HSC EVS CLASS 11/12
PROJECT WORK ON ORGANIC FARMING
To visit any farmer who practices organic farming and make a report on type of material used, cost of fertilizers and bio fertilizers.
INTRODUCTION
Organic farming, agricultural system that uses ecologically based pest controls and biological fertilizers derived largely from animal and plant wastes and nitrogen-fixing cover crops. Modern organic farming was developed as a response to the environmental harm caused by the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers in conventional agriculture, and it has numerous ecological benefits.
In this project we are going to visit a farmer nearby who practices organic farming and make a report on type of compost bio fertilizers used , cost of the fertilizer with respect to chemical fertilizers We will also get the information on the bio pesticides used and the content of these fertilizers
IMPORTANCE
Organic farming is important as :
It helps to maintain environment health by reducing the level of pollution. It reduces human and animal health hazards by reducing the level of residues in the product. It helps in keeping agricultural production at a sustainable level. It reduces the cost of agricultural production and also improves the soil health.
Organic farming has several advantages over the conventional one apart from the protection of both the environment and human health. Improved soil fertility, better water quality, prevention of soil erosion, generation of rural employment, etc. are some of them.
Organic farming is important as its products are
fresher. Organic produce is purchased fresh from farmers. .
free from chemical and pesticides.
free from GMOs.
seasonal.
It is healthier for you and more nutrient dense.
Organic produce is more sustainable.
It supports local farmers directly.
It preserves the environment.
OBJECTIVES
Conserving environment and natural resources, re-establishing ecological balance, encouraging sustainable agriculture, improving soil fertility, conserving flora and fauna, increasing genetic diversity, and putting an end to chemical pollution and toxic residues
To produce food of high nutritional quality in sufficient quantity. To work with natural system rather than seeking to dominate them. To encourage and enhance biological cycles within farming system-involving microorganisms, soil flora and fauna, plants and animals.
METHODOLOGY
This project is based on research done by me by visiting a farmer in nearby village who practices organic farming as per him.
Organic farming uses a variety of methods to improve soil fertility, including crop rotation, reduced tillage, cover cropping, and application of compost. By reducing soil tillage, the soil is not inverted and exposed to air; less carbon is lost to the atmosphere resulting in more soil organic carbon
Crop rotation
Crop rotation refers to the cultivation of different crops on a particular piece of land over time. The succession of crops to be grown is carefully designed to ensure soil nutrients are sustained, pest populations are controlled, weeds are suppressed and soil health is built.
A crop rotation will cycle through cash crops (such as vegetables); cover crops (grasses and cereals) and green manures (often legumes). The exact sequence of crops will vary depending on local circumstances, with the critical design element being an understanding what each crop contributes and takes from the soil. For instance, nitrogen depleting crop should be preceded by a nitrogen fixing crop. The central idea is to have the crops themselves sustain soil health, rather than planting the same crop year in, year out, and then repairing soil health through fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.
A well designed crop rotation makes land both more productive and more environmentally sustainable. It improves the financial viability of a farm by increasing productivity whilst reducing chemical input costs. Key advantages of crop rotation are:
• Improved soil fertility and structure
• Disease control
• Pest control
• Weed control
• Increased Soil Organic Matter
Biological control
Biological control, the use of living organisms to control pests. A natural enemy such as a parasite, predator, or disease organism is introduced into the environment of a pest or, if already present, is encouraged to multiply and become more effective in reducing the number of pest organisms. Examples of biological control include the destruction of the citrophilus maybug in California by two parasitic species of chalcid wasps imported from Australia
Soil management
Soil health is the foundation of organic farming systems. Fertile soil provides essential nutrients to plants, while supporting a diverse and active biotic community that helps the soil resist environmental degradation. Organic producers face unique challenges in managing soil productivity. Current guidelines on nutrient management for organic farmers are fairly general in nature. Organic farmers rely on intuition and observation, advice from vendors, conventional soil tests, and their own experience to make decisions about the quantity and types of soil amendments to apply
As a result, there is tremendous variability in both the quantities of nutrients applied and the resulting soil fertility status on organically managed farms. Organic farmers seek to "build the soil" or enhance its inherent fertility by using crop rotations, animal and green manures, and cover crops. Crop rotation and tillage practices must provide an appropriate seedbed and pest control while minimizing erosion. Nutrient stocks are maintained through use of natural (non-synthetic) substances
Compost
Compost, crumbly mass of rotted organic matter made from decomposed plant material, used in gardening and agriculture. Compost is especially important in organic farming, where the use of synthetic fertilizers is not permitted. Compost improves soil structure, provides a wide range of nutrients for plants, and adds beneficial microbes to the soil. The maximum benefits of compost on soil structure (better aggregation, pore spacing, and water storage) and on crop yield usually occur after several years of use.
OBSERVATION
Organic farming is in a nascent stage in India. About 2.78 million hectare of farmland was under organic cultivation as of March 2020, according to the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. This is two per cent of the 140.1 million have net sown area in the country. A few states have taken the lead in improving organic farming coverage, as a major part of this area is concentrated only in a handful of states. Madhya Pradesh tops the list with 0.76 million ha of area under organic cultivation — that is over 27 per cent of India’s total organic cultivation area.
The top three states — Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra — account for about half the area under organic cultivation. The top 10 states account for about 80 per cent of the total area under organic cultivation.
Sikkim is the only Indian state to have become fully organic so far. A majority of the states have only a small part of their net sown area under organic farming. Even the top three states that account for the largest area under organic cultivation — Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra — have only around 4.9, 2.0 and 1.6 per cent of their net sown area under organic farming respectively.
ANALYSIS
AFTER GETTING INFORMATION ABOUT ORGANIC FARMING FROM THE FARMERS WE HAVE LISTED DIFFERENT TYPES OF METERIALS USED , THEY ARE MAINLY .
COMPOST
VERMI COMPOST
GREEN MANURE
BONE MEAL
BLUE GREEN ALGAE
In an experiment conducted in Pune, it was found that supplying 25 kg nitrogen by chemical fertilizers costs Rs 180 per hectare whereas blue-green algae cost only Rs 54. If farmers themselves produce the blue-green algae culture, the cost could be reduced further. Other experiments showed that spending Rs 30 on blue-green algae application (@ 10 kg per hectare) resulted in an extra yield of paddy worth Rs 500-700.
RESULT & CONCLUSION
Organic farming yields more nutritious and safe food. The popularity of organic food is growing dramatically as consumer seeks the organic foods that are thought to be healthier and safer. Thus, organic food perhaps ensures food safety from farm to plate. The organic farming process is more eco-friendly than conventional farming. Organic farming keeps soil healthy and maintains environment integrity thereby, promoting the health of consumers. Moreover, the organic produce market is now the fastest growing market all over the world including India