Principles of Organic Farming
Unit-III
Syllabus
Choice of crops & varieties in organic farming;
Choice of crops & varieties in organic farming;
Fundamentals of insect, pest, disease, & weed management under the organic mode of production.
Choice of crops & varieties in organic farming
In organic farming, the choice of crops and varieties is an important factor for the overall success of the farming system. Here are some key considerations:
1. Crop rotation: Organic farmers practice crop rotation, which involves growing different crops in a specific sequence over time. This helps to maintain soil health and fertility, and also prevents the build-up of pests and diseases.
2. Soil type and climate: The choice of crops and varieties should be based on the soil type and climate of the region. Some crops are better suited for certain types of soil, while others require specific temperature and moisture conditions to grow.
3. Diversity: Organic farmers often prioritize crop diversity, both within and between crops. This helps to support biodiversity, improve soil health, and reduce the risk of crop failure.
4. Adaptability: In organic farming, the focus is often on choosing crop varieties that are adapted to the local environment and have a natural resistance to pests and diseases.
5. Non-GMO: Organic farmers do not use genetically modified crops, so the choice of varieties must be non-GMO.
6. Local and heirloom varieties: Organic farmers often choose to grow locally adapted and heirloom varieties, which are well-suited to the local climate and have a unique flavour and nutrient profile. These varieties are often well-suited to organic farming practices and can help to support local food systems.
Fundamentals of insect, pest, disease, & weed management under the organic mode of production
Insect Management
Insect management is a crucial aspect of organic farming, and there are several fundamental principles to be followed to manage insects effectively under the organic mode of production:
⇒ Crop rotation: Crop rotation is an essential practice that helps to break the lifecycle of insects. It involves planting different crops in the same field in a specific sequence.
⇒ Use of resistant varieties: Using resistant varieties is an effective way of managing insects. Resistant varieties are plants that have genetic traits that make them less susceptible to insect attacks.
⇒ Biological control: Biological control involves using natural enemies of pests to reduce their populations. This includes the use of predators, parasitoids, and pathogens that can attack and kill insect pests.
⇒ Crop sanitation: Crop sanitation involves keeping the field free of crop debris and other potential sources of insect infestation. This can include the removal of weeds, pruning, and destruction of diseased plant parts.
⇒ Use of traps: Traps are used to capture and kill insects. They are particularly effective for monitoring and controlling specific insect pests.
⇒ Insecticidal soaps and oils: Insecticidal soaps and oils are derived from natural sources and are used to control insect pests. They work by suffocating or dehydrating the insects.
⇒ Cultural control: Cultural control involves changing the environment to make it less conducive to insect pest infestations. This can include adjusting planting dates, crop density, and irrigation practices.
Overall, organic farming places a strong emphasis on the use of natural and sustainable methods for managing insect pests, with a focus on prevention and management rather than eradication.
Pest Management
Organic pest management aims to prevent and manage pests and diseases using natural methods, without relying on synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms. Here are some fundamentals of pest management under the organic mode of production:
⇒ Prevention: Organic pest management starts with prevention. Prevention measures include crop rotation, planting resistant crops, maintaining healthy soil, and proper irrigation practices.
⇒ Monitoring: Regular monitoring of the crops is essential to detect the early signs of pest infestation or disease outbreak. Visual inspections, pheromone traps, and sticky traps are some of the monitoring techniques used in organic farming.
⇒ Cultural practices: Cultural practices such as crop diversification, intercropping, and planting trap crops can help reduce pest pressure in organic farming.
⇒ Biological control: Biological control involves the use of natural enemies of pests, such as predators, parasites, and pathogens, to reduce pest populations. This method is used to maintain a balance between pests and their natural enemies.
⇒ Mechanical and physical control: Mechanical and physical control measures include the use of physical barriers, such as nets and screens, to exclude pests from crops, as well as the use of traps and handpicking to remove pests from the plants.
⇒ Botanical control: Botanical control involves the use of natural plant compounds, such as neem oil, garlic, and chilli peppers, to repel or kill pests. This method is considered a safe and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pesticides.
Overall, organic pest management involves a holistic approach to pest control, which focuses on creating a healthy ecosystem that can naturally resist pests and diseases.
Disease management
Here are some fundamentals of disease management under the organic mode of production:
⇒ Crop rotation: Crop rotation is an effective way to manage soil-borne diseases. It involves changing the type of crops grown in a particular field over time, which helps to break the cycle of disease pathogens that are specific to a particular crop.
⇒ Use of disease-resistant varieties: Farmers can choose to plant disease-resistant varieties of crops. These varieties have been specifically bred to resist common diseases and can help to reduce the incidence and severity of disease in the field.
⇒ Biological control: Biological control involves using natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to control pests and diseases. This method can be effective in controlling a wide range of diseases but requires careful selection and management of biological control agents.
⇒ Cultural practices: Cultural practices, such as maintaining proper spacing between plants, pruning infected plant parts, and ensuring proper sanitation in the field, can help to reduce the incidence and spread of diseases.
⇒ Use of organic fertilizers: The use of organic fertilizers, such as compost and manure, can help to build healthy soil that is better able to resist disease. These fertilizers also provide a source of nutrients that are essential for plant growth and development, which can help to reduce the susceptibility of crops to disease.
⇒ Crop diversification: Planting a variety of crops in a field can help to reduce the incidence and spread of disease, as different crops have different nutritional needs and can help to break the cycle of disease pathogens in the soil.
Weed Management
Weed management in organic farming involves a combination of preventive, cultural, mechanical, and biological methods.
Here are some fundamental aspects of weed management in the organic mode of production:
⇒ Soil Management: Proper soil management practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, and cover cropping can help in reducing weed growth. The use of organic manures and compost can also increase soil fertility and improve crop competitiveness, leading to better weed suppression.
⇒ Crop Selection: Choosing crops that are better adapted to the growing conditions and that have good competitive abilities can help in reducing weed growth. Certain crops such as legumes can be grown to suppress weed growth due to their allelopathic effects.
⇒ Mechanical Control: Hand weeding, hoeing, and cultivation are some of the mechanical methods used to control weeds in organic farming. It is important to carry out these operations at the right time and with the right equipment to avoid damage to the crops.
⇒ Mulching: Mulching with organic materials such as straw, leaves, or grass clippings can help in reducing weed growth by preventing light penetration and smothering weeds.
⇒ Biological Control: Biological control methods such as the use of beneficial insects, microbial agents, and allelopathic plants can help in reducing weed growth. This method involves the use of natural enemies of the weeds to control their growth.
Overall, the use of a combination of these methods can be effective in managing weeds in organic farming. It is important to remember that weed management in organic farming is a long-term process that requires proper planning and implementation.