9. Conservative Tillage Mulch Tillage Ridge Tillage Seeders for No-Tillage 9

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. 10

11. Crop Rotation 11

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 12

13. Cover Crops Well established cover Crop in late fall 13

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 14

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. 15

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. 16

17. Organic manure 17

18. Organic Manure C oncentrated O rganic 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. 18

19. Organic Manure Concentrated Organic Manure 19

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 20

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 A symbiotic 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, A zolla, Azobactor, Azospirillium and Mycorrhizae. 21

22. Bio-Fertilizers 22

23. Vermicomposting R ich 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. 23

24. Vermicomposting 24

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. 25

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 . 26