Economics of wheat as influenced by natural farming, organic farming and recommended package of practices

A field experiment was laid out on split-plot design with two uneven controls viz. four foliar concentrations of cow urine and jeevamrutha under natural farming which were compared with Organic farming (OF) and Recommended package of practices (RPP) given by UAS, Dharwad. The treatments were replicated thrice. The study revealed that RPP recorded significantly higher grain yield, straw yield, gross return, net return and B:C ratio than OF and natural farming practices. The grain yield reduction in the best treatment (cow urine @ 50 % + jeevamrutha @ 100 %) was 16 % lesser than RPP and 2 % higher than OF. However, the cost of cultivation in natural farming with cow urine @ 50 % + jeevamrutha @ 100 % was lesser to the extent of 6.91 and 30.42 % than RPP and OF. Our study indicates that the irrigated wheat can be grown under natural farming conditions profitably.

Fipronil and Fipronil Sulfone Distribution in Chicken Feathers and Eggs after Oral and Dermal Exposure

This work aimed to investigate the bio-distribution and the persistence of fipronil and its primary metabolite fipronil sulfone after oral and dermal administration by simulating natural farming conditions. Fipronil and fipronil sulfone detection and quantification were performed in different poultry matrices using an LC-MS/MS method coupled with modified QuEChERS extraction. After oral administration, fipronil was detected in feathers at each sampling time, in eggs for 28 days, and in the internal organs at the end of the experiment. After dermal administration, high levels of fipronil were detected in feathers, accounting for 195.85 ± 8.54 mg/kg, which were reduced by a third after 60 days. No traces of fipronil were detected in the eggs or internal organs. In addition, fipronil sulfone showed remarkable residues in all samples in trial 2. The data obtained confirmed that inappropriate use of unauthorized pesticides can lead to severe contamination of entire poultry farms. The contemporary presence of fipronil sulfone in feathers and eggs associated with the lack of fipronil in eggs suggests recent dermal contamination or past oral contamination. Moreover, simultaneous analysis of hens’ feathers and eggs could represent a new method to improve large-scale monitoring programs and animal welfare, limiting their slaughter.

​Performance of Different Farming Practices in Legume based Cropping System under Mid-hills of H.P. Himalayas

Background: Increasing demands of food, depleting land, degrading land resources and changing climate are some of the important factors driving the cropping systems of any agro-ecological zone in the world. Cropping systems have been traditionally structured to maximize crop yields. Now, there is a strong need to design cropping systems which take into consideration the emerging social, economical and ecological or environmental concerns. Legumes can provide opportunities for increased productivity to be sustained because of their adaptability to various cropping patterns and ability to fix nitrogen. Legume-based crop rotation helps to conserve organic matter, maximise soil nitrogen, balance soil nutrients, maintain soil physical properties and break soil-borne disease cycles. Moreover, with increasing fertilizer prices and emphasis of the government for doubling the farmer’s income by reducing cost of cultivation, the current trend is to explore the possibility of supplementing chemical fertilizer with the organic ones, more particularly organic manures and bio-fertilizer of microbial origin. The current study is aimed to increase small and marginal farmer’s income and to reduce cost of cultivation through legume based vegetable cropping systems and to find out best farming practices. Methods: Field experiments were conducted at Organic Farm Holta, Department of Organic Agriculture and Natural farming, CSK HPKV, Palampur (H.P.) during kharif and rabi seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 on silty clay loam soil to study the performance of different farming practices in legume based cropping system under mid- hills of H.P. Himalayas. The experiment was laid out under Split plot design with three replications comprising of three sequences in legume vegetable-based cropping systems i.e., “Soybean-Onion”, “Okra-Pea” and “Mash-Garlic” under different farming practices i.e., Organic farming, Natural farming, Inorganic and Integrated farming practices. For comparison of different crops soybean equivalent yield and pea equivalent yields were calculated in kharif and rabi seasons, respectively. Result: In kharif seasons okra crop attained highest soybean equivalent yield followed by soybean and mash crop. In rabi seasons garlic crop attained highest pea grain equivalent yield followed by onion and pea crop. During both kharif seasons organic farming practices attained highest yield and was at par with integrated farming practices. Significantly highest yield was attained from integrated farming practices and was at par with organic farming practices in both rabi seasons. Highest net returns, net returns per rupee attained was in inorganic farming system. Highest cost of cultivation was found in organic farming practices.

Sustainable agriculture: A move towards a healthier and environment friendly farming and a hope to reduce food poverty in India

Sustainable agriculture can help us to become above a change in the pattern we consume food and also eradicate the problem of food shortage across the world, in particular in India, less than 4 % of the country had adopted to sustainable agriculture in which crop rotation, organic farming, agroforestry and natural farming is common, It can work to reduce poverty and hunger from the country, male nutrition is a very big issue where 15 % of the world male nutrition population is found in India. Sustainable agriculture can help to combat the problem of pests, weed pressure, reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, soil erosion. Sustainable agriculture works with the nature takes into account environment health, economic and social equity of its people. Agriculture is the largest industry in India which provides jobs to maximum people, sustainable farming will double the income of farmers, generate employment, will led to the growth of healthier plants, soil and wildlife with water harvesting and agroforestry.

Seed Source Effects on Germination, Growth, and Yield of Carrots Under Natural Farming

Natural farming is a type of low-input sustainable agricultural system that is characterized by the avoidance of the use of any animal materials. Production of self-produced seeds by farmers is recommended under natural farming environments, with an expectation of improved crop growth and yield. However, there have been no scientific studies that investigated the performance of self-produced seeds under natural farming. This study investigated the germination rate, growth, and yield of carrots (Daucus carota L.) from different seed sources under natural farming. The main experimental factor was the cultivation method: CT – control; CF – conventional farming; NF1 – natural farming with tillage and compost input; and NF2 – natural farming without tillage and compost, and the subfactor was the seed source: OPN – open-pollinated seeds self-produced under natural farming; OPC – open-pollinated seeds produced under conventional farming; and HB – hybrid seeds. The germination rate of OPN seeds was higher than that of other seeds. In addition, root fresh weight and other root parameters of OPN were as high as for HB seeds. This suggests that using self-produced seeds by farmers improves crop performance in a natural farming system.

PERMACUL(SU+RE): Designing a Sustainable and Regenerative Agricultural Eco-park through Permaculture

To protect the beauty and diversity of Quirino from the impacts of natural and human-made disasters, the call for sustainable and regenerative developments strengthens. With the introduction of permaculture in the province, it can serve as a framework for these developments. As such, the study seeks to showcase the potentials of permaculture by integrating its principles in the landscape design of Faraon Integrated Farm, as it aims to be a sustainable and regenerative agricultural eco-park. To achieve its goal, a series of literature studies, analyses, and conceptualization was conducted to identify the areas where permaculture can be incorporated. As a result, a permaculture-based landscape design of a sustainable and regenerative agricultural eco-park with a closed-loop system is developed. The eco-park was divided into six (6) permaculture zones, arranged according to the amount of attention it needs, consisting of areas chosen and designed based on the twelve (12) permaculture principles. To improve its sustainability and regenerative capacity, various technologies, practices, and techniques were also incorporated into the design, such as intercropping, use of natural farming inputs, vermicomposting, rainwater harvester & catchment, and utilization of renewable sources of energy. By imitating the Earth’s natural processes and relationships, permaculture can create sustainable and regenerative developments that could preserve and enhance the natural environment.

Microbial Diversity in the Phyllosphere and Rhizosphere of an Apple Orchard Managed under Prolonged “Natural Farming” Practices

Microbial diversity in an apple orchard cultivated with natural farming practices for over 30 years was compared with conventionally farmed orchards to analyze differences in disease suppression. In this long-term naturally farmed orchard, major apple diseases were more severe than in conventional orchards but milder than in a short-term natural farming orchard. Among major fungal species in the phyllosphere, we found that Aureobasidium pullulans and Cryptococcus victoriae were significantly less abundant in long-term natural farming, while Cladosporium tenuissimum predominated. However, diversity of fungal species in the phyllosphere was not necessarily the main determinant in the disease suppression observed in natural farming; instead, the maintenance of a balanced, constant selection of fungal species under a suitable predominant species such as C. tenuissimum seemed to be the important factors. Analysis of bacteria in the phyllosphere revealed Pseudomonas graminis, a potential inducer of plant defenses, predominated in long-term natural farming in August. Rhizosphere metagenome analysis showed that Cordyceps and Arthrobotrys, fungal genera are known to include insect- or nematode-infecting species, were found only in long-term natural farming. Among soil bacteria, the genus Nitrospira was most abundant, and its level in long-term natural farming was more than double that in the conventionally farmed orchard.

Trends and Status of Zero Budget Natural Farming in Andhra Pradesh, ZBNF Impact in District of Visakhapatnam

Agriculture peasants lost their agricultural economic power of agricultural labor due to some short of adverse effect on agriculture labor, like privatized seeds, privatized inputs and inaccessibility credit, overwhelmingly corporate controlled farming. The agriculture economic power slips from hands of peasants to corporate body. Indian agriculture system transforming towards conventional farming to organic natural farming, not even Indian agrarian society most of the developing and developed economies approximately more than 154 countries switching from conventional to organic natural farming. Natural farming is certainly much superiority than conventional farming. Simply we can say less expansive, it saves energy, conservation of bio diversity, fewer residues in food and many others. Hence, a comprehensive study dealing with the economics of organic farming and conventional farming covering different agro-climatic conditions is felt necessary. As such, the present Study addresses itself to fill in this gap by examining the Economics of Natural Farming vis-à-vis Conventional Farming in A.P. In recent years, it is moving towards “Natural farming” with growing consciousness on health and environment damages. It is not viable yet. In this backdrop, the study seeks to address economic viability of organic and natural farming and it’s empirically, to examine the status and trends of ZBNF in Andhra Pradesh. to assess and analyze the economic feasibility and economic efficiency of zero budget natural farming.