Organic Agriculture

In recent days most agricultural professionals recommend ancient methods of agriculture to have a healthy lifestyle. Organic agriculture has become an unavoidable need of the day to preserve soil fertility and essential microbes that help plant growth. Most agricultural land is infertile due to excess use of chemical fertilizers. This has made a big impact in yield and nutrition facts which are supposed to be in the food. 

It is essential to make sure the agricultural land is fertile enough for microorganisms to survive. Organic agriculture along with modern scientific approach is the best way for any agricultural land to be fertile. This helps to regain the originality of the end products including taste, colour and nutrition facts in Vegetables, fruits, pulses, greens etc.

Land development for Organic agriculture 

Increase Carbon Load

Increasing the carbon load helps in improving the soil biota. The carbon present in soil provides resistance to plants from physical degradation, increases microbial activity, and availability of water to plants. Carbon content also reduces soil erosion. Increasing the carbon content is advisable for better yields and stronger crops. Carbon content can be increased by strategic planting of certain crops, by adding Organic fertilizers, by reducing burning of stubble, and by decreasing soil erosion. The soil carbon content also depends upon the soil type, climatic conditions, temperature and crops grown earlier. 

At Golden Era, we provide thorough reports on the health of the soil, water and other factors to maximize the land profitability. Land preparation is carried out in a planned manner considering the soil quality, water available, climatic conditions and crops to be planted. We give recommendations to help you get the best use of the land in a completely eco-friendly manner. 

Soil testing and preparation

Soil is the lifeline of farming. Good nutrient rich soil can multiply the yield by 10 times. Since plants absorb maximum nutrients from the soil, it is important to loosen up the soil and treat it properly for healthy, strong and beautiful crops. The quality of produce is directly related to the fertility of soil. Thus, it is crucial to dedicate adequate efforts in the preparation of soil before plantation. When it comes to organic agriculture we also make sure to load the soil with essential minerals that help plant growth.

Soil, in its best form, has good water holding capacity, has proper aeration, good consistency or texture, a balanced pH and is highly rich in both micro and macronutrients. No soil is perfect, however with natural and advanced technique, it can be made better. Soil preparation ensures that the land is ready for sowing. It involves checking the soil type, its humus content, availability of essential micro and macro nutrients for plants, water holding capacity of the soil and climatic conditions. 

The land preparation begins for autumn sowing after the standing crops are harvested, if present any, and continues until the next plantation is sown. Basic tillage helps get the soil to a standard level that is ideal for germination of seeds and plant growth. The seed bed preparation helps in early seed development, better germination and provides plant resistance to various conditions. It also improves the air circulation, and increases the nutrient availability. 

The whole process of soil preparation depends upon the soil and climatic conditions. As per the present conditions, it is crucial to have a plan for soil development, since for different crops, the requirements are different. 

Steps of Land Preparation

Soil is the basic necessity for a good crop yield. Soil can be prepared considering the following factors and steps:

Type of crops to be planted

Different crops need different soil conditions. The crop that grows well in sandy soil, will poorly yield if grown in clayey soil. For instance, if you want to grow a vegetable crop, then the soil must be clayey, moist and loose, so that the roots deepen themselves to get the most nutrients from the soil. Thus, it is necessary to identify the soil type and the crops to be planted. 

Quality of Soil

The present conditions of soil are mandatory to be taken into account. Too much clayey, or too much sandy soil will provide a sufficient base for plants. A mixture of soil is always better for farming, for which soils are chosen as per different parameters to yield a better produce. Before plantation, it is necessary to identify the soil, the deficiency and humus content.

Soil composition

Soil consists of rock particles, water, air, humus, living organisms, minerals and organic matter. The soil in different regions are composed differently, they have different amounts of all these components, and all of these are important for plant development. 

Water holding capacity

Since different soils are composed of varied particles, they have different porosity/water holding capacity. Sandy soil, having large soil particles, has significantly less water holding capacity as compared to clayey and loamy soil. Whereas, clayey soil has very high porosity/water holding capacity because of smaller soil particles. Loamy soil has a water holding capacity that falls between that of clayey and sandy soil. The water holding capacity of soil helps identify how much and how many times you need to water the plants. Good soil structure results in higher biological movement in the soil that allows water, oxygen, and microorganisms to accumulate well. 

Soil testing

Water testing

Water is life. Water plays a crucial role in the transportation of minerals in plants, thus it is of due importance to have good quality water in organic farming. The water quality test helps ensure choice of organic fertilizers and to minimise the risk of getting polluted water into the farms. Agricultural water testing is important considering the crop irrigation and livestock water resources. Toxicity, salinity and infiltration are major concerns regarding water in the agricultural farm. We need to make sure water is chemical free in order to get best results practicing organic agriculture. 

 

Crop recommendation

For high yields, crops are selected strategically in organic farming. The crop selection depends upon the quality of soil, water supply, climatic conditions and other factors, to get maximum benefit of the land. Organic farming techniques ensure the ethical usage of land without any use of harmful chemicals and methods. 

Understanding the soil is essential for Organic Agriculture:

Alluvial soil:

Alluvial soils are present particularly in the Northern region of India and comprises 35% of the total land. They are also called riverine soils as they are generally found around river basins. This soil is a mixture of clayey soil and loamy soil. It is significantly rich in organic matter i.e. it is full of humus but lacks nitrogen. They tend to drain water quickly, hence have lower water holding capacity.

Suitable crops for Alluvial soil:

Cotton, wheat, rice, bajra, black and green gram, soybean, groundnuts, sesame, jute, maize, oilseeds, vegetables, mustard, linseed, pigeon pea, chickpea, tobacco, pea. 

 Laterite soil:

Laterite soils are rich in iron, aluminium, titanium, but have low amounts of plant nutrients. These have low organic matter content. They are generally found in the Western and Eastern ghats, in India. 

Suitable crops for Laterite soil:

Rubber, coconut, cashew nuts, tea, cotton, coffee, wheat, rice and pulses. 

Arid soil:

Arid soils are sandy in nature and have less organic matter and moisture. These are saline due to the presence of high salt content. Arid soils are rich in sodium and carbonates but have lower nitrogen content. 

Suitable crops for Arid soil:

Wheat, corn, millet, cotton, pulses, barley and other saline-tolerant crops.

Desert soil: 

As the name suggests, these soils are composed of sandy soil and contain a good amount of nitrogen. Drought resistant crops such as barley and millet grow the best here. Other crops can be grown with the help of good irrigation facilities.

Suitable crops for Desert soil:

Millet, barley, ground nut, sorghum

We, at Golden Era carefully research for the best suited crops for your land as per the soil type, water availability, climatic conditions, and other factors. Suitable crops help you gain maximum benefits and also help keep the soil health intact. 

Buyback or Contractual farming

Most farmers and entrepreneurs need access to the best agricultural techniques and methods. We assist such farmers and entrepreneurs with all the necessary information regarding what to grow, when to grow and how to grow. 

Contractual farming refers to agricultural production carried on agreement between buyer and the farmers, by proper production and management of yielded crops. The product should meet the expectation of the buyer and thus be of superior quality. With contractual farming, we assist people with soil testing, crop recommendation as per the soil and climatic conditions, irrigation, nutrition management, pest management, plant disease management and proper selling of the crops. With help of the best agricultural practices farmers can multiply their yields.  

With the motto of organic farming, we provide complete solutions to farmers right from the cultivation to harvesting. Farmers can complete the sale with minimal costs, since they get market assured value for their produce without incurring marketing and transactional costs. It helps reduce risk of agricultural produce and cuts off marketing costs. Contractual farming offers a wide market for small farmers. 

Plant Nutrition Management in organic farming

The process of plant nutrition begins even before plantation through proper land development. The soil needs to have required macro and micronutrients as per the standard levels for improved plant growth. If plants lack essential nutrients, then the yield will be less and of poor health. As a farmer, one should be aware of common plant nutrient requirements, diseases, and pests. Knowing the symptoms of deficiency and excess of nutrients are necessary for proper management of crops. One should never experiment with fertilisers, sprays or supplements on crops without proper research and identification of crops. Using insecticides and pest repellents  loaded with harmful chemicals also degrades the quality of plants. Thus, it is advised to have a thorough analysis of the crops, soil type, and climatic conditions for proper plant nutrition management. 

Crop protection can be done by using resistant varieties of crops, crop rotation, organic pest repellents, manual pest catching method and other organic farming techniques. We apply the most suitable pest management techniques to help the crops prosper without any harm from the pests. It is made sure that helpful insects such as bees and butterflies stay healthy and remain in the field for pollination. The common pest management techniques involve:

Crop rotation

In Organic agriculture crop rotation plays a major role in regaining soil nutrition that supports healthy plant growth. Crop rotation involves growing different varieties of crops in a series. This prevents pests from getting familiar with the crops and hence reduces their presence. It not only develops pest resistance but weed resistance as well. For instance, many pathogens such as spores and sclerotia make home in host crops and destroy plant health. But, if we plant a non-host crop, the survival of these pathogens becomes difficult and hence, we can reduce the pests effectively. Crop rotation helps remove common roots and stem pests without the use of any inorganic pesticide. 

Intercropping

The simultaneous plantation of two or more crops in the same field is termed as intercropping. This creates a diversified environment for pests by the disruption of olfactory and visual host plants. It reduces host plant qualities in the crop, hence, pests do not attack.

Choosing resistant crops

There are certain varieties of crops that are genetically resistant to most pests. Marigold, mint, basil, thyme are some of the naturally pest resistant crops. 

Maintain field hygiene

Maintaining field hygiene is crucial for better development of crops. The improper treatment of animal manure, water for irrigation and sewage management can cause a growth in pests. Pests can contaminate the field through the machineries used, people visiting the farms and even by the farmer.

Organic pest repellents 

Pest management