Organic Farming

ORGANIC FARMING FOR

HEALTHY SOIL, HEALTHY CROPS, HEALTHY FOOD, HEALTHY AND HAPPY LIFE.

Things farmers must know about soil for organic farming

Soil can be defined as a thin layer of the earth’s crust which serves as a medium for the growth of plants. It is a natural body that consists of mineral particles, organic matter, water, and air, all of which are essential for supporting plant life. Soil composition typically includes air (25%), water (25%), mineral particles (45%), and organic matter (5%). Within the organic matter, humus constitutes 80%, roots make up 10%, and organisms account for the remaining 10%.

The Role Of Organic Matters

Soil organic matter

The sum total of all natural and thermally altered biologically derived organic material found in the soil or on soil surfaces irrespective of its source, whether it is living or dead, or stage of decomposition, but excluding the above-ground portions of living plants.

Humus

A portion of soil organic matter exists as humic compounds. Humus is the primary substance contributing to the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of a soil. It can also act as a chelate in the soil solution, thus affecting root ion absorption.

Organic Farming For Sustainable Agriculture

ROLE OF MICROORGANISMS IN ORGANIC FARMING

Organisms in One Gram of Soil
Organism Count
Bacteria 108 - 109
Fungi 105 - 109
Micro-Algae 103 - 106
Nematodes 101 - 102
A square meter of soil 30–300 earthworms
There are more organisms in a gram of soil than there are human beings on this Earth!

Types Of Soil

Alluvial soil  – This type of soil is available in delta areas of North India. It covers over 35% of total Indian land. Best for Cotton, wheat, sorghum, Bajra, maize, barley, jute, tobacco, green and black gram, chickpea, pigeon pea, soybean, sesame, groundnut, linseed and any oilseed, fruit, and vegetable.

Black soil:- This type of soil is available in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Black soil majorly found in the river valley of rivers Narmada, Godavari, Tapi, and Krishna. In this soil, the cotton crop widely grown, and that’s why it known as black cotton soil. Following crops like cereals, rice, Jowar, sugarcane, linseed, sunflower, groundnut, tobacco, millets, citrus fruits, oilseed crops of all kinds, and vegetables grown in this soil

Red and Yellow Soil:-It is widely found in the Deccan plateau, Western Ghat, Orissa, and Chhattisgarh, Best for Groundnut, potato, maize/corn, rice, ragi, wheat, millets, pulses, sugarcane, oilseeds, and fruits like citrus, orange, mango, and vegetables are the best crops for this soil.

Laterite Soil – This type of soil found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Assam. Best Soil For Growing Crops – Cotton, wheat, rice, pulses, rubber, tea, coffee, coconut, and cashews are major crops grown in laterite soil.

Arid soil :-It is found in Aravalli west and best for Saline resistant and drought-tolerant crops. Barley, maize, wheat, millets, cotton and pulses are the growing crops in this soil.

Mountain and Forest Soil:- It is available in the Himalayan area, Western and Eastern Ghats, and a few areas of the Peninsular Plateau. This type of soil is best for Wheat, barley, maize, tea, coffee, spices, tropical and temperate fruits are the forest soil crops.

Desert soil– Areas of Rajasthan, Rann of Kutch of Gujarat, adjoining regions of Haryana and Punjab, and coastal areas of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Orissa. This soil covers about 4% of the total Indian land. Best Soil For Growing Crops – Only drought-tolerant crops are suitable. Barley and millet are two examples.

pH & SOIL TYPES

14
Strongly Alkaline

Gypsum (CaSO₄·2H₂O) - For strongly alkaline soils

10
Medium Alkaline

Magnesium Sulphate - For medium alkaline soils

8
Saline

Sulphur - For saline soils

7.5
Very Slightly Alkaline

Sulphur - For slightly alkaline soils

7
Neutral Best for Agriculture

Neutral Soil - No amendment needed

6.5
Very Slightly Acidic

Lime (CaCO₃) - For slightly acidic soils

5.5
Medium Acidic

Dolomite (CaMg(CO₃)₂) - For medium acidic soils

4
Strongly Acidic

Dolomite - For strongly acidic soils

Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management in Rain Fed Areas

Increase the Organic Matter in Soil

Application of FYM (well decomposed)

Regular Application of Bio-Fertilizers &

Seed Treatment

Green Manure Crops-Green Gram & Cow Pea

Organic Mulching

Inter Cropping

Green Gram

Ground Nut

Chick Pea

Tillage Operations

Deep ploughing once 2 to 3 years

Disease & Pest Management

Use preventive strategies to control pests:-

  • Deep ploughing: once 2 to 3 years in summer season for heat treatment.
  • Healthy soil: Supports plants health and resilience.
  • Resistant Varieties: Plant varieties that are resistant to the pests in your area.
  • Companion planting: Interplant crops with the other plants that help deter pests.
  • Pheromones and Sticky trap: Use pheromone and sticker trap to disrupt pest mating cycles and population.
  • Biological pesticides– Use bio pesticides like- Beauveria Bassiana for Sucking pest(aphids), Metarhizium anisopliae as Grubicide,        Verticilum lec. Bacillus thuringiensis(BT) and EPN.
  • Organic pesticides: Use organic farming approved pesticides.
  • Use Natural & Neem based Pesticides – Like Neemastra, Neemoil 300ppm, 1500ppm etc.

Use preventive strategies to control Diseases:-

  • Deep ploughing: once 2 to 3 years in summer season for heat treatment.
  • Healthy soil: Supports plants health and resilience.
  • Resistant Varieties: Plant varieties that are resistant to the disease in your area.
  • Biological Fungicides- Use bio Fungicides like- Trichoderma Viride, Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas fluorences.
  • Organic pesticides: Use organic approved Fungicides and Antibiotics.
  • Use Natural & Neem based botanical plant extract.