SEMESTER V – PROJECT REPORT
MASSIVE ONLINE OPEN COURSE (MOOC)
IN
ORGANIC FARMING
SUBMITTED TO
MAHATMA GANDHI UNIVERSITY
KOTTAYAM
By
Name of student: Fathima Shireen
Register number: SB21FRE009
Name of the programme: BA French Language and Literature
Department: French
ST. TERESAS COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), ERNAKULAM,
KERALA, INDIA
2023
CONTENT
Abstract
1. Organic Farming
2. Materials and Methods
Location of college and student
Crops selected
Source of seed and seedlings
Area cultivated/Number of grow bags
Crop seasons
Weather conditions
Agricultural implements and equipment used
3. Manure
Liming materials and Quality
Basal application
Top dressing
Bio fertilisers
Bio slurries
Bio pesticides
Bio control agents
Any other inputs used
Crop management
Land preparation/potting mixture preparation
Liming
Basal manuring
Grow bag filling
Seeding/Planting
Pest management
Disease management
Water management
Harvest
4. Observation and Data Collection
5. Photos
Grow bag preparation
Manure
Flowering stage
Fruiting stage
Harvest stage
6. Cost benefit analysis
7. Conclusion
ABSTRACT
Organic farming is recognised as a crop production method that, by fusing
tradition, innovation, and enhanced farm technology, can maintain the
health of soils, ecosystems, and people. Untreated seed, bio manures and
biofertilizers, biopesticides, manure compost/vermicompost, and crop
diversity are major elements that farmers typically adopt. Additionally,
organic farming safeguards the environment and has a bigger
socioeconomic impact on a country. India is a nation endowed with native
abilities and growing potential for organic agriculture. India, which for a
variety of reasons lagged behind other countries in adopting organic
farming, is now one of the world's top producers of organic food, thanks
to its tremendous rise in organic agriculture. Consequently, organic
farming has a significant impact on a country's health.
CHAPTER 1
ORGANIC FARMING
Organic farming is a sustainable agricultural system that uses ecologically
based pest controls and biological fertilizers derived largely from animal
and plant wastes and nitrogen.
Organic farming is more labor intensive. Hence, it generates more
employment.
It is a system that begins to consider potential environmental and social
impacts by eliminating the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic
fertilizers and pesticides, veterinary dugs, genetically modified seeds and
breeds, preservatives, additives and irradiation.
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.
It states that it is an agricultural technique which sustains, improves and
maintains the standard of quality of our ecosystem.
It is a mode of farming where the production of crops is done without using
any synthetic chemicals, recycled inorganic fertilisers, other harmful
substances such as pesticides, insect repellents, etc.
CHAPTER 2
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Location of college & Student
St Teresa’s College, Park Avenue, Marine Drive, Ernakulam, Kerala
Crops Selected
Varieties
1. Tomatoes
2. Green chilli
3. Tapioca
4. Brinjal
5. Papaya
Source of Seed and Seedings
Get organic seeds from Krishi bhavan which is near by me and my
neighbourhood. Check the label on the seeds to make sure it says
organic.
Area Cultivated/Number of grow bags
In grow bags and nearby places
Crop Season
India has three major cropping seasons in a year:
. Kharif - June – early days of November
. Rabi - November - March
. Zaid – March - June
a. Tomato - Kharif, Rabi and Zaid
b. Tapioca - Kharif
c. Green chilli - Kharif and Rabi
d. Brinjal - Kharif
e. Papaya – Kharif, Rabi and Zaid
Weather Conditions
a) Tomato: 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. It requires a low to medium rainfall.
b) Tapioca: Tapioca grows and produces best under warm humid tropical
conditions where rainfall is well distributed and fairly abundant. It can
also be grown under irrigation where rainfall is low.
c) Green chilli: Chillies grow best in warm and humid conditions. The ideal
temperature for growing green chilly is somewhere between 22-25°C.
d) 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. The growth of
the crop is severely affected when temperature falls below 17 oC.
e) Papaya: The plant grows well in sandy loam soil. Papaya grows well in
sun, warm & humid climate.
Agricultural implements and equipment used
Hand trowel, spade, garden hose, pruning shears
CHAPTER -3
MANURE
Manure is an organic fertilizer made from the dung of domestic livestock
including horses, cows, and poultry. It may also contain urine and bedding
material like straw or sawdust. Manure is an environmentally valuable
resource because it contains nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium.
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 is cost-effective. The human and animal excreta is also used as
manure. Manure is highly rich in organic matter and humus and thus
improves the soil fertility.
TYPES OF MANURES
1. Farmyard Manure
2. Green Manure
3. Fish Emulsion
4. Compost Manure
5. Bone Meal
Liming materials and Quantity
A liming material can bring the pH of a soil to optimum levels for crop
production if used properly. Liming materials also provide calcium (Ca)
and/or magnesium (Mg) to the soil for plant uptake. The number of
liming materials needed to reach a target soil PH depends on the soil’s
current pH and the soils buffer Ph. Not all liming materials are of equal
quality. A liming materials effectiveness is based on the calcium
carbonate equivalent and the particle size of the material.
Basal application
Basal application is a type of fertilizer application in which nutrients are
applied to the base or roots of a plant. This method is used to encourage
growth and improve the health of the plant. It is applied to the roots of
crops at the start of the growing season. The application of chemical
fertilizers is a common practice in India in order to supply the necessary
nutrients for plant growth. The purpose of basal dressing is to provide
the plant with the nutrients it needs to grow properly. This is typically
done one day before sowing or planting and mixed or drilled in the soil.
Top dressing of fertilizer, particularly nitrogenous fertilizers is done 15 to
21 days after sowing/planting.
Top Dressing
During the growing season, farmers often apply fertilizers to crops to
enhance plant nutrition and increase yields. Fertilizers are typically added
to the soil to allow the roots to absorb the essential nutrients.
Bio Fertilizers
Biofertilizers are products that contain micro-organisms essential for soil
fertility and plant growth when added to the soil. And also, when it is
added to the soil increase its fertility and promotes plant growth.
Biofertilizers supply nutrients to plants through natural processes such
as nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and the creation of
growth-promoting chemicals. They help restore the soil's natural nutrient
cycle and increase soil organic matter.
Types of biofertilizers like:
Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
A Loose Association of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
Symbiotic Nitrogen-Fixing Cyanobacteria
Free-Living Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria
Bio Slurries
Bio-Slurry is an organic fungicide that fights against any disease-causing
organisms for plants. It replaces some synthetic pesticides against
pests/disease. It improves soil’s fertility, structure, crop
productivity making it an excellent fertilizer
It is a simple and affordable energy supply which is uncomplicated to
handle and easy to maintain. Indeed, it is the cheapest option so far for
clean energy provision to rural households.
Bio Pesticides
Biopesticides, also known as biological pesticides, are chemicals made
from natural organisms or substances used to control or suppress
agricultural pests, weeds, and disease-causing agents by specific
biological effects.
Bio Control Agents
Control pests, insects, and other pathogens using their natural,
biological enemies is called biocontrol or biological control. The agents
used for this are called biocontrol agents. Germs are one of them. The
organisms or microbes that suppress the plant pathogen are known as
biocontrol agents. They are essential in controlling insect populations
and protecting the crop from numerous diseases such crown gall, root
rot, leaf wilt, and curling disease. In the soil, they spread quickly and
leave no lasting issues. One of the finest biocontrol agents, for instance,
is Bacillus Thuringiensis because when people spray it on plants, the
fluid fills the plant's spores and kills caterpillars. It is a natural way to
manage insects, weeds, pests, and other living things that hinder
growth. It is applied to raise crop productivity and yield.
Any Other inputs used
No other input was used.
Crop Management
Land Preparation/ potting mixture preparation
Land preparation is a very important practice to enhance good yield from
crops grown. It is one of the methods used to control crop diseases and
pest invasion. The purpose is to provide the best soil conditions which
will enhance the successful growth of the plant. This is also known as
tillage practice. It is a mechanism to manipulate the soil to take
favourable conditions for the crop.
Liming
Liming is the application of calcium and magnesium rich materials in
various forms, including marl, chalk, limestone, burnt lime or
hydrated lime to soil. The products have low solubility in water and only
effectively dissolve in acidic conditions.
Liming is the most common and effective practice to reduce soil acidity.
The amount of lime to apply will depend on the specific pH, texture and
cation exchange capacity or basic saturation of the soil
Basal Manuring
It means applying manure or fertilizers to the soil before sowing the
seed. This is done so that the plants get sufficient amount of nutrients
from the soil during their growth.
Grow bag filling
➢ Combine loose soil, wood ash, and goat manure in a ratio of 2:1:1.
Thoroughly mix this blend as it forms the foundation for your grow
bag.
➢ Select a grow bag with 3-4 existing holes, or create holes if none
are present. Allocate 1/4 of the bag's volume for dried leaves.
➢ Fill the grow bag with the mixture of soil, goat manure, and wood
ash, filling it up to about 3/4 of its capacity.
➢ Plant 2-3 seeds of your preferred vegetables within the bag.
➢ Gently water the contents by evenly distributing water across the
surface. Place the bag in the shade for 2-3 days, after which it
should receive direct sunlight.
➢ As the seeds begin to sprout and the soil compresses, you may
notice a reduction in soil level. In response, mix the topsoil and
incorporate a small amount of the initial mixture to replenish it.
➢ Goat manure possesses a neutral odour and offers significant
benefits to garden soil. It contains ample nutrients necessary for
optimal plant growth, especially when obtained from well-
maintained goat bedding. This manure also retains a higher nitrogen
content, thus enhancing its fertilizing effectiveness.
➢ Wood ash provides valuable nutrients and raises the pH level in the
soil, making it suitable for plant growth. When combined with goat
manure, it enhances the fertility of your garden soil, supporting
optimal plant development.
Seeding /Planting
Seeds are the keystone of agriculture. Seeding means the sowing of
seed and placement of seedlings to produce farm or forest crops. Every
vegetable has its individual set of instructions. You will find the essential
sowing guidelines on the seed packs, and for seedlings, or the nursery
can advise on the planting process.
Direct seeding means planting at the crop area with the use of seeds
while transplanting is planting with the use of pre-grown seedlings or
plants that had been propagated from seeds.
Pest Management
Pest management in organic farming is achieved by using appropriate
cropping techniques, biological control, and natural pesticides. In
agriculture, pests are controlled by mechanical, cultural, chemical, and
biological methods. Pest management is a system of integrated
preventative and corrective techniques to decrease or prevent pests
from causing major harm to humans or the environment. Crop rotation
and soil preparation prior to planting serve to lessen the pest burden and
prevent the emergence of some pest species.
Disease Management
In agriculture, disease management is the practice of minimising disease
in crops to increase quantity or quality of harvest yield. Organisms that
cause infectious disease in crops include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria,
viruses, viroid, virus-like organisms, phytoplasmas, protozoa, nematodes
and parasitic plants.
The disease management in organic farming are primarily dependent on
preventive measures rather than curative practices which are based on
the ecologically safer management methods.
Water Management
Water management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and
managing the optimum use of water resources. In agricultural water
management seeks to use water in a way that provides crops and
animals the amount of water they need, enhances productivity, and
conserves natural resources for the benefit of downstream users and
ecosystem services. First of all, for the proper irrigation guarantees the
production and development of a good yield by providing the required
amount of water for plants to grow.
Harvest
Harvesting is the method of collecting a ripe crop from the fields. It is
carried out as soon as the plant attains average maturity concerning
the useful requirement of seed, rhizomes, bulbs, tubers, stems,
leaves, stalk or others with minimum losses. Most crops can be
harvested several times if only the part that is ready is harvested. It is
done by labour and with sickle but today mechanical harvesting is
used; machines such as combine harvesters are used.
CHAPTER 4:
OBSERVATIONS AND DATA
Crop Germination Percentage
Tomato They germinate in 5 – 10 days if given 100%
best condition
Tapioca Tapioca roots can be harvested after
six months, and the harvesting period 100%
can extend until they are sixteen
months old.
Green chilli They will germinate within first 6 – 8 100%
days.
Brinjal Brinjal seeds need to be planted 1cm
deep and spaced about 15 cm from
each other. Water regularly and the 100%
seeds generally germinate within 2 to
3 weeks.
Papaya Papaya seed will germinate after 7 - 100%
15 days.
CHAPTER 5:
PHOTOS
GROWBAG PREPARATION:
MANURE:
FLOWERING STAGE (Tomato, Tapioca, Green chilli, Brinjal,
Papaya):
FRUITING STAGE (Tomato, Tapioca, Green chilli, Brinjal, Papaya):
HARVEST STAGE (Tomato, Tapioca, Green chilli, Brinjal, Papaya):
CHAPTER 6 :
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
Overall, a cost-benefit analysis of organic farming would need to take into
account a range of factors, including the initial investment required to
transition to organic methods, ongoing costs of production, potential yields
and quality of organic crops, and the market demand for organic products.
Numerous potential financial advantages come with organic farming; however,
the magnitude of these advantages might vary based on geography, business
size, and market conditions. Comparing organic farming versus conventional
farming methods reveals that the former has a number of advantages for the
environment and human health.
CHAPTER 7:
CONCLUSION
Organic farming is an agricultural method that adheres to the principles of
sustainable development. It's an agricultural production management
method that does not utilize pesticides, chemical fertilizers, industrial
synthetic products, or genetically modified organisms.
