The natural balance of the environment is preserved and improved by organic farming. Organic farming, which also preserves soil fertility and fosters ecological harmony, consumers can produce food free of toxic substances. Commercial organic agriculture has a strict quality certification system, despite being a relatively new market-controlled, consumerconcentric agriculture system globally. Organic food is becoming more and more well liked in the region. India’s domestic market is expanding, which will lead to stronger growth. The advantages of organic farming are numerous, and they apply to developed and developing nations like India with environmental protection, biodiversity enhancement and reduced energy use. This book, organic farming principles and practices, will be very helpful for farmers who want to produce quality products and get better financial returns as well as students at the undergraduate and graduate levels who are taking competitive exams. In addition, this book will aid in the development of organic farming by teachers, scientists, and extension personnel. This book contains end to end details of organic farming with 17 chapters include overview, status, scope and importance, concept and principles, sources of plant nutrients, crop production, weed management, pest management, seed production, soil fertility, ITK, technologies, certification, schemes in India, marketing, extension approaches to promote organic farming and success stories. Each chapter is brief, latest and comprehensive fully fledged with respective to scientific and applied information. It is hoped that the book will serve a good guide and book source for those interested in organic farming. This book is having more scope for preparing, JRF, SRF, NET based examination
Dr. R. SATHYA PRIYA, Ph.D., as Research Associate in the DepartmentofAgronomy,TNAU,Coimbatore. She receivedM.Sc. (Ag),Ph.D.degree inthe fieldofAgronomyinTNAU, Coimbatore. She got International Fellowship Award (2006) in “Promotion of Sustainable Agriculture for Dryland Farmers” sponsoredby FAO, Student Senior Research Fellow Award (2009) under her Ph.D. Programme, Junior Scientist of the Year Award (2012) by NESA, New Delhi, Young Achiever Award (2014) given by SADHNA, Solan & Dr. Radhakrishnan Gold Medal Award (2015) by Global Economic Progress and Research Association, New Delhi. Recently, she has received an award of Best Research Paper Award (2017) by (TECHSEAR), Hyderabad and Best Research Article Award (2022) by Agriculture and Food: e-Newsletter Magazine, West Bengal & Best Poster Presentation Award (2014) in conference organized by Society for Scientific DevelopmentinAgriculture andTechnology,Meerut. She haspublished 25 International & 20 Nationalresearch articles in referred professional journals, 21 extended summary offull papers, 15 abstracts in various seminar/conferences, 28 popular articles, 22 book chapters in English and Tamil & 5 books with ISBN. Besides she has been attended 8 International and 22 National seminar/ conferences and 5 training in various parts of Tamil Nadu. Research outcome of her Ph.D. thesis findings was recommended for general adoption in farmer’s field & included as recommendation in the Crop Production Guide (2012). Developedaprofitable herbicidal weedmanagementtechnology ofpre-emergence oxyfluorfen (23.5% EC) at 200 g/ha forirrigated groundnut.
Dr. N. JAGATHJOTHI, Ph.D., as Senior Research Fellow in the Directorate of Agribusiness Development, TNAU, Coimbatore. She has obtained her Doctorate (Ph.D.) in the field of Agronomy with Student Fellowship sponsored by TALCO-DINTEC, Dindigul. She has achieved a “University Gold Medal” for The best Outstanding Ph.D. student of the University. Besides “The Best Thesis Award in Agronomy” for my outstanding Doctoral Research and “The Best Ph.D. Studentin Agronomy” for auspices of Department of Agronomy, TNAU, Coimbatore and obtained “The Best Researcher Award” by Indian Academic Researchers Association, “Young Scientist Award” by Genesis Urban and Rural Development Society forthe excellent contribution in the field of Agronomy. She has published as many as Sixteen Research Articles and three review articles in National and International Journals of repute. She actively participated in twenty five International and National Seminars, Conference and presentedscholarlypapers and attendedtwo trainingprogramme on nutrient management & SRI.
Dr. M. YUVARAJ, Ph.D., currently working as Teaching Assistant in Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Vazhavachanur, Tiruvannamalai. He has completed his undergraduate degree in Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College, Kalavai during the year 2005-2009 and he was awarded International Panacea Limited (IPL) Fellowship, New Delhi and also received Dr. T. Balakrishnan Gold medal for his Post-graduate degree in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at Agriculture College and Research Institute, Madurai during the year 2009-2011. He was awarded UGC-Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship (RGNF) for his research in Nanotechnology in the field of Smart Delivery System of Zinc in Rice for Doctoral research in the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during the year 2011-2014. Young Achiever Award (2022) given by SADHNA, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). He has worked nearly 4 years as an Assistant Professorin Adhiparasakthi Agricultural College, Kalavai, Vellore at that time. He got Best Teacher award during the year 2018. He has published 13 International and 15 Nationalresearch articles, 27 Book chapters, 4 Undergraduate books 6 Review articles, and 40 Popular articles. Besides, he serves as a reviewer in 27 Journals and Editor in 8 journals national and international repute.
Dr. N.SUGANTHI,Ph.D., has completedherPost-Doctoral(PDF) in the Department of Agricultural Extension at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during the year 2022. The Fellowship was sponsored by University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi. She has worked as a Senior Research Fellow and Research Associate at the Directorate of Centre for Agriculture and Rural Development Studies (CARDS) and Directorate of Extension Education respectively at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. She has published several research articles and popular articles in reputed national and international journals. She has participated in several national and international conferences and presented papers too. She has availed TNAU merit scholarship for pursing her Ph.D.degree program. She has received the Best DoctoralDissertationAward in the field of Agrl. Extension during the National conference on “Reinvigorating Agricultural Innovations for Farmers’ Empowerment and Development”, RAINFED-2015, organizedby GKV, society, Agra. She has bagged the best poster award in the same conference. She has received the Extension Scientist Award in the Third International Level Conference on Global Initiative in Agricultural, Forestry and Allied Sciences for Food Security, Environmental Safety and Sustainable Development (GIAFAS-2021) at Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Uttarakhand.
1. Overview of Organic Agriculture .......................................... 1
2. Status of Organic Farming..................................................... 19
3. Scope and Importance of Organic Farming ........................ 39
4. Concept and Principles of Organic Farming ...................... 47
5. Organic Sources of Plant Nutrients ..................................... 57
6. Organic Crop Production ...................................................... 67
7. Organic Weed Management ................................................. 87
8. Organic Pest Management .................................................. 105
9. Organic Seed Production .................................................... 119
10. Soil Fertility in Organic Farming Systems ........................ 127
11. ITK in Organic Farming....................................................... 141
12. Organic Agriculture Technologies .................................... 161
13. Organic Certification ............................................................ 183
14. Schemes on Organic Agriculture Promotion in India..... 197
15. Marketing of Organic Products .......................................... 211
16. Extension Approaches to Promote Organic Farming ..... 227
17. Success Stories of Organic Farming Technologies .......... 231
