At the end of the class, students will be able to answer the following questions: • What is organic agriculture? • Where do I go to get certification in organic agriculture? • How can I get more information about organic agriculture? What is organic? • The term " organic " is not synonymous to the terms " natural " or " eco-friendly. " • The label " natural " on foodstuff does not guarantee complete adherence to organic practices as defined by a law. • Produce food of high quality in sufficient quantity • Maintain biological diversity within the farming system • Maintain long-term soil fertility • Rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems • Minimize pollution and protect the environment What is allowed in organic crop production? • New varieties of crops and agricultural technologies • Crop rotations, cover crops and natural-based products that maintain soil fertility • Biological, cultural and physical methods to limit pest expansion and increase population of beneficial insects

英国有机农业（Organic farming）的新举措

The hill ecosystem of Northeastern Himalayas is suitable for organic farming due to negligible use of fertilizer (<12 kg ha−1) and agrochemicals, abundance of organic manure, especially plant biomass, and favourable climatic conditions for diverse crops. For successful organic farming, efficient cropping systems and organic amendments are to be identified to sustain soil health on one hand and productivity and enhanced income on the other. The efficacy of three organic amendments, namely, farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC) and integrated nutrient source (INS; 50% recommended dose of nitrogen (N) through FYM + 50% N through VC) on performance of three-vegetable-based cropping systems, namely, maize + soybean (2:2 intercropping)–tomato, maize + soybean–potato and maize + soybean–French bean was evaluated for five consecutive years (2005–06 to 2009–10) under subtropical climate at Umiam, Meghalaya, India (950 m above sea level). All the organic amendments were applied on N equivalent basis and phosphorus (P) requirement was compensated through rock phosphate. The results revealed that the yield of vegetables, except root vegetables, was maximum with FYM as soil amendment. Total system productivity in terms of maize equivalent yield (MEY) was significantly higher under FYM followed by INS. Pooled analysis revealed that MEY was enhanced by 200 and 191% with continuous application of FYM and INS, respectively, over control (no manure). Maize + soybean–tomato system recorded the highest MEY (28.78 Mg ha−1; Mg – megagram) followed by maize + soybean–French bean (24.37 Mg ha−1). INS as organic amendment resulted in maximum improvement in soil organic carbon (SOC), available P and potassium (K), soil microbial biomass carbon and water holding capacity and was similar to those under FYM. The SOC concentration under INS (23.6 g kg−1), FYM (23.3 g kg−1) and VC (22.3 g kg−1) after five years of organic farming were 31.0, 29.4 and 23.8% higher than the initial and 26.2, 24.6 and 19.3% higher than those under control, respectively. The quality traits of tomato such as total soluble solids (5%), ascorbic acid (28.6 mg 100 g−1) and lycopene content (19.35 mg 100 g−1) were higher under FYM application than other amendments. The study indicated that FYM and INS are equally good as organic amendment and their continuous application not only improves soil health but also crop productivity. FYM application was also found to be cost effective as it resulted in a higher benefit: cost ratio (4.4:1) compared to other amendments irrespective of cropping sequences during transition to organic farming.

Continuous application of organic amendments enhances soil health, produce quality and system productivity of vegetable-based cropping systems in subtropical eastern himalayas

Bangladesh’s economy and livelihoods of majority of its population depend on agriculture. Despite the importance of agriculture, ensuring food security is a concern because of frequent natural disa...

Potential and challenges of organic agriculture in Bangladesh: a review

A study was conducted to compare organic and conventional rice production within and between three agro-ecological zones (AEZ) under farmers’ management in Bhutan. Soil properties, rice grain yield and benefit-cost return (BCR) were compared between two production systems in 2012 and 2013. Total nitrogen (N) was significantly higher in the organic farm in 2013. Soil organic matter (OM) and available phosphorus (P) were the only soil parameters that were consistently and significantly higher in the organic farm in both years. In the mid AEZ, available P was significantly higher in the organic farm in both years. In the low AEZ, the total N was significantly higher in conventional farm in 2013. In all three AEZs, there was no statistically significant difference in grain yields between organic and conventional rice farms. However, the grain yield was highest in high AEZ and lowest in low AEZ for both the systems.The costs of plant protection inputs were significantly higher in conventional farm, and cost of manure application and weeding was significantly higher in organic farm. The gross returns from a hectare land did not differ significantly between organic and conventional farms but the production cost from a hectare land was significantly higher in organic farm. The BCR was significantly higher in conventional farm. It is interesting to note that the overall yields did not differ between two systems; thus, at the present selling price of Nu. 60 per kg for both organic and conventional rice, the gross returns are same for both the systems. The study suggests that, with the present management conditions and without considering premium price of organic rice, the conventional rice production is more profitable than organic system in Bhutan. However, if organic rice fetches premium price, then the BCR of organic system may become similar to or higher than conventional system.

Organic vs. conventional rice production: comparative assessment under farmers’ condition in Bhutan

The correlation of the growth and yield of rice with the duration of organic farming (compost mixed with straw) was examined in comparison with conventional farming in Yamaguchi city. In organic farming, the plant length of rice was shorter and shoot number per hill was smaller than in conventional farming, but both of these values increased as the duration of organic farming increased. The maximum tiller number was smaller and the panicle number was also smaller in organic farming. However, both the panicle number and panicle length increased as the duration of organic farming increased. The grain-straw ratio and silicic acid content were higher in organic farming than in conventional farming, and increased as the duration of organic farming increased. These results suggest that the growth and yield of rice increased with continuous organic farming, and that the yield increased through the increases of panicle number per hill and grain number per panicle.

Effect of continuous organic farming on the growth and yield of rice [Oryza sativa], [Japan]

Considering the importance of organic farming and growing demand for organically produced foods, field studies were conducted for 5 years (2004-05 to 2009-10) on a black clayey vertisol soil at the Directorate of Rice Research, Hyderabad, to study the influence of organic and conventional farming systems on productivity, grain quality, soil health and economic returns of super fine rice varieties. Two main plot treatments, with and without plant protection, and four sub plot treatments viz., Control; 100% inorganics; 100% organics; and 50% inorganics+50% organics (integrated nutrient management, INM) were imposed. During wet season, grain yields under 100% inorganics and INM were near stable (4.7-5.5 t/ha) and superior to organics by 15-20% during the first two years, which improved with organics (4.8-5.2 t/ha) in the later years to comparable levels with inorganics, while it had taken five years during dry season. Moderate improvement in nutritional quality was recorded with organics, especially in brown rice. There was a significant improvement in soil physical, fertility and biological properties with organics, which resulted in further improvement in soil quality indices. The sustainability index of the soil was maximum with organics (1.63) compared to inorganics (1.33), after five years of study. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks were higher with organics by 44 and 35%, compared to conventional system during wet and dry seasons, respectively, after five years of study. The carbon sequestration rate was also positive with organics (0.97 and 0.57 t/ha/yr during wet and dry seasons, respectively), compared to conventional system that recorded negative SOC sequestration rate (-0.21 and -0.33 t/ha/yr during wet and dry seasons, respectively). Benefit cost ratio was less with organics in the initial years and improved later over inorganics by fifth year.

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K. Surekha

Papers

Evaluation of organic and conventional rice production systems for their productivity, profitability, grain quality and soil health