CHAPTER - 1

INTRODUCTION OF ORGANIC
FARMING.

Organic farming is a way of growing crops and

raising animals using natural methods. It avoids
chemicals like artificial fertilizers and pesticides.
Instead, it uses compost, natural fertilizers, crop
rotation, and biological pest control to keep the soil
and plants healthy.The goal of organic farming is to
produce safe and healthy food while protecting
nature. It helps keep the soil rich, reduces
pollution, and supports a balanced environment.
Many people choose organic farming because it is
better for health and the planet. As more people
want chemical-free food, organic farming is
becoming more popular around the world.

Advantages of Organic Farming

1. Healthier Food – Organic produce is free from
harmful chemicals, synthetic pesticides, and
artificial additives, making it safer and more
nutritious.

2. Environmental Protection – Reduces pollution,

conserves water, and maintains soil fertility by
avoiding synthetic chemicals.

3. Improves Soil Health – Enhances soil structure

and fertility through composting, crop rotation, and
natural fertilizers.

4. Promotes Biodiversity – Supports a variety of

plants, animals, and beneficial microorganisms,
creating a balanced ecosystem.

5. Reduces Water Contamination – Prevents

harmful chemicals from entering water sources,
keeping them clean and safe.

6. Saves Energy – Uses fewer fossil fuels

compared to conventional farming, reducing
carbon emissions.

7. Better for Farmers – Reduces exposure to toxic

chemicals, improving farmers' health and safety.
8. High Market Demand – Growing consumer
preference for organic food increases profit
opportunities for farmers.

9. Supports Sustainable Agriculture – Maintains

long-term soil productivity, ensuring food security
for future generations.

10. Encourages Eco-Friendly Practices –

Promotes natural farming methods, reducing the
environmental impact of agriculture.

Disadvantages of Organic Farming

1. Lower Yield – Organic farming often produces
less output compared to conventional farming,
making it less efficient for large-scale food
production.

2. Higher Cost – Organic farming requires more

labor and natural inputs, leading to higher
production costs. This makes organic food more
expensive for consumers.

3. Time-Consuming – Organic methods take

longer to improve soil fertility and control pests
compared to synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

4. Risk of Pests and Diseases – Without chemical

pesticides, organic farms may struggle with pest
infestations and crop diseases, reducing
productivity.

5. Limited Shelf Life – Organic produce lacks

preservatives, leading to shorter shelf life and
higher chances of spoilage.

6. Certification Challenges – Organic certification is

costly and time-consuming, making it difficult for
small farmers to enter the market.
7. Requires More Land – To match the yield of
conventional farming, organic farming may need
more land, which can lead to deforestation or
habitat loss.

8. Difficult Weed Control – Without chemical

herbicides, managing weeds becomes more
labor-intensive and expensive.

9. Market Limitations – Organic products may have

a smaller market and lower demand in some
regions, affecting sales and profitability.

10. Climate Sensitivity – Organic farming relies on

natural cycles, making it more vulnerable to
extreme weather conditions like droughts and
floods.

Difference between conventional

farming and organic farming.
1. Use of Chemicals

Conventional Farming: Uses synthetic fertilizers,

pesticides, and herbicides.

Organic Farming: Avoids synthetic chemicals,

using natural fertilizers like compost and manure.

2. Soil Health

Conventional Farming: Can harm soil health over

time due to chemical use.

Organic Farming: Focuses on maintaining healthy

soil through natural methods.

3. Pest Control

Conventional Farming: Uses chemical pesticides

to kill pests.

Organic Farming: Uses natural pest control

methods like insects, birds, and organic sprays.

4. GMO Use

Conventional Farming: Often uses genetically

modified organisms (GMOs) to increase yield.
Organic Farming: Prohibits the use of GMOs.

5. Impact on the Environment

Conventional Farming: Can cause pollution and

harm biodiversity.

Organic Farming: More eco-friendly, promotes

biodiversity, and reduces pollution.

6. Cost of Production

Conventional Farming: Generally cheaper and

produces more crops.

Organic Farming: More expensive due to natural

methods and lower yields.

7. Health Benefits

Conventional Farming: May contain chemical

residues in food.

Organic Farming: Free from synthetic chemicals,

making it healthier.

8. Certification
Conventional Farming: No special certification
needed.

Organic Farming: Needs certification to be labeled

as organic.

CHAPTER - 2

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Location of student :

Elimullumplackal PO,

KONNI.

Location of college :

KONNI
> CROPS SELECTED
1.Tomato

2. Lady finger

3. Chili

4. Brinjal

5. Ivy gourd

6. Bitter gourd
> VARIETIES
1.Tomato : Arka Abhijith, Abhinav, Namdhari,
Rashmi, Arka Vikas, and Pusa Ruby.

2. Lady finger : Kashi Lalima, Punjab

Padmini,Kashi Chaman and Sharda

3. Chilli : Byadagi, Kashmiri, Guntur, Kanthari,

Jwala, Boriya, and Mathania.

4.Brinjal : Pusa Purple Cluster, Arka Nidhi, Kashi

Uttam, Niranjan Bhata.

5. Ivy gourd : Arka Neelachal Kunkhi.

6. Bitter gourd :Arka Harit, Pusa Vishesh, Pusa Do

Mausami.

> SOURCE OF SEEDS

Seeds are collected from the Krishi Bhavan,
Thannithode
>NUMBER OF GROW BAGS
15 grow bags

>CROP SEASON
1.Tomato : Tomatoes love dry weather.The best
time to grown is from November to June.

2.Lady finger : The optimum time of seed sowing

varies,generally depending upon climate. Normally
the crop is Sown between January to March.

3.Chilli : The seeds are sown in March to April.

Well drained sandy loam soils are ideal for
growing.

4.Brinjal : A warm season crop. Planting can be

done in September to October.

5.Ivy gourd : The planting should be done before

rainy season (June to July) that is, in Spring
season February to March.

6.Bitter gourd : The ideal sowing times being

January to February.
>WEATHER CONDITION
PREVALIED
1.Tomato :

Tomato is a warm season crop. The best fruit

colour and quality is obtained at a temperature
range of 21-24°C. Temperatures above 32o C
adversely affects the fruit set and development.
The plants cannot withstand frost and high
humidity.

2.Lady finger :

Ladyfinger requires a warm climate throughout its

growing period because it cannot bear cold
climatic conditions. It requires a temperature range
of 22-35°c for its best growth. Seeds are unable to
germinate when the temperature is below 20°c.
The rainy season is essential for its successful
growth.

3.Chilli :

Chilli being a subtropical crop comes up well in

warm humid climate (20-30 oC) and can be grown
under varied agro-climatic condition.

4.Brinjal :
Brinjal is a warm season crop and requires a long
warm growing season. It is very susceptible to
frost. A daily mean temperature of 13-21 oC is
most favourable for its successful production.

5.Ivy groud :

Ivy gourd is a tropical crop that. grows successfully

in hot and humid climatic conditions. It can be
grown virtually. throughout the year.

6. Bitter gourd :

It is a warm season crop grown mainly in

sub-tropical and hot-arid regions. They are
susceptible to light frost and are provided with
partial protection if grown during winter months.
Temperature range of 24oc -27oC is considered as
optimum for the growth of the vines.

> AGRICULTURE IMPLEMENTS AND

EQUIPMENTS USED
Spade, shovel, fork, trowel
> LIMING MATERIALS AND QUALITY

Liming materials include agricultural lime (calcium

carbonate), dolomite (calcium and magnesium
carbonate), and wood ash, focusing on materials
with high purity and fine particle size for effective
soil pH adjustment.
> MANURES
In organic farming, essential manures include
farmyard manure (FYM), compost, poultry manure,
and green manures, which are used to improve soil
health, fertility, and nutrient availability for
crops.

the different types of manures used in organic

farming:

1.Farmyard Manure (FYM):

This is a common and important source of organic

matter, derived from animal waste, and is known to
improve soil structure and nutrient content.

2.Compost:

Composting organic waste, like plant matter and

food scraps, creates a nutrient-rich soil
amendment that improves soil fertility and
structure.

3.Poultry Manure:

Manure from poultry farms can be a good source

of nutrients when composted properly
4.Green Manures:

These are crops grown specifically to be

incorporated into the soil to improve its fertility and
structure, such as legumes or cover crops.

>BASAL APPLICATION
In organic farming, basal fertilizer application
involves applying nutrients, like compost or other
organic matter, directly to the soil near the base of
the crop before or during planting, ensuring easy
access for young plants.

Test carried out on different plants were organic

fertilizers as a control (T1), 3/4 fold of the control
treatment + compost (T2), 1/2 fold of the control
treatment + compost (T3), 1 ⁄ 4 fold of the control
treatment + compost (T4) and the compost alone
(T5).These were applied as basal application of
fertilizer in the experiment.
> TOP DRESSING
Top dressing refers to a process by which any
material from either natural or synthetic origin is
added to the soil to supply nutrients to a plant or
crop. The most basic definition of top dressing
says it is an application of manure or fertilizer to
the surface layer of soil.

> BIO FERTILIZERS

A biofertilizer is a natural substance that contains
living microorganisms. When applied to seeds,
plant surfaces, or soil, these microorganisms
promote plant growth by increasing the supply or
availability of essential nutrients. Unlike chemical
fertilizers, biofertilizers are eco-friendly and help
improve soil fertility sustainably. Cow dung can be
effectively used as biofertilizers.cow dung,ash
powder, bone powder etc were the main
biofertilizers used.
> BIO SLURRY
Bio-slurry, also known as digestate, is the residue or
byproduct of anaerobic digestion, a process used
to convert organic materials like manure into
biogas. This slurry is a valuable organic fertilizer
rich in nutrients that can be used for crop
production and aquaculture.

> BIO PESTICIDES

Biopesticides are naturally occurring compounds
or agents that are obtained from animals, plants,
and microorganisms such as bacteria,
cyanobacteria, and microalgae and are used to
control agricultural pests and pathogens.

> BIO CONTROL AGENTS

Biological control is an environmentally sound which

involves the use of beneficial microorganism to
control plant pathogens and diseases they
cause. This is an environmental friendly approach
for effectively management of plant diseases.
>ANY OTHER INPUTS USED

Nothing.

>CROP MANAGEMENT
•PREPARATION OF SOIL

The soil is loosened and titled before the seeds

are sown. Ploughs are used for this purpose. If
the soil containing big lumps they are brokened
with the help of hoe. By doing this the nutrients
and minerals properly mixed with the soil. Thus
the fertility of the soil
increases and is ready for plantation.

•SOWING OF SEEDS

The good quality, infection free seeds are

collected and sown to the prepared growbags and
lands. The seeds should be sown at proper depth
and distance.The traditional
techniques,broadcasting, dribbling, drilling, seed
dropping behind thr plough,transplanting are the
various methods.

•ADDITION OF MANURES AND FERTILIZERS

We add manures and fertilizers to the soil to

replenish nutrients depleted by crops, improve soil
structure and water-holding capacity, and
ultimately enhance crop yields and overall soil
health.
•PROTECTION FROM WEEDS

To protect crops and gardens from weeds,

employ a combination of preventative measures
like using weed-free seeds and clean tools, and
proactive weed control methods such as hand
weeding, mulching, and, if necessary, using
herbicides, while also considering crop rotation
and herbicide resistance management.

•STORAGE OF SEEDS

The seeds should be properly store if they are to

be kept for longer period they should be protected
from pest and moisture.

•LIMING

Liming in agriculture is the process of adding

calcium- and magnesium-rich materials to soil to
reduce acidity. This process is also known as
agricultural liming, aglime, or garden lime. Liming
can improve plant growth and increase the activity
of soil bacteria. It can also improve fertilizer
efficiency by up to 50%. However, too much lime
can harm plant life.
• BASAL MANURING

Basal Manuring is a means through which

manure is added to the soil. Manure contains
nutrients that are needed for crop growth. To
increase soil fertility, manure is added to the soil
before sowing. This is because the manure must
get properly incorporated and mixed into the soil.

• GROW BAG FILLING

Before filling the grow bag make small holes

under the grow bag for water transfer. Mix 20%
coconut husk 30% cow dung 10% and with 40%
soil.To this mixture add Neem cake powder. Fill
this mixture to the ¾ parts of the grow bag. Place
the grow bag under shade for 3 to 5 a days and
later it kept under sufficient sunlight and do not
over water the back.

•SEEDING OR PLANTING
 Sowing is the act of tossing seeds in a controlled
manner onto the soil in order to initiate their
sprouting into baby plants. Planting is the act of
taking a plant already established with roots, stem,
and leaves, digging a hole, placing its roots into the
hole, and filling the hole back in with soil.

Take the plants out of their pots and remove

excess soil from the roots. If we are plotting
multiple seedlings, tease the root ball apart with
your finger and plant them separately into their own
grow bags. Seedlings should be planted with their
roots in the center of the growbag not against the
sides. This help the young plant support
themselves upright as they grow tall.

Lossen the roots and bare about two of them at the

bottom of the pot. Put this into your grow bags, and
covet the rest of the exposed root ball with soil. If
you are plotting multiple plants try the
position them to face all the same direction.

• DISEASES AND PEST MANAGEMENT

 Organic farming uses natural methods to manage
pests and diseases, such as crop rotation,
biological control, and natural pesticides. The goal is
to prevent outbreaks rather than treating them after
they occur.

Prevention :

Plant healthy soils: Healthy soils help plants be

more resilient and recover from pest damage.
Plant resistant cultivars: Choose plants that are
resistant to common pests in your area.
Understand pest lifecycles: This can help you
identify pests early and develop effective
management strategies.

Monitoring:

Use traps: Light traps and sex pheromone

traps can help you monitor pest activity.
Look for signs of damage: Identify pest
damage early in the growing season.

Control:
 Use biological control: Encourage natural
enemies of pests.
Use natural pesticides: Use botanical and
microbial pesticides, which are derived from
plants or animals.
Use cultural practices: Use mulching, flaming,
and mechanic cultivation to control weeds.
Use other methods: Try hand picking,
destroying egg masses, or using poison bait
pellets.

•WATER MANAGEMENT

Water management in organic farming involves

using efficient irrigation techniques, harvesting
rainwater, and reducing evaporation. The goal is to
use water more wisely and sustainably. The role of
water management in organic farming.It
provides in depth techniques on how to keep water
in the soil ranging from keeping soil moisture to
evaporation reduction and how to make better use
of seasonal rainfall.

• 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.

CHAPTER - 3

OBSERVATION AND DATA

COLLECTION

•Germination / plant stand establishment percent

Tomato : Took 5-7 days for germination

Lady finger: Took 3 days for germination

Chilli : Took 4-5 days for germination

Brinjal : Took 5 days for germination

Ivy gourd : Took 8-10 days for germination

Bitter gourd : Took 4-5 days for germination