Organic Farming

Organic or Natural Farming is truthfully the ecofriendly farming in which the farming or cultivation of crops is practised in a healthy and friendly environment using organic or natural resources, removing the residual toxicity both in soils and field crops, caused by indiscriminate uses of plant protection chemicals, herbicides, or inorganic fertilizers and other agro-chemicals in modern agriculture.

An organic farm on the Swabian Mountains in Germany

 The organic farming is beneficial as The cost of cultivation in the organic farming has been reduced to even zero level for not using any chemical fertilizers and pesticides. With the zero tillage or minimal tillage, the crops are grown with the use of organic matter, compost, bone meal, cow dung mixture, farm yard manure (FYM), leguminous green manuring crops incorporated into the soil before final land preparation, using biofertilizers and biopesticides etc. Similar quantity of yield of crops with high quality produce was obtained without any toxic hazards. The environment is kept free from all pollution hazards. The ecofriendly insects of the nature control the harmful or enemy insects that attack the crops in their various important stages of growth. If necessary, neem oil is sprayed to control the harmful insects by making bitter taste of the crop plants. Soil health and fertility status of the land is restored and increased by using organic resource. Weeds are not destroyed, rather used and incorporated into the soil for decomposition into organic matter. The demand for the 'bio-food' produced by this method fetches high prices in the market. High input use efficiency because of slow release and low content of nutrients in organic manures.

Limitation Although, organic farming concept is gaining gradual momentum in India, the progress is slow. The main limitations in the promotion of organic farming are: 1. Limited market and lack of market information. 2. Non availability of organic package of practices for all crops. 3. Inadequate availability of organic inputs. 4. Lack of appropriate training. 5. Lack farmers' awareness. 6. Absence of regulatory mechanism on quality. 7. Cumbersome and costly organic certification procedures.

1. Insect pest and diseases resistant varieties of crops 2. Plant Origin Pesticides: Neem, Tobacco, Lantana, Tulsi, Dhatura, Chrysanthemum, Garlic, Onion 3. Organic Manures: Mineral rocks, Press mud, FYM, compost, green manners, crop residues 4. Biofertilizers: Rhizobium, VAM, PSB, Azotobactor, Azosporillium, Blue green algae 5. Cultural Practices: Crop rotation, Zero tillage, Border row planting, Irrigation 6. Biopesticides: Pheromones, Light traps, Parasites 7. Bioherbicides: Lady bird beetle

National Standards of Organic Farming

Ministry of Commerce Under the National Programme for Organic Production has prescribed National Standards for Organic Production. These standards are grouped under following six categories:
Conversion Crop production Animal husbandry Food processing and handling Labeling Storage and transport

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Conversion Requirements

The time between the start of organic management and cultivation of crops or animal husbandry is known as the conversion period. The whole farm including the livestock should be converted to the standards over a period of time. All standard requirements should be met during conversion period. If the whole farm is not converted then the two must be separate and inspectible. Regular inspections during the conversion period should be carried out. Simultaneous productions of conventional or in conversion and\or organic which can not be distinguished clearly are not allowed. To ensure clear separation the certification programme shall inspect the whole production system. Full conversion period is not required where organic farming practices are already in use. But this has to be verified by the inspection agency.
Maintenance of organic management

Organic certification is based on continuance. The certification programme should certify the production, which is likely to be maintained on a long term basis. The converted land and animals shall not get switched back and forth between organic and conventional management.

 Organic farming should contribute beneficially to the ecosystem. Areas which should be managed properly and linked to facilitate biodiversity are: Extensive grassland All areas which are not under rotation and are not heavily manured Pastures, meadows, orchards, hedges, hedgerows etc Ecologically rich fallow land or arable land Ecologically diversified field margins Waterways, pools, springs, ditches, wetland, swamps The certification programme shall set standards for a minimum percentage of the farm area to facilitate biodiversity and nature conservation.

Landscape

Crop Production
Choice of crops and varieties All seeds and planting materials should be certified organic, well adapted to local climatic conditions and resistant to pests and diseases. If certified organic seed or planting material is not available then chemically untreated conventional material can be used. Uses of genetically engineered seeds, pollen, transgenic plants are not allowed.

 The minimum conversion period for plant products, produced annually is 12 months prior to the start of the production cycle. For perennial plants (excluding pastures and meadows) the conversion period is 18 months from the date of starting organic management. Depending upon the past use of the land and ecological situations, the certification agency can extend or reduce the minimum conversion period. Diversity in crop production Diversity in crop production is achieved by a combination of (a) versatile crop rotation with legumes and (b) by appropriate coverage of the soil with diverse plant species during the year of production that, taken into account pressure from insects, weeds, diseases and other pests, while maintaining or increasing soil health and fertility.

Duration of conversion period

 Fertilization policy Biodegradable material of plant or animal origin produced on organic farms should form the basis of the fertilization policy. Fertilization management should minimize nutrient losses, avoid accumulation of heavy metals and maintain the soil pH. Emphasis should be given to generate and use own onfarm organic fertilizers. Brought in fertilizers of biological origin should be supplementary and not a replacement. Over manuring should be avoided. Manures containing human excreta should not be used on vegetation for human consumption. In case of deficiency mineral fertilizers can be used as supplementary source and should be applied in their natural composition. Minerals containing high concentrations of heavy metals should be avoided. Biofertilizers can be used safely under all ecosystems and in all the crops.

 Pest disease and weed management including growth regulators Weeds, pests and diseases should be controlled by a number of preventive cultural techniques, such as suitable rotations, green manures, a balanced fertilization programme, early and pre-drilling seed bed preparations, mulching, mechanical control and the disturbances of pest development cycles.

Botanical pesticides prepared at farm from local plants, animals and microorganisms are allowed. Thermic weed control and physical methods for pests, disease and weed management are permitted. Use of synthetic chemicals such as fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, synthetic growth regulators and dyes are prohibited. Use of genetically engineered organisms or products is prohibited.

 Contamination control - All attempts should be made to minimize contamination from outside and with in the farm.
Soil and Water conservation Soil and water resources should be handled in a sustainable manner to avoid erosion, salination, excessive and improper use of water and the pollution of surface and ground water. Cleaning of land by burning (e.g. slash and burn and straw burning) should be restricted. Clearing of primary forest for agriculture (jhuming or shifting cultivation) is strictly prohibited.

 Collection of non-cultivated material of plant origin and honey Wild harvested products shall only be certified organic, if derived from a stable and sustainable growth environment and the harvesting shall not exceed the sustainable yield of the ecosystem and should not threaten the existence of plant or animal species.

The collection area should not be exposed to prohibited substances and should be at an appropriate distance from conventional farming, human habitation, and places of pollution and contamination.

Food processing and handling

General principles - Organic products shall be protected from co-mingling with non-organic products, and shall be adequately identified through the whole process. Certification programme shall regulate the means and measures to be allowed or recommended for decontamination, clearing or disinfection of all facilities where organic products are kept, handled, processed or stored. Besides storage at ambient temperature the following special conditions of storage are permitted. Controlled atmosphere, cooling, freezing, drying and humidity regulation.

Processing methods Processing methods should be based on mechanized, physical and biological processes, so that the quality of organic ingredients is maintained through the process. Some of the approved processes are: Mechanical and physical, biological, smoking, extraction, precipitation and filtration.

Extraction shall only takes place with water, ethanol, plant and animal oils, vinegar, carbon-dioxide, nitrogen or carboxylic acids and all these shall be of food grade quality.

Ingredients, Additives and processing aids

100% of the ingredients of agricultural origin shall be certified organic. For the production of enzymes and other microbiological products, the medium shall be composed of organic ingredients. In case where an ingredient of organic origin is not available, the certification programme may allow use of non-organic raw material subject to periodic re-evaluation. The same ingredient with in one product shall not be derived both from organic and inorganic origin. Minerals, vitamins and similar isolated ingredients shall not be used. The use of additives and processing aids shall be restricted. Preparations of microorganisms and enzymes commonly used in food processing can be used. But no genetically engineered microorganisms and their products shall be used.

 For pest management and control following measure shall be used in order of priority Preventive methods such as disruption, and elimination of habitat and access to facilities. Mechanical, physical and biological methods Permitted pesticidal substances as per the standards and Other substances used in traps. Irradiation is prohibited. Direct or indirect contact between organic products and prohibited substances (such as pesticides) should not be there.

Pests and disease control

Packaging

Material used for packaging shall be ecofriendly. Unnecessary packaging material should be avoided. Recycling and reusable systems should be used. Packaging material should be biodegradable. Material used for packaging shall not contaminate the food.

Labeling

When the full standard requirements are met, the product can be sold as Organic. On proper certification by certification agency India Organic logo can also be used on the product.

Storage and transport

Products integrity should be maintained during storage and transportation of organic products. Organic products must be protected from co-mingling with nonorganic products and must be protected all times from contact with the materials and substances not permitted for use in organic farming.

Products for use in fertilization and soil conditioning in organic farming

Material from plant and animal origin Matter produced on an organic farm unit
Farmyard and poultry manure, slurry, urine Permitted Crop residues and green manure Permitted Straw and other mulches Permitted Composts and Vermicompost. Permitted Blood meal, meat meal, bone meal and feather meal without preservatives Restricted Compost made from plant residues and animal excrement Restricted Farmyard manure, slurry, urine Restricted Fish and fish products without preservatives Restricted Guano Restricted Human excrement Prohibited Wood, bark, sawdust, wood shavings, wood ash, wood charcoal Restricted Straw, animal charcoal, compost and spent mushroom and vermiculate substances Restricted Compost from organic household Restricted Compost from plant residues Restricted Sea weed and sea weed products. Restricted

Matter produced outside the organic farm unit

 By products from the industries

By-products from the food and textile industries of biodegradable material of microbial, plant or animal origin without any synthetic additives Restricted By products from oil palm, coconut and cocoa (including fruit bunch, palm oil mill effluent, cocoa peat and empty cocoa pods. Restricted By-products of industries processing ingredients from organic agriculture Restricted Extracts from mushroom, Chlorella, Fermented product from Aspergillus, natural acids (vinegar) Restricted
Basic slag Restricted Calcareous and magnesium rock Restricted Lime, limestone, gypsum Permitted Calcified sea weed Permitted Calcium chloride Permitted Mineral potassium with low chlorine content (e.g. sulphate of potash, kainite, sylvinite, patenkali) Restricted Natural phosphates (rock phosphate) Restricted Trace elements Permitted Sulphur Permitted Clay (bentonite, perlite, zeolite) Permitted

ItemsConditions for useMineral Origin

Microbiological origin Bacterial preparations (biofertilizers) Permitted Biodynamic preparations Permitted Plant preparations and botanical extracts. Permitted

Products for Plant pest and disease control

ItemsConditions for useMaterial from plant and animal origin

Plant based repellents (Neem preparations from Azadirachta indica) Permitted Algal preparations (gelatin) Permitted Casein Permitted Extracts from mushroom, chlorella, fermented products from Aspergillus Permitted Propolis Restricted Beeswax, Natural acids (vinegar), plant oils, Quassia Permitted Rotenone from Derris elliptica, Lonchocarpus, Thephrosia spp. Restricted Tobacco tea (pure nicotine is prohibited) Restricted Preparation from Ryania species. Restricted

Mineral origin
Chlorides of lime/soda Restricted Burgundy mixture Restricted Clay (bentonite, perlite, vermiculite, zeolite) Permitted Copper salts/ inorganic salts (Bordeaux mix, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride) Not allowed Quick lime. Restricted

ItemsConditions for useMineral origin

Diatomaceous earth Permitted Light mineral oils Restricted Permangnate of potash Restricted

Insects origin
Release of parasites, predators of insect pests Sterilized insects Restricted Sterilized insect males. Not allowed Restricted

 Microorganisms used for biological pest control Viral, fungal and bacterial preparations (biopesticides) Restricted
Others Carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas Permitted Soft soap, soda, sulphur dioxide Permitted Homeopathic and ayurvedic preparations Permitted Herbal and biodynamic preparations Permitted Sea salt and salty water Permitted Ethyl alcohol. Not allowed

Traps, barriers and repellants Physical methods (e.g. chromatic traps, mechanical traps) Mulches, nets Pheromones in traps and dispensers only

Nutrition
The nutritional value of food is largely a function of its vitamin and mineral content. In this regard, organically grown food is dramatically superior in mineral content to that grown by modern conventional methods. advantages and disadvantages organic farming Because it fosters the life of the soil organic farming reaps the benefits soil life offers in greatly facilitated plant access to soil nutrients. Healthy plants mean healthy people, and such better nourished plants provide better nourishment to people and animals alike.

Poison-free
A major benefit to consumers of organic food is that it is free of contamination with health harming chemicals such as pesticides, fungicides and herbicides.

Food Tastes Better

Animals and people have the sense of taste to allow them to discern the quality of the food they ingest.

Food Keeps Longer

Organically grown plants are nourished naturally, rendering the structural and metabolic integrity of their cellular structure superior to those conventionally grown. As a result, organically grown foods can be stored longer and do not show the latters susceptibility to rapid mold and rotting.

Disease and Pest Resistance

A healthy plant grown organically in properly balanced soil resists most diseases and insect pests.

Weed Competitiveness
Weeds are natures band-aids, placed by the wisdom of creation to heal and restore damaged soils. When farmers husband the life of the soil, as they do in organic agriculture, the improved conditions dissuade many weeds and favor their crops. The crops, being healthier, are also better able to compete with those weeds that are present.

Lower Input Costs

By definition, organic farming does not incur the use of expensive agrichemicals they are not permitted! The greater resistance of their crops to pests and the diseases save farmers significantly in expensive insecticides, fungicides and other pesticides.

Drought Resistance
Organically grown plants are more drought tolerant. This was dramatically illustrated to me several years ago when I was fortunate to attend a workshop with Australian organic gardening guru Peter Bennett. A slide he showed us has stuck in my mind ever since: it was a field of wheat, organically grown on re-mineralized soil.

Added Value
There is a discerning market of consumers who recognize the greater food value of organic produce and are willing to pay premium prices for it. In an interview with me in 1998, the manager of Heinz-Watties in New Zealand explained how his company had been actively supporting and recruiting farmers to organic production in order to service large and lucrative markets in Japan and Europe.

GM Crops
Organic growers do not use genetically modified or engineered food crops, some of which are engineered to tolerate herbicides (e.g. Roundup Ready Canola) or resist pests (e.g. Bollworm resistant cotton). Conventional growers, on the other hand, are free to take advantage of GM crops.

ORGANIC FARMING DISADVANTAGES

Productivity Proponents of industrialized agriculture point to its superior productivity. In the short term, this yield is possible by expending massive inputs of chemicals and machinery, working over bland fields of a single crop (monoculture). However, over the longer time frame, productivity advantages dwindle. In my years working with broadacre farmers in the wheatbelt of WA, it was common for them to remark on how much richer pastures and crops were in their youth.

Industrialized agriculture thrashes the land, and diminishes its soil life to the point where it can no longer function to convert available organic matter into soil fertility. Productivity begins to wane, and attempts to bolster it with increasing chemical inputs (common advice from farm consultants) has a similar effect to flogging a dead horse.

Why Organic Farming?

The indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizer and pesticides has led to the deterioration of soil health, contamination of air and water and food, for which there is a growing concern about global environment among the agricultural and environmental scientists. The conventional system of agriculture produce from this chemicals farming is not safe for human consumption. Eutrophication, depletion of stratospheric ozone, nitrate toxication etc. are few example of deleterious effects on the quality of our environment. Residues of DDT, aldrin, lindane etc. have been found in different food samples.

 It is an urgent necessity for Integrated Crop Management (ICM) by using Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Each and every individual of the planet must follow the principles of coexistence with each other, both in flora and fauna, to live in. This is the main theme of making alive of the biodiversity vis-a-vis the ecofriendly coexistence of both the flora and fauna in the Universe. All we need healthy and wealthy life and a pollution-free environment where every body has his right to live in this ecofriendly atmosphere.

Concept
Dr. Masanobu Fukuoka, the renowned natural agricultural scientist of Japan; is said to be the father of this organic or Natural Farming. In this system of farming or crop cultivation in the arable land, procedures are followed as given below: No ploughing is done in the arable cultivated land, No chemical fertilizers are used, No chemical pesticides are used for killing or controlling the insect pests and the friendly insects likes bees, spiders, earthworms in soil, etc. and Weeds are not destroyed, rather used and incorporated into the soil for decomposition into organic matter.

 Following this theory of Masanobu Fukuoka, the agriculture scientists and experts got encouraged and laid out the experiments, conducted on the major field crops and found themselves the interesting results as given below: The cost of cultivation in the organic farming has been reduced to even zero level for not using any chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

 With the zero tillage or minimal tillage, the crops are grown with the use of organic matter, compost, bone meal, cow dung mixture, farm yard manure (FYM), leguminous green manuring crops incorporated into the soil before final land preparation, using biofertilizers and biopesticides etc. In this process of natural farming only organic resources are used and the solution of neem leaves boiled water after cooling, is sprayed to control the harmful pests and diseases. Similar quantity of yield of crops with high quality produce was obtained without any toxic hazards. The environment is kept free from all pollution hazards with low cost of production. The ecofriendly insects of the nature control the harmful or enemy insects that attack the crops in their various important stages of growth. If necessory, neem oil is sprayed to control the harmful insects by making bitter taste of the crop plants.

Soil health and fertility status of the land is restored and increased by using organic resource.
The demand for the 'bio-food' produced by this method fetches high prices in the market. The organic recycle is followed for the succeeding crops to be cultivated in the

 Organic Farming is a farmer's movement. It works along the principles found in nature. It is a production system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetically manufactured fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives. This system relies on legumes, green manures, crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, biofertilizers, biopesticides, bioherbicides etc. It is holistic management of agricultural system which aims at cultivation of the land in such a way that the soil is kept healthy and dynamic with biochemical and soil microbial activities related to biodiversity.

Benefits of organic farming

Reduction in environmental pollution. Food safety Control soil erosion, structure and improve fertility Renewable energy unit Nutrient balance Organic content build up.

Global Status on Organic Farming

USA is one of the most prospective markets for organic products followed by Germany, Japan, France, Italy and Britain. In addition, Australia, China, New Zealand, Cuba, Taiwan, Phillippines have emerged as prospective market in later half of the 1990s. The organic products sold in global markets are dried fruits and nuts, processed fruits and vegetables, cocoa, spices, coffee, tea, sugarcane, cotton etc. The world organic market for organic products is estimated at over US$ 26 billion in 2002, cultivated on a total area of about 20 million hectare world-wide with world production of around 25 million tonnes. Now the international market for organic foods are expanding especially in Europe, USA and Japan. The International Trade Centre (ITC) has projected that organic market in the year 2010 in terms of US $, it would be around 46 billion in European Union, 45 billion in US and 11 billion in Japan.

International Standard
Looking to the global demand of organic product, Federation for Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), a private sector international body with 750 member organization have prepared standard and guidelines for organic agriculture. Simultaneously, the European Economic Committee (EEC), CODEX Alimentarius (USA) etc. have set a series of guidelines on organic farming (Bhattacharya and Gehlot, 2003).

Total Area
Organic agriculture is practiced in almost all countries of the world and its share of agriculture land and farmers are growing. The total organically managed area is more than 22 million hectare worldwide and the interest of inorganic agriculture is emerging in many countries.

Indian Scenario
Organic farming is not of recent origin in India. In ancient literature such as Rig Veda, the use of organic manure to replenish the soils have been emphasized about 5000 years ago. Today again, the need to use organic wastes to improve soil organic matter is reemphasized by modern science to sustain agricultural productivity and production.

Organic Cultivation
Only 30 per cent of Indian cultivable area is covered with fertilizer where irrigation facilities are available and the remaining 70 per cent of the available land, which is mainly rainfed area has not been using any mentionable amount of fertilizers. Also it is estimated that about 600700 million tonnes of agricultural wastes are available in the country every year. There are several alternate avenues available to the farmers for supply of soil nutrients such as organic sources like vermicompost, biofertilizer etc. More than 50 indigenous practices of nutrient management are available in the country.

Organic Export
We have already initiated export of organic products to Europe/USA and middle East. These include tea, coffee, cotton, rice, oil seeds, tobacco, sugar, spices and fruits. It is estimated that the value of export of organic products through APEDA was Rs. 30 million only during 2000-01. Looking to the export potentiality, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India launched the National Programme for Organic Farming (NPOF) in 2000 and as its follow up action, a National Standard, accreditation criteria, certification/inspection procedure, organic logo etc. have been prepared with the approval of NSC and 6 agencies (APEDA, Coffee Board, Spice Board, Tea Board, Coconut Development Board, Cocoa/Cashewnut Board) have been declared as accreditation agency.

Action by Ministry of Agriculture

Setting up of NIOF Capacity to building for promotion of organic farming. Support to commercial production units for production of biofertilizers, composts and vermicompost hatcheries. Organisation of training for accrediation, certification/quality control etc. Field demonstrations on organic inputs and farmers fairs. Market development, development of technical package/new initiative etc. Creating awareness through publicity, conferences etc.

Limitation
1. Limited market and lack of market information. 2. Non availability of organic package of practices for all crops. 3. Inadequate availability of organic inputs. 4. Lack of appropriate training. 5. Lack farmers' awareness. 6. Absence of regulatory mechanism on quality. 7. High cost certification process.

Thrust Area
Market development: Technology Package Development: Quality Certification and Training: Remedy : Hi-Tech Horticulture Hi-tech agriculture, preferably hi-tech horticulture at the moment through organic farming and biotechnology, may be the only answer to feed our burgeoning population. Production of rice and wheat grains has become stagnant in India for last few years.

Why this thought of Organic Farming?

The indiscriminative use of pesticides, herbicides, inorganic fertilizers and other agrochemicals in agriculture, as briefed earlier, has resulted in serious damage to the ecosystem. Therefore, it has become imperative to turn to more ecofriendly methods of pest and crop management (IPM and ICM). Biofertilizers, biopesticides and various other sources of organic manures (vermicompost, green manures, farm yard manures, compost, bone meal, fish meal, poultry litter, etc. of themselves as viable alternatives. Organic manures not only regularly supply the macro, micro and secondary nutrients but also improve physico-chemical properties and biological health and microbial population of soil.

Integrated Nutrient Management System

Integrated Nutrient Management System (INMS), i.e. the utilization of all feasible sources of plant nutrient both biological as well as non-biological. with appropriate method in a harmonious combination either in crops or in cropping systems for achieving higher production is a sustainable basis through greater nutrient use efficiency. Balance use of mineral fertilizers and organic sources of nutrients, name\y FYM, compost, green manners, crop residues and biofertilizers give higher crop yield.

Alternatives
Biofertilisers, biopesticides and various other sources of organic matter offer themselves as viable alternatives. A number of commercial formulations are now available today. The development of newer technologies for pest and nutrient management in horticultural crops has ushered new hope without causing further environmental deteriotation. Use of nitrification inhibitors including indigenous material such as Nimin, Neemax, etc. or the use of coated materials such as neem cake coated area (which can be made by the farmer at home) can also help in reducing N losses in crops. This has not yet received the attention of the farmers.

Neem Products
Neem products such as neem shield has got overwhelming response from consumers both from urban horticulture and rural horticultural areas of India. It has been successful in yielding good size roses and the duration of the flower was also for a longer period. Its good effects have been proved in betel vine (Pan) cultivation in rural India's Pangrowing areas. Neem (Azadirachta indica), Castor (Ricinus communis L.), Karanj (Pongamia pinnata pier), Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Marigold and Bougainvillaea have been found effective against number of diseases and insect-pests. Mustard (Brassica campestris L.) and Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), etc.

 Many neem based formulations like Neemark, Neemguard, Nimbicidin, Wellgro, Agricef, Neoconeem and Limonol are available in the market and are in great demand. All these neem-products, biological manures have been extensively used and tried for the production of quality hybrid flowers, vegetables and fruits in open fields as well as in green house cultivation.

 Biological sources of essential nutrients include bacterial biofertilizers, mycorrhizal biofertilizers, algal biofertilizers, ferns and biofertilizers and green manures. Important bacterial fertilizers include the species of Rhizobium can add 50-300 Kg N/ha Azospirlllum 20-30 Kg N/ha. Azotobacter, Pseudomonas (P. striata and P. rathonis) and Bacillus (B. polymyxa).

Biofertilizers

Fungi
All mycorrhizal biofertilizers including VA mycorrhiza, Aspergillus awamori, A. niger, Penicillum digitatum and Schwanniomyces accidentalls help in phosphorus fixation in the soil, improve water transport in plants and also protect the roots from soil borne pathogens.

Algae
The algae that are generally used in field application are Anabaena, Nostoc, Aulosira, Tolypothrix, Scytonema, Plactonema as a mixture. Azolla is a tiny floating fresh water omnipresent fern biofertilizer and has a simbiont blue-green algae (Anabaena azollae) which is responsible for nitrogen fixation. Azolla has a capacity to fix upto 900 Kg N/ha in the soil. Other source of biofertilizers are green manures like Sesbania, sunhemp, berseem etc.

Cultural Practices

Cultural control is just a modification or manipulation of the environment to the disfavour of pests by disrupting their reproductive cycles, eliminating their food, destroying their weed hosts or making the environment more favourable for predators, parasitoids and antagonists. Removing crop debris and diseased plants, collection and destruction of egg masses, pruning infested parts, frequent shallow ploughings, flooding, crop rotation, trap cropping, inter - cropping, adjusting time of sowing/planting, avoiding monoculture and soil solarization are some of the important cultural methods to reduce the incidence and severity of insect-pests, diseases and weeds in the field.

Biopesticides
Biopesticides are most important, effective and commercially viable as these are inexpensive, cause no pollution, pose no risk to human health and have a long term capability to control pests. Biopesticide agents are abundantly available in nature. Several pathogens including viruses such as nuclear polyhedrosis viruses (NPV) and granulosis viruses (GV), bacteria like Bacllus thurigiensis, fungi like Metarhizlum, Beauveria verticillum and protozoa like Schizogregrine cause diseases in insects and destroy them.

 Several insect-parasitoids (parasites thriving on insects) are also known in nature. Trichoderma is an egg parasitoid of several pests. Goniozus, Elamus, Eriborus, Bracon, Trichospllus, Tetrastichus and Chelonus are some of the other parasitoids attacking insect-pests. Insect predators such as Chloconus, Cryptolaemus, Crytorhinus, Pharoscymnus and predatory nematodes like species of Neoplectana and Heterorhabditis destroy insects by causing disease in insects and by predation. Biopesticides are also effective against number of diseases. Fungi viz. Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Chaetomlum and Agrobacterium radiobacter are effective against different diseases.

Bioherbicides
Biological agents like insects, fungi, bacteria etc. are effective against number of weeds. Important examples include weevil, Neochitinia elchorniae and N. bruchi, which are proving effective against water hycinth and a beetle Zygogramma blocolorata is effective against congress grass (Parthenium).

 There are number of fungal and bacterial pathogens parasitizing different weeds. Two mycoherbicides formulations of soil-borne fungus is Phytophthora palmivora against strangler vine (Morrentia odorata) and Collectrotrichum gloeosporioides against selective control of Northern jointvetch (Aeschynomene virginica).