Integrated organic nutrient management for soil and plant health management under organic and natural farming

Abstract

Maintenance of soil fertility may be achieved through organic matter recycling, enrichment of compost, vermicomposting, animal manure, urine, farm yard manure, litter composting, use of botanicals, green manuring, etc. The major challenge in organic agriculture is the availability of huge quantities of organic inputs for satisfying the farm demand. Use of animal excreta-based manure alone is not sufficient for meeting the nutrient needs of the crops. It is therefore, necessary to utilize all the sources available on and off-farm effectively. Natural farming is a sustainable method of farming practices that helps the farmers in retaining soil fertility, rejuvenates soil health to ensure a chemical free agriculture and low cost of production and thereby doubling the income of the farmers. It aims at cultivating plants by promoting self-reliance to farmers while protecting the environment and stimulating harmony between animals, humans and plants for a sustainable development. In this article, all the possible sources of organic nutrients have been discussed for soil and plant health management in organic and natural farming.