UNIT-4

Organic farming – bio-pesticides- composting, bio composting, vermicomposting, roof

gardening and irrigation. Waste land reclamation. Climate resilient agriculture. Green
auditing

Organic farming
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.

The concepts of organic agriculture were developed in the early 1900s by Sir Albert
Howard, F.H. King, Rudolf Steiner, and others who believed that the use of
animal manures (often made into compost), cover crops, crop rotation, and biologically based
pest controls resulted in a better farming system. Howard, having worked in India as an
agricultural researcher, gained much inspiration from the traditional and sustainable farming
practices he encountered there and advocated for their adoption in the West. Such practices
were further promoted by various advocates—such as J.I. Rodale and his son Robert, in the
1940s and onward, who published Organic Gardening and Farming magazine and a number
of texts on organic farming.

Organic farming methods

Fertilizers
Since synthetic fertilizers are not used, building and maintaining a rich,
living soil through the addition of organic matter is a priority for organic farmers. Organic
matter can be applied through the application of manure, compost, and animal by-products,
such as feather meal or blood meal. Due to the potential for harbouring human pathogens, the
USDA National Organic Standards mandate that raw manure must be applied no later than 90
or 120 days before harvest, depending on whether the harvested part of the crop is in contact
with the ground.
Composted manure that has been turned 5 times in 15 days and reached temperatures
between 55 and 77.2 °C (131 and 171 °F) has no restrictions on application times. Compost
adds organic matter, providing a wide range of nutrients for plants, and
adds beneficial microbes to the soil. Given that these nutrients are mostly in an unmineralized
form that cannot be taken up by plants, soil microbes are needed to break down organic
matter and transform nutrients into a bioavailable “mineralized” state. In comparison,
synthetic fertilizers are already in mineralized form and can be taken up by plants directly.
Soil is maintained by planting and then tilling in cover crops, which help protect the
soil from erosion off-season and provide additional organic matter. The tilling in of nitrogen-
fixing cover crops, such as clover or alfalfa, also adds nitrogen to the soil. Cover crops are
commonly planted before or after the cash crop season or in conjunction with crop rotation
and can also be planted between the rows of some crops, such as tree fruits. Researchers and
growers are working to develop organic farming “no-till” and reduced-tillage practices in
order to further reduce erosion.
Pest control

Organic pesticides are derived from naturally occurring sources. These include living
organisms such as the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis, which is used to control caterpillar
pests, or plant derivatives such as pyrethrins (from the dried flower heads of Chrysanthemum
cinerariifolium) or neem oil (from the seeds of Azadirachta indica). Mineral-based inorganic
pesticides such as sulfur and copper are also allowed.

Crop rotation

the successive cultivation of different crops in a specified order on the same fields, in
contrast to a one-crop system or to haphazard crop successions.

Bio-Pesticides

Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from such natural materials as
animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. For example, canola oil and baking soda have
pesticidal applications and are considered biopesticides. As of August 31, 2020, there were
390 registered biopesticide active ingredients

Typically, biopesticides have unique modes of action and are considered reduced-risk
pesticides. They fall into three major classes: biochemical pesticides, microbial pesticides,
and plant-incorporated protectants
Benefits

Biopesticides pose minimal dangers to individuals and the environment, making them
a relatively safer alternative to chemical or chemical-derived pesticides. Environmental safety
and host specificity are the main benefits of biopesticides in managing agricultural pests.

In India, strains of B. thuringensis, Bacillus sphaericus and Bacillus subtilis are

registered as biopesticides.

Composting

Composting is a controlled, aerobic (oxygen-required) process that converts

organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil amendment or mulch through natural
decomposition. The end product is compost – a dark, crumbly, earthy-smelling material.

There are four primary compost types: compost, farmyard manure, green manure, and
vermicompost. Each type has its own benefit alongside mutual benefits. The point of
compost is to nourish your soil to provide a healthy habitat in which your grass, plants, and
trees can thrive.
 Best method for composting
Trench

Dig a trench or a hole a few feet deep. Fill it with organic waste and cover it with at
least six inches of soil. The bacteria and worms will start breaking down your waste in no
time! Pit composting can be used in small spaces since you can dig a small, deep hole using
post hole diggers.

The Important Benefits of Composting

 Can Save Money. Composting it is a natural and organic process.
 Good for the Soil. It can be quite helpful for the overall health of the soil.
 Reduces Garden Pests.
 Improves Soil Structure.
 Ideal Exercise.
 Recycles Home Waste.
 Good for the Environment.
 Conserves Water.

Bio composting
It is a rich source of organic manure. It helps improve the quality of soil. It's an
aerobic process which uses various micro-organisms such as bacteria, actinomycetes and
fungi to break down the higher organic compounds like cellulose and lignin into simpler
substances.
Compost is used to improve soil structure through the addition of carbon and provide
plant nutrients. In addition to being a source of plant nutrients such as nitrogen (N),
phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), it improves the physico-chemical and biological
properties of the soil.
Vermicomposting
Vermicomposting is a natural process whereby earthworms convert waste material
with rigid structures into compost. The compost produced in this green process is
traditionally and popularly used as a natural fertilizer for enhancing plant growth.
Vermicomposting or worm composting is a simple technology for converting
biodegradable waste into organic manure with the help of earthworms. Earthworms are
valued by farmers because, in addition to aerating the soil, they digest organic matter and
produce castings that are a valuable source of humus.
 Benefits of vermicomposting
Vermicompost is a nutrient-rich fertilizer as well as a soil conditioner. It has been
shown to increase plant growth and yield as well as suppressing key pests and diseases of
horticultural plants in the green- house and in field soils.

Roof gardening
A roof garden is a garden on the roof of a building. Besides the decorative benefit,
roof plantings may provide food, temperature control, hydrological benefits, architectural
enhancement, habitats or corridors for wildlife, recreational opportunities, and in large scale
it may even have ecological benefits. The practice of cultivating food on the rooftop of
buildings is sometimes referred to as farming. Rooftop farming is usually done using green
roof, hydroponics, aeroponics or air-dynaponics systems or container gardens.

Irrigation
Irrigation (also referred to as watering) is the practice of applying controlled
amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been
a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has been developed by many cultures
around the world. Irrigation helps to grow crops, maintain landscapes,
and revegetate disturbed soils in dry areas and during times of below-average rainfall.
There are three commonly used methods: surface irrigation, sprinkler irrigation and drip
irrigation.
Waste land reclamation

Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, and also known as land fill (not to
be confused with a waste landfill), is the process of creating new land from oceans, seas,
riverbeds or lake beds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or land fill.

Wasteland Reclamation

8 Ways of Wasteland Reclamation

 Afforestation
 Reforestation
 Providing surface cover
 Mulching
 Changing Ground Topography on Downhill's
 Leaching
 Changing agricultural practices
 Ecological Succession

Advantages of wasteland reclamation

In addition to creating extra land and improving the quality of the land, land
reclamation can improve the quality of air as well as prevent harmful rodents and pests from
breeding in the environment. Furthermore, when an area of land is damaged due to a spill, the
water supply is taken away.
Climate resilient agriculture
Climate-resilient agriculture (CRA) is an approach that includes sustainbly using existing
natural resources through crop and livestock production systems to achieve long-term higher
productivity and farm incomes under climate variabilities.
Climate resilience is the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to hazardous
events, trends, or disturbances related to climate. Improving climate resilience involves
assessing how climate change will create new, or alter current, climate-related risks, and
taking steps to better cope with these risks.
Green auditing
Green Audit is a process of systematic identification, quantification, recording,
reporting and analysis of components of environmental
An environmental Audit provides an assessment of the environmental performance of a
business or organization.

There are three main types of environmental audits

 Environmental compliance audits.
 Environmental management audits.
 Functional environmental audits.
The green audit practically involves energy conservation, use of renewable resources,
rain water harvesting, efforts of carbon sequestration methods, planting trees, waste
management including hazardous and e-waste. This requires data collection and efforts for
clarification of environmental policies.
The benefits of the audit

Reducing environmental impacts. Reducing waste, water and energy costs (annual
savings are typically greater than our fee for the audit) Improving relations with stakeholders.
Providing the foundation for an environmental management system (EMS) such as ISO
14001 at a later date