PROJECT REPORT ON

MOOC COURSE ON ORGANIC FARMING

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of

BACHELOR OF COMMERCE
ST.GEORGE’S COLLEGE, ARUVITHURA

By
SUBASH NS
B.COM COMPUTER APPLICATION

Under the guidance of

Mr. ANEESH P C
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
ST. GEORGE’S COLLEGE ARUVITHURA

(AFFILIATED TO MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY)

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

●CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
● CHAPTER 2 – MATERIALS & METHODS
I. LOCATION / COLLEGE AND STUDENT
II. CROPS SELECTED
III. SOURCE OF SEEDS
IV. AREA/ NO. OF GROW BAGS
V. LIMING MATERIALS AND QUANTITY USED
VI. MANURES VII. BASAL APPLICATION
VIII. TOP DRESSING
IX. BIO FERTILIZERS
X. BIO SLURRIES
XI. ANY AOTHER INPUT USED
XII. CROP MANAGEMENT
XIII. LAND PREPARATION
XIV. GROW BAG FILLING
XV. SEEDING/ PLANTING
XVI. DISEASES AFFECTED
XVII. HARVEST
XVIII. CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES
● CHAPTER 3 – OBSERVATION AND DATA ANALYSIS
I. GERMINATION / PLANT STANT ESTABLISHMENT %
II. HEIGHT OF PLANTS
III. DAY OF FIRST FLOWERING AND FRUITING
IV. HARVEST DAYS
V. NO. AND WEIGHT
VI. CUMULATIVE YIELD

● CHAPTER – 4 – PHOTOS
I. GROW BAG FILLING
II. TOMATO PLANT
III. BEANS
IV. BRINJAL
V. BIIRD EYE CHILLY
VI. GINGER

● CHAPTER 5 – COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS

●CHAPTER 6 -CONCLUSION
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
 On Organic farming

Organic farming is a farming method that involves growing and nurturing crops without the
use of synthetic based fertilizers and pesticides. Also, no genetically modified organisms
are permitted. International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), an
international organization established in 1972 for organicfarming organizations defines
the goal of organic farming as:
“Organic agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and
people. It relies on ecological processes, biodiversity and cycles adapted to local conditions,
rather than the use of inputs with adverse effects. Organic agriculture combines tradition,
innovation and science to benefit the shared environment and promote fair relationships and a
good quality of life for all involved…”
Reasons for Organic Farming

The population of the planet is skyrocketing and providing food for the world is becoming
extremely difficult. The need of the hour is sustainable cultivation and production of food for
all.The Green Revolution and its chemical-based technology are losing its appeal as dividends
are falling and returns are unsustainable. Pollution and climate change are other negative
externalities caused by the use of fossil fuel based chemicals.In spite of our diet choices, organic
food is the best choice you’ll ever make, and this means embracing organic farming methods.
Here are the reasons why we need to take up organic farming methods:

1. To Accrue the Benefits of Nutrients 2. Stay Away From GMOs 3. Natural & better taste
4. Direct support to farming 5. To Prevent Antibiotics, Drugs, and Hormones in Animal Products
6. To conserve agricultural biodiversity
Key Features of Organic Farming

1. Protecting soil quality using organic material and encouraging biological activity

2.Indirect provision of crop nutrients using soil microorganisms

3. Nitrogen fixation in soils using legumes

4.Weed and pest control based on methods like crop rotation, biological diversity, natural predators,
organic manures and suitable chemical, thermal and biological intervention

Three Principles of Organic Farming

1. Principle of Health-Organic agriculture must contribute to the health and well being of soil,
plants, animals, humans and the earth. It is the sustenance of mental, physical, ecological and
social well being. For instance, it provides pollution and chemical-free, nutritious food items for
humans.

2. Principle of Fairness-Fairness is evident in maintaining equity and justice of the shared planet
both among humans and other living beings. Organic farming provides good quality of life and
helps in reducing poverty. Natural resources must be judiciously used and preserved for future
generations.

3. Principle of Ecological Balance-Organic farming must be modeled on living ecological

systems. Organic farming methods must fit the ecological balances and cycles in nature.
ADVANTAGES OF ORGANIC FARMING

Organic manures produce optimal conditions in the soil for high yield and good crop quality.
They supply primary, secondary and micro-nutrients tocrops
They improve growth and physiological activities of plants.
They improve physic-chemical properties of soil.
Addition of organic carbon in the organic matter is the source of energy for microbes
which help in better soil aggregation.
They reduces need of purchased inputs.
Minimizes pollution due to waste material.
Organically grown plants are more resistant to disease and insect pest.
There is an increase in consumers demand for organic produce.
Organic farming prevents soil as well as environmental degradation.
Organic farming helps to regenerate degraded lands.

COMPONENTS OF ORGANIC FARMING

1) Crops and soil:- Organic farming system encourages the use of crop rotations and manures to
maintain soil fertility. Green manuring and intercropping with legume is important aspect for
biological farming systems. It not only reduces the weeds but reduces leaching of nutrients and
soil erosion.

2) Organic manures:- Organic material such as FYM, biogas slurry, compost, straw, crop
residues, green manures and cover crops are good substitutes for inorganic fertilizers.
Similarly, sea weeds, fish manure, basic slag and rock phosphate also proved better. Organic

material helps in improving physiochemical properties of soil. It reduces soil erosion. Crop

rotation and green manuring are known to be improve soil fertility.

3) Non-chemical weed control:- Weed control is one of the main concerns in organic agriculture
as use of herbicide is strictly prohibited due to environmental pollution. Crop rotations, green
manuring, manure management, tillage generally used to prevent weeds.

In addition, mechanical and thermal methods also used in controlling of weeds

 CHAPTER 2
MATERIALS &TECHNIQUES
LOCATION OF THE STUDENT AND THE COLLEGE

I am Subash N S, 2nd year B.com Computer Application student in St George's College. I am doing
this project under MOOC COURSE on the topic Organic Farming on my house at chengalam. This
project includes variety of crops, its fertilization,watering,diseases and cucultivation details.

CROP SELECT ED

1. Tomatoes
2. Beans
3. Bird eye chilly
4. Brinjal
5. Ginger

Crops are selected on the basis of :

● Temperature

● Easy availability

● Duration of harvesting

● Area needed for cultivation

● Availability of area
TEMPERATURE & HARVESTING TIME

REQUIRED
CROPS HARVESTING TIME TEMPERATURE
(DAYS) (DEGREE CELSIUS)

TOMATO 50 to 65 days 21-23

BEANS 50 to 65 days 15-29

BIRED EYE CHILLY 60 to 75 days 15-25

BRINJAL 90 to 125 days 13-24

GINGER 120 to 250 days 28-35

COURSE & AREA CULTIVATION

CROP COURSE OF SEED AREA / GROW BAG

TOMATO SHOP GROW BAG

BEANS SHOP GROW BAG

BIRD EYE CHILLY HOME GROW BAG

BRINJAL HOME GROW BAG

GINGER HOME AREA

LIMING MATERIALS & QUANTITY

Liming is the most common and effective practice to reduce soil acidity. Lime requirements of
crops grown on acid soils are determined by the quality of liming material, status of soil
fertility, crop species and cultivar within species, crop management practices, and economic
considerations. Soil pH, base saturation, and aluminum saturation are important acidity indices
that are used to determine liming. Liming improves soil pH, Ca, and Mg contents and reduces
Al concentrations in the soil solution. In addition, liming improves beneficial microbe
populations in the soil.)

1. Burnt lime(calcium oxide)

2. Hydrated lime(calcium hydroxide)
3. Dolomite
4. Magnesite(magnesium carbonate)
25-38% magnesium
No calcium
NV 95-105
5. Burnt magnesite(magnesium oxide)
NV 180-220
6. Wet lime
Water content 10%
7. Lime and cement kiln dusts
NV 70-150
Calcium 25-54%
8. MANURES USED FOR PLANTS
Manures are the organic materials derived from animal, human and plant residues which contain
plant nutrients in complex organic forms. Naturally occurring or synthetic chemicals containing
plant nutrients are called fertilizers. Manures with low nutrient, content per unit quantity have
longer residual effect besides improving soil physical properties compared to fertilizer with high
nutrient content. Major sources of manures are:

1. Cattle shed wastes-dung, urine and slurry from biogas plants

2. Human habitation wastes-night soil, human urine, town refuse, sewage, sludge and
sullage
3. Poultry Jitter, droppings of sheep and goat

APPLICATION OF MANURES

1. Basal application:

Broadcasting at sowing or planting: The main benefits of broadcasting fertilizers at sowing

time are to uniformly distribute the fertilizer over the field, and to mix it with soil.
2. Top dressing It is the broadcasting of fertilizers particularly nitrogenous fertilizers in closely
sown crops like paddy and wheat, with the objective of supplying nitrogen in readily available
form to growing plants.
3. Placement

1. It refers to the placement of fertilizers in soil at a specific place with or without reference
to the position of the seed.
2. Placement of fertilizers is normally recommended when the quantity of fertilizers to
apply is small, development of the root system is poor, soil have a low level of fertility
and to apply phosphatic and potassic fertilizer.
The most common methods of placement are as follows:

ii)Plough sole placement

1. In this method, fertilizer is placed at the bottom of the plough furrow in a continuous
band during the process of ploughing.
2. This method is suitable for areas where soil becomes quite dry upto few cm below the
soil surface and soils having a heavy clay pan just below the plough sole layer.

iii) Deep placement-It is the placement of ammoniacal nitrogenous fertilizers in the

reduction zone of soil particularly in paddy fields, where ammoniacal nitrogen remains
available to the crop. This method ensures better distribution of fertilizer in the root zone soil
and prevents loss of nutrients by run-off.

iv) Localized placement-It refers to the application of fertilizers into the soil close to the
seed or plant in order to supply the nutrients in adequate amounts to the roots of growing
plants. The common methods to place fertilizers close to the seed or plant are as follows:
Bio Fertilizers-A biofertilizer is a substance which contains living micro-organisms which, when
applied to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and
promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant.[1]
Biofertilizers add nutrients through the natural processes of nitrogen fixation, solubilizing
phosphorus, and stimulating plant growth through the synthesis of growth-promoting substances.
The microorganisms in biofertilizers restore the soil's natural nutrient cycle and build soil
organic matter..
Bio Slurries-Bioslurry is a good fertiliser for crops and improves the soil fertility, soil structure
and yields of crops. It is often even better than regular Farmyard Manure (FYM) and may also
reduce the use of chemical fertilisers. With the right rate of 10 to 20 tons/ha in irrigated areas and
5 tons/ha in dry farming, crops can show significant increase in yields. Indeed, bioslurry
increases crop revenues by 25 percent on average. bioslurry can be used for the following:

(1) as a basal manure and as a foliar application or spray;

(2) as a plague repellent;
(3) to increase soil fertility (caution exchange capacity), and improve the soil structure and
water retaining capacity;
(4) to prevent soil erosion;
(5) to treat seeds for higher germination, disease resistance, better yields, improved
coloration of fruits and vegetables, and tenderness and taste of leafy vegetables;
(6) to increase the feed value of fodder with low protein content;
(7) for concentrated feed for cattle, pig, and fish and the production of earth worms and
algae; (8) for the production of vitamin B12 and amino acids for animal growth. In addition, it
contains enzymes which stimulate hunger for more food intake and better nourishment of
animals;
(9) as a means to increase quality and quantity of organic fertiliser production at the farm levels;
(10) as manure for pot grown flowers and vegetables;
(11) to increase the availability of nutrients for soil micro-flora like nitrogen fixing and phosphor
solubilising organisms;

Any Other Inputs Used

Organic inputs are derived from the processing of plant and animal products that the farmer
brings to his crop in order for it to express its production potential (they can be included as
biological inputs). The most commonly accepted organic inputs are manure, slurry and green
compost. By decomposing and fermenting, organic materials from farm or outside allow organic
inputs form. Plant inputs are derived from plant decomposition, they include compost, pruning
sides, organic preparations, racial chipped wood etc.

Crop management-Crop management practices for the safe use of salt-affected soils and saline
water primarily consists of growing suitable salt-tolerant crops, managing seedbeds, and grading
fields to minimize local accumulation of salts, soil management, improving irrigation efficiency
and soil, water, and salinity monitoring for assessing leaching and drainage requirements.

Land preparations

The steps required in the preparation of land involves:

1. Clearing and weeding the field

2. Pre-irrigation
3. First ploughing or tilling
4. Harrowing
5. Flooding
6. Levelling

Basal manuring-Manure is the decomposed form of dead plants and animals, which is applied to
the soil. To increase production. It is a natural form of fertilizer and cost effective. The human
and animal excreta is used as a manure. The livestock manure is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium. Manure is highly rich in organic matter and humus and thus improves the soil fertility.
These are better in long run and does not cause any pollution. It is a valuable and renewable
resource. Manure is an ideal soil amendment. When it is applied to the agricultural fields it acts
as field residue. Farmers can sell the manure to people who need to improve their soil fertility.
Grow bag filling

● Fill grow bags with a potting mixture which is prepared by mixing soil, sand, and cow dung/
compost in the ratio 2:1:1 incorporated. It can be filled up to 75% to 90% of the volume of the
grow bag.

● The ratio of the potting mixture can be changed, above is the most commonly recommend mix
ratio.

● The bags are to be arranged in a line on the terrace ensuring wall underneath the grow bags are to
be placed on bricks placed in triangular format or grow bag trays specially designed for this.

● Sunlight loving bushy crops are preferred to shade-loving and trailing crops

● Sowing or transplanting up to two plants per grow bag is advantageous but you can have more
plants in the case of green leaf vegetables.

● The bags are to be arranged in a line on the terrace ensuring wall underneath the grow bags are to
be placed on bricks placed in triangular format or grow bag trays specially designed for this.

Watering

It is to be done once or twice in a day depending on climate. You can use a rose can or pipe
connected to the domestic water tank line can be used but the installation of a drip irrigation
system is preferred due to the following reasons. If you use rose cans to pour water to grow bag
there is a chance for splash erosion of media from the bag. Daily watering of grow bags is a
time-consuming process if you manage more than ten bags, it makes grow bag farming a difficult
task. Crops are grown under a range of water management regimes, from simple soil tillage
aimed at increasing the infiltration of rainfall, to sophisticated irrigation technologies and
management. Of the estimated 1.4 billion ha of crop land worldwide, around 80 percent is
rainfed and accounts for about 60 percent of global agricultural output1. Growing pressure from
competing demands for water, along with environmental imperatives, mean that agriculture must
obtain “more crops from fewer drops” and with less environmental impact.

Harvest-Harvesting is the operation of gathering the useful part or parts of the plant and is carried
out at the time when all the nutrients have developed and the edible parts have reached the
appropriate degree of maturity. In general, the harvest takes place 10 or 15 days after the grain
has reached physiological maturity. At the time of maturity, the grain has specific moisture
content and special physical characteristics. The most appropriate time of harvest is determined
based upon the length of the growing cycles (which differ according to the crop and varieties)
and also the degree of maturity of the grain.The harvest should take place at a time when the
grain has moisture content in the range
15-20%.

My harvests

Harvested vegetables like

● Beans
● Brinjal
● Ginger
● Bird eye cilly
● Tomato
Aster Yellows and leaf spot

● Aster yellows is a plant disease that can infect many common vegetables, annual
flowering plants, perennial flowering plants and weeds.

● Infected plants have yellow, stunted growth, and small malformed flowers.

● Aster leafhoppers can carry the aster yellows pathogen. Plants become infected when
fed upon by leafhoppers.

● Once infected with aster yellows, a plant will never recover

Symptoms of the disease :

● Leaves are discolored pale green to yellow or white.

● In some plants, red to purple discoloration of leaves occurs.

● Leaves may be small and stunted.

● Flowers are small, malformed, and often remain green or fail to develop the proper
color.

● Plants infected early in the growing season may remain small and stunted. ●
Many thin, weak stems grow close together forming a witches' broom.
Remedy for Aster Yellow
The tricky thing with aster yellows is that is does not kill a plant. Therefore, as a
gardener you might be inclined to leave an infected plant in your garden, especially if
it’s a perennial. Don’t the pathogen can survive in perennial plants from one season to
the next, and infected perennials can transmit aster yello ws to other plants for many
years. All it takes is an aster leafhopper feeding on that plant.

Remedy for leaf spot-No matter how diligent you are, the day will come when
those tiny, brown circles appear on the leaves of your plant so it’s important to know
how to treat leaf spot fungus. As soon as you see plant leaf spots, treatment begins. For
houseplants, isolate the pot immediately to prevent the fungus from spreading. Remove
any leaf that has been affected. Stop misting. In the garden, the plant’s leaf spot
treatment depends on preference. For organic treatment, there are several safe and
convenient treatments available. Most contain sulfur or copper octanate. Or you can try
a more traditional treatment by spraying with a mild solution of bicarbonate of soda
(baking soda), using ½ teaspoon per gallon (2.5 mL. per 4 L.) of water. For those
gardeners who have no objection, many all-purpose fungicides are available. Please
read the label carefully before applying.
 USED FERTILIZATION & MANURING
1. Dried cow dung
2. Neem oil spray
3. Appropriate water

CULTIVATION OF BEANS

Beans are super flexible, they thrive well in both sun and partial shade. Pick a spot that receives
partial sunlight. Pole beans need less space to sustain as they grow upwards. On the other hand,
bush beans require more space to grow.
The ideal time to grow beans is around March or April. Planting them too late may not give them
proper time to grow and get ready for the harvesting season. Learn more about vegetable growing
seasons.
Beans grow well in nutrition-rich soil with good drainage. Mix garden compost with potting soil
to prepare your soil for beans. Till the soil properly to break any clay-like structures. Beans are
nitrogen-fixing plants, simply put, they can pull nitrogen from the air and make the soil more
fertile. Just add compost to your soil and you’re good to move to the next phase of planting.
The bean seeds should be directly sown into the ground. It shouldn’t be transplanted or grown
indoors initially as the roots of this plant are very delicate and can be easily damaged during the
transplant process. Plant the bean seeds directly into the soil about 9-12 inches away from each
other. Dig a 1-inch deep hole, place the seed, and cover it with soil properly. To aid the
germination process, water the seeds regularly for 3-4 days. Keep watering your plants once
every 2-3 days to support the growth. However, do not overwater your plant.
After the planting stage, comes the caring stage. After the seeds start to sprout, add a layer of
mulch. Use leaves, shredded plants as mulch material. Add a layer of fertilizers to your plants to
promote growth. As beans are nitrogen-fixing plants, pick fertilizers that are rich in other
nutrients like phosphorus and potassium.
 CULTIVATION OF TOMATO
The seeds must be sown at least 6 to 8 weeks before you plan to transplant them outside. For
example, if you plan to transplant the seedlings by early June, the seeds must be planted indoors
in mid-April. Once your tomato seedlings are five to six inches in length, it’s time to take them
out of their small indoor pot to deeper and spacious pots or your home garden outdoors that
receives 6 to 8 hours of good sunlight. This is also called hardening off the plant. Follow these
steps to easily transplant young tomato seedlings outside.

● A good tip to remember to decide on transplanting is to wait until the seedlings are three times
the length of the pot.

● Start with large clean pots. Mix together a well-draining type of soil and compost(if available).
Choose the healthiest plants to transplant outdoors. Pinch off the lowest branches of the plant to
promote healthier tomato plant with a healthy stem with a few branches at the top.

● Begin by gently loosening the root area of the young plants and lift them with some soil at the
roots. Do not pull the plants off the stems.

● Place the tomato seedling inside the new container filled with potting soil and cover with soil
leaving some part of the stem outside. To grow stronger tomato plants and bigger tomatoes, bury
two-third of the plant inside the soil while transplanting
CULTIVATION OF BRINJAL
Brinjal grow in full sunlight and hence the soil can dry out very fast. So mulch you pot heavily to
avoid evaporation. Keep the soil moist all the time and never let it dry out. in harsh summers a
fully grown plant can get water stressed. Just like Tomatoes suckers sprout in a brinjal plant too.
Suckers are sprouts that develop between the main stalk and a leaf node. If left on the plant it
affects the yield and overall health of the plant. So check for suckers and remove them using hand
shears regularly. It is a good idea also to remove all leaves that become old and start touching the
soil. You can also prune the leaves that point towards the stem of the plant. Such leaves block
sunlight to other leaves and also prevent airflow. Use Amrut Jal or any other organic liquid soil
conditioner/fertilizer every 10-15 days.
During flowering increase the frequency and use it once every 7 days. When you grow
Brinjal in containers you need to make sure your plant gets enough nutrients at all times. Do not
forget to add extra compost to your pot at regular intervals. Adding about 3-4 liters of compost for
each plant every 40-50 days will keep the plant healthy. Always add compost below the mulch
layer.Aphids and Mealybugs are the major pests that you have to face when you grow brinjal in
containers or on the ground.
CULTIVATION OF BIRD EYE CHILLY

Best time to start preparing saplings is by end of March.

* – Pick some fully ripe red chilies
* – Place the chilies in an envelope or between newspaper and rub it well so that all the seeds are
separated from the flesh. Now collect all the seeds in a shallow container and pour some hot
water(Not boiling water, but should be considerably hot) Rub the seeds well keeping them in
the hot water. (Please wear a gloves or cover your hands with coconut oil to avoid burning
sensation in hand, Its becomes unbearable for 2 or 3 days on a stretch if not taken care. Don’t
dare to touch the hand on extreme parts of your body. Oil dissolves capsaicin attached to your
skin, repeat oil application and wash with soap for several times.
This will ease the pain but not immediately cure).
* – Seeds that are floating on the water discard them as they are hollow and will not germinate.
* – Now repeat the process with some fresh hot water and clean all the outer membrane on the
seeds(In nature this process happens inside birds intestine, here we are trying to replicate the
same).
* – Take the seeds out of water and add some ash from burned leaves(Mango leaf ash is ideal)
into the seeds mix well and let it dry overnight.
* – Seeds are ready to be planted in sowing beds or planting location. (Above mentioned process
has more than 90 percent germination of seeds. However not all sapling may establish them self
and fruit well).
CHAPTER 3

PHOTOS
TOMATO
BEANS

BRINJAL
BIRD EYE CHILLY
 CHAPTER 4

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. Organic agriculture promotes the health of consumers of a
nation, the ecological health of a nation, and the economic growth of a nation by income
generation holistically. India, at present, is the world’s largest organic producers and with this
vision, we can conclude that encouraging organic farming in India can build a nutritionally,
ecologically, and economically healthy nation in near future.

Thank you