AGRON - 322 Principles of Organic Farming Solved Practical manual

 

INDEX

S. No.	Exercise	Signature
1	To Study about preparation of Vermi-compost & preparation of beds for vermicompost.
2	Visit of organic farms to study the various components and their utilization.
3	Cost of organic production system
4	Bio fertilizers/bio inoculants for organic farming
5	Post-harvest management: quality aspect, grading, packaging and handling
6	ITK (Indigenous technology knowledge) for nutrient management

Exercise - 1

Objective: - To Study about preparation of Vermi-compost & preparation of beds for vermicompost.

Principle: -

This Process is mainly prepared to add nutrients to the soil. Compost is a natural fertilizer and it allows for easy flow of water and air for growing the plants. The earthworms are mainly used in this process as they eat the organic matter and produced castings or worm poop through their digestive systems.

Materials required

þ  Water

þ  Cow dung

þ  Soil or sand

þ  Gunny bags

þ  Earthworms

þ  Weed biomass

þ  A large bin (Plastic or cemented tank)

þ  Dry straw and leaves collected from paddy fields

þ  Biodegradable wastes collected from field and kitchen

Tank size

A composting tank of any convenient size can be used for vermicomposting. Preferably the pit size may be as big as 15 m X 0.3 m. Alternatively, for very small farmer a pit of 1.5 m wide 1m height will give a low-cost production unit. The pit should be preferably of concrete structure and located in a place protected by shade and should be on a higher plane and free from water stagnation.

Procedure to prepare Vermicompost

Culturing Technique: - A large number of wooden, plastic, card board or cement boxes of various sizes. (the maximum of 1 m X 1m X 0.5m) can be used. This volume can accommodate 1500 worms. Culturing is done indoors avoiding sunlight and rain.

Preparation of culture bed: -

Cover of feed substrate: - The pit/tank should be filled with feed mixture as follows:

ü  At the base of pit/tank, a layer of broken bricks is to be placed, followed by coarse sand. The thickness of layer should range between 5-7.5 cm well suited for drainage of excess water.

ü  At second layer, straw of paddy/wheat, banana stem peels, coconut leaves, sugarcane trash, crop stems, grass or husk should be placed. The thickness of layer should be about 30cm well suited for aeration.

ü  Third layer should be of 15-30 days old cow dung with the thickness of about 20-30 cm which acts as reserve food for earthworms.

ü  Fourth layer or top layer should have partially decomposed waste up to thickness of 30 -37.5 cm which is used for composting.

ü  Earthworms are introduced in between the layers @ 350 worms per m³ of bed volume. Pit is then covered with moist gunny bags for reducing the moisture loss and also save worms from predators like ants.

ü  The beds are maintained at about 40-50%moisture content and a temperature of 20-30˚C by sprinkling water over beds. If moisture is high, dry cow dung or leaf litter should be mixed in the substrate. The pH of the substrate should be between 6.8-7.5.

ü  Sprinkling of water should be stopped before 3-4 days of harvesting to allow the worms to go down because of the drying of surface layers and the compost is then harvested, dried in shade and packed. The collected worms can be released in freshly prepared beds.

ü  The bed should be under roof to prevent direct sun and rain.

Feed composition: -

Dried dung of cattle, sheep, horse, pigs or dropping of poultry and small shredded pieces of vegetable waste from the ideal food for the worms. Cattle dung can be fed as such if available, but other dung materials or vegetable wastes can be mixed in equal quantity with cattle dung for feed acceptability. Wheat bran, grain bran, and vegetable waste, when added to dung in 10:11.1 ratio, will enhance the quality of the compost and biomass production.

Feed Application: -

The feed is to be placed uniformly in a layer on the culture bed and replenished as and when it disappears from surface.

Worm cast production and collection: -

When compost is ready, watering is stopped for 2-3 days, when all the worms retire to the bed below where some water still exists. The compost is then dry and can be piled in small heaps in ambient conditions for a couple of hours when all the worms will go down the heap to the bed. The heaps then become compost heaps containing worm cocoons. Fresh feed material should be placed immediately after removing compost. The bedding material will also be eaten by the worms and should be discarded after 6 months and a fresh bed should be laid as done earlier.

 

Exercise – 2

Objective: - Visit of organic farms to study the various components and their utilization.

Major components of organic farming are crop rotation, maintenance and enhancement of soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation, addition of organic manure and use of soil microorganisms, crop residues, bio-pesticide, biogas slurry, waste etc. Vermiculture has become a major component in biological farming, which is found to be effective in enhancing the soil fertility and producing large numbers of horticultural crops in a sustainable manner. The various components of organic farming have been discussed in details below:

1. Crop rotation:

Crop rotation is a systematic planning for the growing of different crops in a regular sequence on the same piece of land covering a period of two years or more. Crop rotation is important for soil fertility management, weed, insect and disease control. Legume crops are essential in any rotation, because legumes are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic relationship with N-fixing bacteria enables organic farming systems to be self-sufficient in nitrogen.

2. Crop Residue

There is a great potential for utilization of crop residues of the major cereals and pulses. Incorporation/composting of crop residues in conjunction with organics have been shown to improve availability of plant nutrients, soil organic matter, aggregate stability, infiltration rate, microbial population etc.

3. Organic manure

The organic manure is derived from biological sources like plant, animal and human residues. Aggregate stability, decrease in pH, resistance to compaction and water holding capacity increase by addition of organic manure in the soil. Moreover, it showed the beneficial effect on soil microorganisms and their activities and thus increases the availability of major and minor plant nutrients.

4. Industrial and other waste

By products like molasses and press mud from sugar industry possess good manurial value. Addition of press mud improves the soil fertility and enhances the microbial activity. While municipal and sewage waste also forms an important component of organic farming. Sewage sludge particularly from industrialized cities is contaminated with heavy metals and these pose hazards to plants, animals and human beings. Separation of the toxic waste at the source will minimize the concentration of such elements in the sludge.

5. Biofertilizers

Bio-fertilizer is microorganism's culture capable of fixing atmospheric nitrogen when suitable crops are inoculated with them. Bio-fertilizer offers an economically attractive and ecologically sound means of reducing external inputs and improving the quality and quantity of products. Microorganisms are capable of mobilizing nutritive elements from non-usable form to usable form through biological process. These are less expensive, eco-friendly and sustainable. The Biofertilizers containing biological nitrogen fixing organism are of utmost important in agriculture in view of the following advantages:

1.   They help in establishment and growth of crop plants and trees.

2.   They enhance biomass production and grain yields by 10-20%.

3.   They are useful in sustainable agriculture.

4.   They are suitable organic farming.

5.   They play an important role in Agroforestry / silvi-pastoral systems.

Types of Biofertilizers: There are two types of bio-fertilizers.

1. Symbiotic N-fixation:

These are Rhizobium culture of various strains which multiply in roots of suitable legumes and fix nitrogen symbiotically.

Rhizobium: It is the most widely used bio-fertilizers, which colonizes the roots of specific legumes to form tumors like growth called root nodules and these nodules act as factories of ammonia production.

2. Asymbiotic N-fixation:

This includes Azotobacter, Azospirillium, BGA, Azolla and Mycorrhizae, which also fixes atmospheric N in suitable soil medium.

Mycorrhizae: Mycorrhizae are the symbiotic association of fungi with roots of Vascular plants. The main advantage of Mycorrhizae to the host plants is facilitating an increased phosphorous uptake. In many cases the Mycorrhizae have been shown to markedly improve the growth of plants. In India, the beneficial effects of Vascular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (VAM) have been observed in fruit crops like citrus, papaya and litchi.

6. Bio-pesticide

Bio-pesticides are natural plant products that belong to the so-called secondary metabolites. Botanical insecticides are ecologically and environmentally safer generally affect the behavior and physiology of insects rather than killing them. Neem (Azadirachta indica) has justifiably received the maximum attention. All parts of the Neem tree possess insecticidal property but seed kernel is most active.

7. Vermicompost

It is organic manure produced by the activity of earthworms. It is a method of making compost with the use of earthworms that generally live-in soil, eat biomass and excrete it in digested form. It is generally estimated that 1800 worms which is an ideal population for one sq. meter can feed on 80 tons of humus per year. These are rich in macro and micronutrients, vitamins, growth hormones and immobilized microflora. The average nutrient content of vermicompost is much higher than that of FYM. Application of vermicompost facilitates easy availability of essential plant nutrients to crop.

Exercise - 3

Objective: - Cost of organic production system

No-cost inputs are those inputs which cost nothing or cost the bare minimum but have high benefits. The following are important no-cost inputs useful for organic farmers:

1.   Indicator plants

2.   Use of planting calendar

3.   Homa therapy or agnihotra

Indicator Plants

When a nutrient is not present in sufficient quantity in the soil or is not supplied in sufficient quantity to the plant, the plant will show deficiency symptoms described below to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the extent of the deficiency. However, some plants have been found to be especially useful as indicators of particular deficiencies. These plants are markedly susceptible to a particular deficiency and deficiency symptoms like poor growth and colour changes in leaves are shown more prominently by such indicator plants. A list of such indicator plants suitable to indicate various deficiencies is given below.

S. No.	Deficient element	Indicator plants
1	Nitrogen	Cauliflower, cabbage
2	Phosphorus	Rapeseed
3	Potassium	Potato, cauliflower, broad beans
4	Calcium	Cauliflower, cabbage
5	Magnesium	Potato, cauliflower
6	Iron	Cauliflower, cabbage, oats, potato
7	Zinc	Citrus, cereals, linseed
8	Copper	Wheat, oats
9	Manganese	Oats, sugar, beet, potato
10	Boron	Sugar beet, cauliflower
11	Molybdenum	Cauliflower

 

In addition, sunflower and crotons are indicators of moisture stress in the soil. Farmers can irrigate the crop looking at the wilting symptoms of these plants.

Use of the planting calendar:

The life patterns of all living organisms are woven into the cosmic rhythm. The modern science world may not accept the influence of these cosmic rhythms and constellations on life forms. However, human life, as well as animal and plant life, is all strongly dependent on the rhythms of the earth. Similarly, plant and animal life is also influenced by the syndic relationships of the sun, earth, moon and other planets. On the basis of such influences, the planting calendar is prepared for agricultural operations, during different timings of the year.

v  The moon opposite to Saturn

Occurs approximately once in 29.5 days.

v  Activities to be undertaken:

1.   Seed sowing, transplanting, grafting, pruning and layering.

2.   Spraying BD 501 (cow horn silica) to manage pests.

3.   Spraying liquid manures and foliar sprays.

v  Full moon

Occurs every 29.5 days

v  Activities to be undertaken:

1.   Sow seeds two days before sowing.

2.    Apply liquid manures and CPP (cow pat pit) manure.

3.   Spraying bio pesticides to control pests and diseases.

4.   Drenching the animals to remove internal parasites (48 hours before).

v  New moon

Happens once in 27.5 days

v  Activities to be undertaken:

1.   Avoid sowing seeds.

2.   Cutting timber.

v  Ascending periods

The moon moves in an arc from east to west and when this arc gets higher, the moon is ascending.

v  Activities to be undertaken:

1.   Sowing of seeds.

2.   Spray BD 501.

3.   Spray liquid manures and CPP.

v  Descending periods

The moon moves in an arc from east to west and when this arc gets lower, the moon is said to be in descending phase.

v  Activities to be undertaken:

1.   Transplanting of seedlings.

2.   Spraying BD 500 (cow horn manure).

3.   Making and spreading compost.

4.   Pruning trees.

5.   Land preparation activities.

v  Nodes

These are the days when the moon passes the sun’s path. It creates negative influences on the growth of plants. Avoid all agricultural activities during nodes.

v  Apogee

The moon’s orbit around the earth is elliptical. The point where the moon is furthest away from the earth is called its apogee.

v  Activities to be undertaken:

1.   Planting potatoes.

2.   Irrigating the field.

v  Perigee

The moon moves around the earth in an elliptical path. The point where the moon is closest to the earth is called its perigee.

Ø  Spray bio pesticides to manage pests and diseases.

v  Seed and fruit days

These days influence the growth of seed and fruit crops and are good for sowing and harvesting of the same, e.g., paddy, wheat, brinjal, bhendi and tomato.

v  Root days

These days influence the growth and development of root crops and are good for sowing and harvesting of them: potato, carrot, beet root, etc.

v  Flower day

These days influence the growth and development of flowers and are good for sowing and harvesting of them: cut flowers, cauliflower, rose, jasmine, etc.

v  Leaf days

These days help in the growth and development of leafy vegetables and are good for sowing and for harvesting them: green leafy vegetables, cabbage.

 

Exercise - 4

Objective: - Bio fertilizers/bio inoculants for organic farming

The atmosphere over a hectare of land consists of 80,000 tons of N. Though atmospheric N is present in sufficient quantity (80%), it is not available to plants since it exists in inert form. Biological nitrogen fixation is the conversion of atmospheric N by living organisms into forms that plants can use. This process is carried out by a group of bacteria and algae which fix atmospheric Nitrogen (N2) in to assimilable forms of nitrogen (NH3)

It can be defined as bio-fertilizers or microbial inoculants are preparations containing live or latent cell of efficient strain of N-fixing or P-solubilizing micro-organisms used for seed or soil application with the objectives of increasing the numbers of such micro-organisms in the soil or rhizosphere and consequently improve the extent of microbiologically fixed N for plant growth.

 

Ø  Use of bio-fertilizers

Azospirilum is applied as seed treatment or soil application in crop like rice, sugarcane, pulses, soybean and vegetables. It increases in root length, top dry weight, root dry weight, total leaf area and yield were reported. The inoculants like nitro plus (legume inoculants) and VAM (Vesicular Arbuscular Micorrhizae) are also effective for crop yield improvement. The Bacillus sp. and pseudomonas sp. Are help full in synthesizing the insoluble form of phosphorus. The combined applications of phosphor-bacteria, rock phosphate and FYM to commercial crops have greatly enhanced biomass production, uptake of nutrients and yield.

Ø  Benefits of bio- fertilizers in organic farming

þ  Bio-fertilizers are eco-friendly and do not have any ill effect on soil health and environment.

þ  They reduce the pressure on non-renewable nutrient sources/fertilizer.

þ  Their formulations are cheap and have easy application methods.

þ  They also stimulate plant growth due to excretion of various growth hormones.

þ  They reduce the incidence of certain disease, pathogen and increase disease resistance.

þ  The economic benefits to cost ratio of bio-fertilizers is always higher.

þ   They improve the productivity of waste land and low land by enriching the soil.

Ø  Types of Bio-fertilizers

þ  Biological N fixing micro-organisms

þ  Phosphate solubilizing and mobilizing micro-organisms

þ  Potash solubilizing micro-organisms

þ  Sulphur mobilizing micro-organisms

þ  Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

þ  Growth promoting substance excreting micro-organisms

A.   Biological N-fixing micro-organisms

Biological N-fixing micro-organisms help in reduction of atmospheric N2 to NH3. The N-fixing organisms such as Rhizobium spp. which live in symbiotic association with roots of leguminous vegetables, forming nodules and free-living fixers Azotobacter spp. and Azospirillum spp. which live in association with root system of crop plants.

There are two types of Rhizobia:

                     i.        the slow growing Bradyrhizobium

                   ii.        the fast-growing Rhizobium.

Azospirillum fix N from 10 to 40 kg/ha and saves N fertilizer inputs by 25 to 30%. Azotobacter inoculation saves N fertilizer by 10 to 20%

Ø  Rhizobium and bradyrhizobium

They symbiolically fix N with leguminous plants increasing the amount of

available N for uptake by plants. The quantum of N fixation ranges from 50-300 kg N/ha/crop under most optimum conditions. i.e. cow pea 80-85 kg/ha, Red gram 168- 200 kg/ha, G.nut 50-60 kg/ha & lucerne 100-300 kg/ha can fix symbiotically N by legume crop root nodules. An increase in yield about 10-20 % has been observed in pulses treated with Rhizobium.

Ø  Azola

Azola symbiotically can fix 30-100 kg N /ha & increase in yield up to 10-25% and also survive at high temperature in flooded rice crop.

Ø  Azotobacter

Azotobacter is free living aerobic N-fixing bacteria can fix 10-25 kg N/ha/season in cereals. 50% of N requirement of crop can be reduced through Azotobacter inoculation along with FYM. A. chroococcum is the dominant spices in arable soils. Vegetable crop such as tomato, brinjal and cabbage responded better to Azotobacter inoculation than other crops.

Ø  Azospirillum

Azospirillum inoculation helps to fix nitrogen from 15 to 40 kg/ha. It is useful in cereals for better vegetative growth and also saving inputs of nitrogenous fertilizers by 25-30 %.

Ø  Beijerinckia

Its production is high in acidic soils. B. idica is a common species. It is generally present in the rhizosphere of plantation crops such as coconut, arecanut, cashewnut, cocoa and pepper.

B. Phosphate solubilizing and mobilizing micro-organism.

Several soil bacteria particularly Pseudomonas straita and Bacillus polymixa and fungi Aspergillus awamori and Penicilium spp. poses the ability to bring nsoluble phosphates into soluble forms by secreting organic acids. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are also responsible for converting fixed Phosphorus into available phosphorus through inoculation of efficient strains of AMF, 25 to 50 % of P fertilizer can be saved.

     C. Potash solubilizing micro-organisms

The bacterium, Frateuria aurantia was isolated from banana plant from Orissa soil. These bacteria have solubilizing power of 90% within 22 days when the mineral source of K is in fixed form. These bacteria were tested on banana and paddy which increased the yield by 20 & 25%, respectively. It can be used as soil application for all types of crops @ 2.5 kg/ha. It can be mixed with @ 200- 500 kg FYM in furrows before sowing. The bacterium can save up to 50-60 % of cost of K fertilizer.

     D. Sulphur mobilizing micro-organisms.

Sulphur present as insoluble sulphur form at 30-35 cm deep in soil and are ssociated with oxides of iron and aluminium. Acetobacter pasteurianus helps in converting this non-usable form to usable form. The use of 625 g/ha of A. pasteurianus influenced the levels of sulphur in crops like vegetables, cabbage, turnip, onion etc.

     E. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)

AMF improve plant growth through better uptake of nutrient like P, Zn, Cu etc. and make the plant root more resistant to pathogens, improve soil texture, WHC, disease resistance and better plant growth. AMF saves 25-50 kg P/ha in addition increase the yield up to 10-12%.

     E. Growth promoting substance erecting micro-organisms.

The specific strain of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) could

colonize roots of crops like potato, beet root, apple and legumes. They enhance plant growth indirectly by depriving the harmful micro-organisms. PGPR belong to many genera including Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Azotobacter, bacillus, Pseudomonas, cellublomonas, Rhizobium etc.

Ø  General recommendations of bio-fertilizers for different crops

1.   For pulses such as Greengram, Black gram, Pigeonpea, Cowpea, kidney bean etc. and legume oil seeds such as groundnut and soyabean use Rhizobium + PSB 200 gm each per 10 kg of seed as seed treatment.

2.   Non legume crops such as pearlmillet, wheat, sorghum maize, cotton, etc. use Azotobacter + PSB 200 gm each per 10 kg of seed as seed treatment.

3.   Vegetables crops like tomato, brinjal, chilli, cabbage, cauliflower etc. use Azotobacter/Azospirillum + PSB, 1 kg each as seedling root dip.

4.   Low land transplanted paddy Azospirillum + PSB 2 kg each/acre as seeding root dip for 8-10 hrs.

5.   For sugarcane crop, use Acetobacter + PSB 4 kg each/acre as seed set dipping.

Ø  METHOD OF APPLICATION

Ø  Seed treatment

Suspend 200 gm N bio-fertilizer and 200 gms Phosphotika in 300-400 ml of water and mix thoroughly. Mix this paste with 10 kg seeds and dry in shade. Sow immediately.

Ø  Seedling root dip

For vegetables 1 kg recommended bio-fertilizers is mixed in sufficient quantity of water. Dip the roots of seedlings in this suspension for 30-40 min before transplanting.

For paddy make a bed in the field and fill it with water. Mix bio-fertilizers in water and dip the roots of seedlings for 8-10 hrs.

Ø  Soil treatment

Mix 4 kg each of recommended bio-fertilizers in 200 kg of compost, make moist and leave it overnight. Apply this mixture in the soil at the time of sowing or planting.

Ø  Precautions

þ  Store bio-fertilizer packets in cool and dry place away from direct sunlight and heat.

þ  Rhizobium is crop specific, so use in specified crop

þ  Do not mix with chemicals

þ  Use the packet before expiry, only on the specified crop, by the recommended method.

  

Exercise – 5

Objective: - Post harvest management: quality aspect, grading, packaging and handling

v  Processing

Processing of organic food products and handling should be optimized to maintain the development of pest and diseases. Processing and handling of organic products should be done separately in time or place from handling and processing of non-organic products.

Processing of organic fresh produce requires cleaning, grading followed by peeling, stoning or slicing. At this stage fruits and some vegetable such as onion and peppers are ready for freezing, but most vegetables need to be blanched with hot water or steam at 80˚C to 100˚C to inactivate enzymes that could otherwise lead to a loss in vitamin C and flavour. Fruit can be coated in sugar or in syrup that contains an antioxidant like ascorbic acid. Coating retards browning, avoids the cooked tests after defrosting and increases product quality. The products may be packaged before or after freezing.

The following techniques are adopted for processing.

v  Freezing

Freezing is quite often applied to vegetables but rarely used for fruits, as they do not handle it well. Nutritional quality is maintained when the product is sold from colour, odour and taste are retained well by freezing. The degree of freezing depends on the duration of storage eg.

Practical storage life of frozen products

Products	Practical storage life (Month)
	-18˚C	-25˚C	-30˚C
Fruits in sugar	12	18	24
Cauli flower	15	24	<24
Carrots	18	24	<24
Potatoes	24	<24	<24

 

v  Drying

Drying facilitates for easy transportation and storage of fruits. Dried vegetables are produced in low quantities for the local market but can be useful for soup mixes. The major risks with dried products are microbiological attack and physiological deterioration which leads to browing, loss of vitamins and the development of off-flavours.

v  Water content 

Dry fruit products have a water content of 8 to 12 % and dry vegetable around 7%. Under these conditions, there are no microbiological problems during storage of the products.

v  Additives and processing aids

Permitted processing aids helps to retain quality of dry produce, such as ascorbic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, which resulting in low pH, it limits the development of micro-organisms and browing. The product is treated by dipping in or spraying with acids or lemon juice. Salt can be used for drying.

v  Blanching 

A brief period at high temperature destroys most of micro-organisms and inactivates eazymes which promote browning and degradation i.e.

Fruits /Vegetables	Process
Banana	Boiling water for 5 min
Mango, Papaya	Hot water (56oC) for 1 min
Cabbage	Boiling water 3 min
Carrot	Boiling water 4-6 min

 

v  Rapid Drying  

Sun drying is mostly used for organic fruits such as figs, bananas etc, but there is risk to quality and the difficulty of maintaining a high degree of sanitation. Hence, a rapid drying is followed.

Drying condition, moisture content and storage life of food products.

Fruits/ vegetable	Drying temp (˚C)	Moisture content (%)	Storage life (Month)
Mango	55	14	6
Banana	55	12	6
Tomato	55	6	6
Onion	50-55	5	3-12

 

v Labeling

The label should convey clear and accurate information on the organic status of the product. The labels for organic products should be distinguishable by different colored labels. The details like name of the product, quality of the product, name and address of the producer’s name of the certification agency, certification, lot number etc. are to be given in the label. for example;

Information required on the label

Crop	OG (Organic Ginger)
Country	I (India)
Field No.	05
Date of harvest	32 (1st Feb.)
Year	2009
Lot No.	OG I 05 32 2009

Lot No. is helpful in tracking back the product particularly field number in which it is grown in case of contamination. Lot number should include the crop, country, field number, date of harvest and production year.

v  Packing 

For packing, recycling and reusable materials like clean jute bags should be used. Use of biodegradable materials can also be used. Un necessary packaging material should be avoided. Various types of packaging materials are used for packing such as bamboo baskets, gunny bags, card board, paper, glass, metal, wooden box, plastic crates and ventilated corrugated fibre board (CFB) box for safe handling.

 

Exercise - 6

Objective: - ITK (Indigenous technology knowledge) for nutrient management

v  Panchgavya

Panchagavya, an organic product has the potential to play the role of promoting growth and providing immunity in plant system. Panchagavya consists of nine products viz. cow dung, cow urine, milk, curd, jaggery, ghee, banana, Tender coconut and water. When suitably mixed and used, these have miraculous effects.

þ  Cow dung - 7 kg

þ  Cow ghee - 1 kg

Mix the above two ingredients thoroughly and keep it for 3 days with regular mixing both in morning and evening hours

þ  Cow Urine - 10 liters

þ  Water - 10 liters

After 3 days mix cow urine and water and keep it for 15 days with regular mixing both in morning and evening hours. After 15 days mix the following and panchagavya will be ready after 30 days.

þ  Cow milk - 3 liters

þ  Cow curd - 2 liters

þ  Tender coconut water - 3 liters

þ  Jaggery – 0.500 kg or Sugarcane juice 3 liters.

þ  Well ripened poovan banana – 12 nos.

v  Preparation

All the above items can be added to a wide mouthed mud pot, concrete tank or plastic can as per the above order. The container should be kept open under shade. The content is to be stirred twice a day both in morning and evening. The Panchagavya stock solution will be ready after 30 days. (Care should be taken not to mix buffalo products. The products of local breeds of cow is said to have potency than exotic breeds). It should be kept in the shade and covered with a wire mesh or plastic mosquito net to prevent houseflies from laying eggs and the formation of maggots in the solution. If sugarcane juice is not available add 500 g of jaggery dissolved in 3 liter of water.

Physico-chemical and biological properties of Panchagavya

Chemical composition		Microbial Load
pH	5.45	Fungi	38800/ml
EC dSm2	10.22	Bacteria	1880000/ml
Total N (ppm)	229	Lactobacillus	2260000/ml
Total P (ppm)	209	Total anaerobes	10000/ml
Total K (ppm)	232	Acid formers	360/ml
Sodium	90	Methanogen	250/ml
Calcium	25
IAA (ppm)	8.5
GA (ppm)	3.5

ü  Physico-chemical properties of Panchagavya revealed that they possess almost all the major nutrients, micro nutrients and growth hormones (IAA & GA) required for crop growth. Predominance of fermentative microorganisms like yeast and lactobacillus might be due to the combined effect of low pH, milk products and addition of jaggery/sugarcane juice as substrate for their growth.

ü  The low pH of the medium was due to the production of organic acids by the fermentative microbes as evidenced by the population dynamics and organic detection in GC analysis. Lactobacillus produces various beneficial metabolites such as organic acids, hydrogen peroxide and antibiotics, which are effective against other pathogenic microorganisms besides its growth.

Ø  Recommended dosage

Ø  Spray system

3% solution was found to be most effective compared to the higher and lower concentrations investigated. Three liters of Panchagavya to every 100 liters of water is ideal for all crops. The power sprayers of 10 liters capacity may need 300 ml/tank. When sprayed with power sprayer, sediments are to be filtered and when sprayed with hand operated sprayers, the nozzle with higher pore size has to be used.

Ø  Flow system

The solution of Panchagavya can be mixed with irrigation water at 50 liters per hectare either through drip irrigation or flow irrigation.

Ø  Seed/seedling treatment

3% solution of Panchagavya can be used to soak the seeds or dip the seedlings before planting. Soaking for 20 minutes is sufficient. Rhizomes of Turmeric, Ginger and sets of Sugarcane can be soaked for 30 minutes before planting.

Ø  Seed storage

3% of Panchagavya solution can be used to dip the seeds before drying and storing them.

Ø  Periodicity

1	Pre flowering phase	Once in 15 days, two sprays depending upon duration of crops
2	Flowering and pod setting stage	Once in 10 days, two sprays
3	Fruit/Pod maturation stage	Once during pod maturation

 Time of application of Panchagavya for different crops is given as follows:

Crops	Time schedule
Rice	10, 15, 30 and 50th days after transplanting
Sunflower	30, 45 and 60 days after sowing
Black gram	Rain fed: 1st flowering and 15 days after flowering Irrigated: 15, 25 and 40 days after sowing
Green gram	15, 25, 30, 40 and 50 days after sowing
Castor	30 and 45 days after sowing
Groundnut	25 and 30th days after sowing
Bhindi	30, 45, 60 and 75 days after sowing
Moringa	Before flowering and during pod formation
Tomato	Nursery and 40 days after transplanting: seed treatment with 1 % for 12 hrs
Onion	0, 45 and 60 days after transplanting
Rose	At the time of pruning and budding
Jasmine	Bud initiation and setting
Vanilla	Dipping setts before planting

Ø  Effect of Panchagavya

þ  Leaf

Plants sprayed with Panchagavya invariably produce bigger leaves and develop denser canopy. The photosynthetic system is activated for enhanced biological efficiency, enabling synthesis of maximum metabolites and photosynthates.

þ  Stem

The trunk produces side shoots, which are sturdy and capable of carrying maximum fruits to maturity. Branching is comparatively high.

þ  Roots

The rooting is profuse and dense. Further they remain fresh for a long time. The roots spread and grow into deeper layers were also observed. All such roots help maximum intake of nutrients and water.

þ  Yield

There will be yield depression under normal circumstances, when the land is converted to organic farming from inorganic systems of culture. The key feature of Panchagavya is its efficacy to restore the yield level of all crops when the land is converted from inorganic cultural system to organic culture from the very first year. The harvest is advanced by 15 days in all the crops. It not only enhances the shelf life of vegetables, fruits and grains, but also improves the taste. By reducing or replacing costly chemical inputs, Panchagavya ensures higher profit and liberates the organic farmers from loan.

þ  Drought Hardiness

A thin oily film is formed on the leaves and stems, thus reducing the evaporation of water. The deep and extensive roots developed by the plants allow to withstand long dry periods. Both the above factors contribute to reduce the irrigation water requirement by 30% and to ensure drought hardiness.

Ø  Cost: Cost of Panchagavya is Rs. 40/Lit

Note: Generally, panchagavya is recommended for all the crops as foliar spray at 3.0 % level (3 litre panchagavya in 100 liters of water).

 

v  Bijamrut

þ  Preparation

þ  Ingredients of Bijamrut

ü  5 kg Cow fresh dung

ü  100 g lime

ü  5 lit cow urine

ü  50 g sajiv soil

ü  20 lit water

Take 5.0 kg fresh cow dung in cotton cloth and dip it in water. The soluble elements in the dung will be dissolved in water. In another separate vessel take 100 g lime and add 1 lit. water in it. Keep it for 12-16 hours. The solid portion of the cow dung will be separated by squeezing it and in this solution add 5.0 lit cow urine + 1 lit lime water + 50 g soil (forest uncultivated soil) + 20 lit water. Keep this mixture for 12-16 hours. Filter it and it can be used for seed treatment.

þ  Biodynamic Farming

Bios = life dynamic = energy

Dr Rudolf Steiner explained how modern science and therefore chemical agriculture was based on the study of dead things in laboratories, rather than on the observation of living nature and the complex relationships constantly changing therein. Among this web of life he also included the cosmos with its moving planets and stars, and he spoke of how in the past, farmers instinctively knew about the effects of this movement on the life of plants and also animals and human beings. As modern human beings, we must find this connection once more to understand how to work best with nature, but this time in a very conscious, measurable way.

Today there are many people around the globe who concentrate on understanding and recording the effects of the cosmos on our planet Earth, including Maria Thun in Germany who publishes a planting calendar for gardeners and farmers to use. Rudolf Steiner introduced a few preparations based on homeopathic medicine to enhance the beneficial cosmic influences on plants and the soil, and encouraged people to experiment and find new ones as well.

Life is a study of energy from the coarse to the fine, and Biodynamics is primarily concerned with the higher forces, the finer energies and how they influence plants, animals, and human beings. This knowledge and work with the life forces brings balance and healing to the soil, and therefore to anything that grows in that soil and every being that eats those plants.

þ  Main effects of using biodynamic in agriculture

1.   To increase the vitality of food

2.   To regenerate natural resources such as the soil (by restoring the organic matter present in the soil), the seeds, and the water

3.   To create a personal relationship with the world in which we live, with Nature of which we are apart of, and to learn to work together

4.   Most of all, to be of service to the Earth and its beings by aiding nature where it is weak due to constant use

þ  DEMETER = Greek goddess of the Earth

Biodynamic methods produce a living soil with revitalized natural forces, in alignment with planetary cosmic rhythms. At the heart of this activity is the intelligence and consciousness of the human being who is caring for this piece of the Earth, and who is the 'ordering principle'. This deep awareness is based on observation and relationship with the land and with Nature; it's based on love.

þ  Advantages

1.   Production of top-quality fruits and vegetables, with strong flavours and high levels of nutrients (protein and vitamin content)

2.   Yields always above the average level, higher on average than those produced by organic farming, and consistently high throughout the years as opposed to the falling yields obtained by chemical farming as the soil is mineralized and pest populations become unbalanced and become a problem

3.   Little trouble with livestock and plant diseases

4.   No spreading of insect pests, and no great economic damage due to their presence: the question of insect pests is one of balance and control which can be restored by proper management such as planting shrubs and trees which will house natural predators

v  HOMA THERAPY OR AGNIHOTRA

Homa is a Sanskrit word used synonymously with yajna or havan. Yajna is the technical term from the Vedic science of bio-energy, which denotes the process of removing the toxic conditions of the atmosphere through the agency of fire. This means the healing and purification of the atmosphere with fire as the medium. You heal the atmosphere and the healed atmosphere heals you. This is the central idea in homa therapy. This knowledge can be used in agriculture, environment, medicine, psychotherapy, biogenetics, etc.

Agnihotra is the basic homa for all homa fire practices mentioned in ancient Vedic science. It is tuned to the biorhythm of sunrise and sunset. The process involves preparing a small fire in a copper pyramid of fixed size and putting some grains of rice into the fire exactly at sunrise and sunset accompanied by the chant of two simple mantras.

Farmers in more than 60 countries practice Homa therapy. There are many reports from India and abroad which claim that the use of homa therapy in agriculture improves degraded lands, controls pests and diseases and improves the quantity and quality of the produce.