Page 97 - Scientech 2016-17

The various aforesaid side effects of expensive conventional farming on soil, crops and human
health have compelled to look for an alternative in the form of organic farming. The latter
is inexpensive, sound, safe and sustainable in long run without any adverse impact on the
environment. Therefore, the organic farming has become inevitable to tackle with the problem
of land degradation, environmental pollution, biodiversity depletion and contamination of
food grains from pesticide residues.

What are the management practices in organic farming?
The management practices for organic farming differ from those of conventional farming. The
important steps in this type of farming are conservation of soil and genetic resources, integrated
nutrient management, integrated weed management and integrated pest management.

Organic farming emphasizes on the cultivation of different indigenous nutritive local
varieties of crops in place of few high yielding
hybrid varieties which are responsible for
genetic erosion and consequently the loss of
biological diversity.

In organic farming, besides manure, green
manure, compost and vermin-compost, oil
cakes and oil meals play a key role as natural
fertilizers. The commonly used organic
nitrogenous fertilizers include rapeseed,
mustard, neem, castor, mahua, karanja and
linseed cakes. In addition to these, cakes
from sal, groundnut and soyabean are also
used in various combinations to increase yield and control pests.

Organic fertilizers have a slower action but they supply available nitrogen over a longer period
of time. Besides, they protect useful flora and fauna of the soil; ameliorate yields and quality
of products. Since there is increase in soil fertility, the biological activity is maintained intact.

In organic farming the weeds are controlled by employment of physical, cultural and biological
method. Insect pests are controlled by combination of cultural and biological methods and at
the same time use of resistant crop varieties.

Crop rotation practices are key to success of organic farming. Crop rotation is not only
important for the soil fertility management but is also helpful in weed, insects and disease
control. Legumes are essential in rotation practices for nitrogen supplement to the soil.
The practice of mixed cropping increases the crop yield and avoids the chances of disease
occurrence and pest infestation.

Conclusion
Conventional farming practices following the advent of Green revolution have led to several-
fold increase in food grain production but at the cost of depletion of natural resources and
ecological instability. The organic farming, which strictly avoids the use of chemical fertilizers,
pesticides and growth hormones also prevents land degradation, conserves environment and
checks the loss of biological diversity. The food grains produced through organic farming are
free from pesticide residues and are of high nutritional quality. Therefore organic farming
has become inevitable for the conservation of natural resources and the maintenance of
ecological stability.

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