Irrespective of how modern or urbanized we become, agriculture is always going to be one of the key industries on which our survival depends. So, there have been numerous technological innovations introduced in this industry in order to ensure better agricultural production to meet the rising population’s demand for food. Today, organic farming methods are becoming highly popular in the agricultural sector. Organic farming methods are primarily aimed at cultivating crops in such a way that it keeps the soil alive. This system mainly makes use of organic wastes which comes from the crop, animal, farm, and aquatic wastes and other biological materials along with useful microbes (biofertilizers) to release nutrients to crops. It results in an increased sustainable production in an eco-friendly pollution free environment. Organic farming methods largely avoid the use of synthetic inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers. They rely on organic inputs like animal manures and off-farm organic waste.
Basic Organic Farming Methods
Crop rotation
This is one of the organic farming methods where farmers do not grow the same crops on the same piece of land year after year. If you are wondering why there are several benefits associated with this practice, this technique naturally replenishes the soil as different plants contribute nutrients to the soil. Moreover, disrupting the habitat of insect pests and weeds helps control them.
Crop diversity
Traditional farming practices follow a monoculture in which only one type of crop is cultivated in a particular piece of land. Now, different crops are cultivated simultaneously on the same plot of land. This is a type of organic farming method which is also called polyculture and is a great way to meet the growing demand for crops. This technique also aids in producing the required soil microorganisms.
Biological pest control
The agricultural field consists of a mixture of the organism, some of which are useful for cultivation and some are harmful. The growth of these organisms must be under control to ensure the protection of the field and the crops. Herbicides and pesticides that contain fewer chemicals or are natural can be used for pest control.
Weed management
Weed refers to the unwanted plant that grows on agricultural fields. Organic farming methods attempt to suppress the growth of weed rather than completely eliminating them. Mulching and mowing and cutting are two of the main techniques used for weed management in the organic farming sector.
Genetic modification
Organic farming methods emphasize the use of natural ways to enhance the farm, crops, and soil. So, genetic farming is kept out of organic agriculture. However, it should be noted that the pollen present in such modified crops are present in the stock of seeds that are used for organic farming, making it impossible to keep this completely out of organic farming methods.