The advent of the concept of sustainable agriculture in Indian agricultural scenario has evoked interest of indigenous technical knowledge that has the element of use of natural products to solve the problems pertaining to agriculture and allied activities.
Different plant (oils, leaves, powders, bark etc.) and animal (cow urine, cow dung, milk etc.) based materials have been in use in indigenous technologies. The indigenous practices are based on keen observations, informal experimentations, experience sharing and modifications, wherever necessary over the years.
Organic agriculture is one among the broad spectrum of methodologies that support environment. It aims to minimize the use of external inputs, avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which aim at achieving optional agro eco systems that are socially, ecologically and economically sustainable. It is holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro eco system health, including bio-diversity, biological circles and soil biological activities.
The principle of Ayurveda in agriculture is to extract concentrates from plants and use them as inputs in crop cultivation. This system naturally supports the environment too. Effective use of these methods would be instrumental in reducing irrational use of chemicals in the form of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Soil health, also referred to as soil quality, is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. The soil contains living organisms that when provided the basic necessities of life - food, shelter, and water - perform functions required to produce food and fiber.
Soil is an ecosystem that can be managed to provide nutrients for plant growth, absorb and hold rainwater for use during dryer periods, filter and buffer potential pollutants from leaving our fields, serve as a firm foundation for agricultural activities, and provide habitat for soil microbes to flourish and diversify to keep the ecosystem running smoothly.
Although soil organisms comprise <1% of the total mass of a soil, they have a vital role in supporting all plants and thus animals. Microbial activity drives the process of aggregation, which enhances soil structural stability, aeration, infiltration, and water-holding capacity. All living things — above and below ground — benefit when the plant-microbe bridge is functioning effectively.
Sadly, many of today’s farming methods have severely compromised soil microbial communities, significantly reducing the amount of carbon transferred to and stabilized in soil. Over the last 150 years, many of the world’s prime agricultural soils have lost between 30 and 75 percent of their carbon, adding billions of tons of CO2 to the atmosphere.
The loss of soil carbon significantly reduces the productive potential of the land and the profitability of farming. Soil degradation has intensified in recent decades — around 30 percent of the world’s cropland has been abandoned in the last 40 years due to soil decline. With the global population predicted to peak at close to 10 billion by 2050, the need for soil restoration has never been more pressing. Soil dysfunction also impacts human and animal health.
To overcome this, restoration and maintenance of beneficial soil microorganisms is of utmost importance in modern agriculture.
Different plant (oils, leaves, powders, bark etc.) and animal (cow urine, cow dung, milk etc.) based materials have been in use in indigenous technologies. The indigenous practices are based on keen observations, informal experimentations, experience sharing and modifications, wherever necessary over the years.
Organic agriculture is one among the broad spectrum of methodologies that support environment. It aims to minimize the use of external inputs, avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which aim at achieving optional agro eco systems that are socially, ecologically and economically sustainable. It is holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro eco system health, including bio-diversity, biological circles and soil biological activities.
The principle of Ayurveda in agriculture is to extract concentrates from plants and use them as inputs in crop cultivation. This system naturally supports the environment too. Effective use of these methods would be instrumental in reducing irrational use of chemicals in the form of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.
Soil health, also referred to as soil quality, is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. The soil contains living organisms that when provided the basic necessities of life - food, shelter, and water - perform functions required to produce food and fiber.
Soil is an ecosystem that can be managed to provide nutrients for plant growth, absorb and hold rainwater for use during dryer periods, filter and buffer potential pollutants from leaving our fields, serve as a firm foundation for agricultural activities, and provide habitat for soil microbes to flourish and diversify to keep the ecosystem running smoothly.
Although soil organisms comprise <1% of the total mass of a soil, they have a vital role in supporting all plants and thus animals. Microbial activity drives the process of aggregation, which enhances soil structural stability, aeration, infiltration, and water-holding capacity. All living things — above and below ground — benefit when the plant-microbe bridge is functioning effectively.
Sadly, many of today’s farming methods have severely compromised soil microbial communities, significantly reducing the amount of carbon transferred to and stabilized in soil. Over the last 150 years, many of the world’s prime agricultural soils have lost between 30 and 75 percent of their carbon, adding billions of tons of CO2 to the atmosphere.
The loss of soil carbon significantly reduces the productive potential of the land and the profitability of farming. Soil degradation has intensified in recent decades — around 30 percent of the world’s cropland has been abandoned in the last 40 years due to soil decline. With the global population predicted to peak at close to 10 billion by 2050, the need for soil restoration has never been more pressing. Soil dysfunction also impacts human and animal health.
To overcome this, restoration and maintenance of beneficial soil microorganisms is of utmost importance in modern agriculture.