Eco-friendly crop health management for organic farming

Abstract

Organic plant health management aims at sustainable agriculture, enhanced biodiversity, food safety and security, and clean environment with no use of chemical pesticides. The task mandates knowledge based integrated management of insect pests, diseases, weeds, and other pests. High quality seed with early seedling vigour has the distinct advantage in fighting against weeds,
diseases and insect pests. Summer ploughing is useful in killing the propagules of problematic weeds, hibernating pupae of insects, and pathogens. Intercropping wards off many pest and diseases and reduces weed menace. Rice blast is successfully managed using host plant resistance and interplanting of disease resistant varieties with the susceptible ones. ‘No early spray’ promotes natural enemies. Healthy seeds manage diseases successfully. Skip row planting is useful in containing pests and diseases. Cropping system and crop diversification involving suitable crops manages pests and diseases. Soil borne pathogens can be effectively controlled by growing non-host crops and using compost and vermicompost.