Integrated nutrient and pest management in Organic Agriculture

Presented by:

Shubhendu DashAVP-ACCESS Development Services

Effect of chemical fertilizers on soil

Before chemical fertilizers After applying chemical fertilizers

Cementing effectLiving soil Dead soil

Soil particles

Beneficial microbes

Salts

An-aerobic microbes/ pathogens

Modern crop production techniques

• Output

• Cost

• Incidences of pest attack

• Health hazards

Farmer tends to enter into the vicious cycle of credit and debt and finds it difficult to come out of it.

Organic Farming techniques

• Emphasis on integrated nutrient recycling and management

• Integrated pest management • Pro-biotic approach to tackle all pest/disease

problems• Living soil• Crop rotation, inter cropping and GAP

Chemical input Vs Organic farmingChemical inputs oriented Farming Organic Farming

Complex and difficult to manage If dose of input becomes higher, the

crop gets burnt or damaged Very difficult to learn and apply on

field The nutrients remain available for

very less time The base of chemical farming is

Chemistry and macro nutrient management

Higher incidences of pest disease attack as the plant sap gets diluted and the plant becomes more vulnerable.

Management is very simple No loss or adverse effect if input is

applied at a higher rate Very easy process and an un skilled

man can also learn The soil works as a bank for organic

inputs and releases it slowly as per the requirement of plants

The base of Sustainable farming is biology, macro and micro nutrients

No such dilution effect of plant sap. The plant thus shows higher resistance to pest/disease attack.

Common complaints/myths about Organic farming

• Loss of Productivity:• Poor control on Pest & Disease issues:

If planned properly

• Vermicompost• Pit compost• EM compost• Herbal compost

How to address loss of productivity1. Use of compost for soil fertility management

How to address loss of productivity1. Use of compost for soil fertility management

Difference between compost and chemical fertilizers:

Criteria Chemical Fertilizers Good quality CompostMacro nutrient contents

Only one or two nutrients in any one type of chemical fertilizer

Contains all i.e. N, P & K in sufficient quantities

Secondary nutrient Apply separately Has Ca, Mg & S i in required quantitiesMicro nutrient contents

Apply separately Have Zn, B, Mn, Fe, Cu, Mo and Cl

pH balancing Disturb soil pH to create salinity and alkalinity conditions

Control of soil pH and checks the salinity and alkalinity in soil

EC correction Creates imbalance in soil EC affecting nutrients assimilation

Helps in balancing the EC to improve plant nutrient adsorption

Organic carbon Not available Very high organic carbon and humus contents improves soil characteristics

Moisture retention capacity

Reduces moisture retention capacity of the soil

Increases moistures retention capacity of the soil

Soil Texture Damages soil texture to reduce aeration

Improves soil texture for better aeration

Beneficial bacteria & fungi

Reduces biological activities and thus the fertility is impaired

Very high biological life improves the soil fertility and productivity on sustainable basis

Plant growth hormones

Not available Sufficient quantity helps in better growth and production

The microorganisms in Bio-fertilizers restore the soil's natural nutrient cycle and build soil Organic matter.

How to address loss of productivity2. Use of Bio-fertilizers

Name of Biofertilizer Advantages Rate of application Used in crops likeRhizobium Nitrogen fixation Seed treatment –

200 to 300 gm/acreLeguminous crops

Azotobacter Nitrogen fixation 500 gm/acre Wheat, Maize, Mustard, Cotton, Potato and other vegetable crops.

Azospirillum Nitrogen fixation 500-1000 gm/acre Sorghum, Millets, Maize, Sugarcane and Wheat.

Blue Green Algae (BGA)

Nitrogen fixation 1-1.5 kg/acre Paddy

PSBPantoea agglomerans strain P5, and Pseudomonas putida strain P13

Solubilize the insoluble phosphate from organic and in organic phosphate source

500 gm/acre All crops

Mychorhiza Gets attached to the roots symbiotically and helps in increased nutrient uptake

2-3 kg / acre Mostly horticulture crops

How to address loss of productivity3. Use of Natural minerals

Name of mineral

Advantage Rate of application

Rock Phosphate

Contains Phosphorous in natural form and has 20-30% of P2O5

Mixed with compost @

Wood ash Contains 5-7% K , 1-2% P and 25-50% Ca

Mixed with compost @ for better result

Coal dust Increases C/N ratio of compost and soil and helps in buildup of organic matter

Mixed with compost @ for better result

Gypsum Used to buffer pH in Alkaline soil 1-1.5 ton/acreDolomite Used to buffer pH in acidic soil 1-1.5 ton/acre

How to address loss of productivity4. Use of foliar fertility management solutions

• Nutrients provided through soil is released slowly and may not suffice the requirement of plants during various stages of extra growth like branching, flowering and fruiting.

• Some common inputs/ingredients viz. cow dung, cow urine, gram flour, jaggery and water can prepare very good nutrients for foliar fertility management. Also sea weed extract.

• 50 % of pest problems can be solved by good soil fertility management.

• Crop rotation/ intercropping/ trap cropping etc. can reduce 25% of pest problems.

• Rest of 25 % problems can be solved by natural pest control techniques.

• It has been noted that, most of the farmers apply semi decomposed organic matter/ animal dung in the soil. This actually helps growth of soil pests. Soil related diseases can be treated very effectively by preparing good compost.

• Care should be taken that the compost applied on the soil should always be fully decomposed.

Tackling pest and disease issues Integrated Pest & Disease Management

Integrated Pest & Disease ManagementOn farm inputs for pest management

Name of plant Sucking Chewing Soil born diseasesNeem * * *Datura Indica * * *Artemisia * * *Papaya *Casuarinas *Turmeric *Aloe vera *Onion * *Garlic * *BougainvilleaTulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum)

* *

Chrysanthemum * *Marigold * *Eucalyptus * *Tea leaf oil *Drumstick *

Integrated Pest & Disease ManagementBio control agents

• Parasitic Insects like Trichogama chilonis• Predatory Insects like Lady bird Beetle• Bacteria: Bacillus Thüringensis have specific

activities against insect species of the orders Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Diptera (flies and mosquitoes), Coleoptera (beetles), hymenoptera (wasps, bees, ants and sawflies) and nematodes.

• Fungi: Viz. Trichoderma viridie, Bauveria basiana

• Viruses: N.P.V. (Nuclear polyhedrosis virus): moths and butterflies

Integrated Pest & Disease ManagementBio control agents

• Pheromone traps• Light Trap• Yellow trap• Mulching

Integrated Pest & Disease ManagementMechanical control methods

• Crop Rotation• Inter-cropping• Mixed cropping• Deep ploughing in summer

Integrated Pest & Disease ManagementCultural control methods