JPSC CS Mains: Soil fertility status of Jharkhand- Application of Vermi compost and Farm Yard Manure (FYM) for improving soil health. Nitrogen fixing bacteria; their applications and Concept of Organic farming

 

JPSC CS Paper-VI - Group C - Agricultural Science

Soil fertility status of Jharkhand- Application of Vermi compost and Farm Yard Manure (FYM) for improving soil health. Nitrogen fixing bacteria; their applications and Concept of Organic farming

 

SOILS OF JHARKHAND

 

The soil of Jharkhand may broadly be classified into following five groups:

A. Red Soil

B. Sandy Soil

C. Black Soil

D. Laterite Soil

E. Red Micacious Soil

 

A. Red Soil:

These soils are made by the decomposition of crystalline metamorphic rock such as granite, gneiss, etc. The colour of the soil is red at some places, and at many places, it is just like chocolate which is dark in colour. This type of soil is found in most areas of Jharkhand except in narrow trough basin of Damodar and in Rajmahal areas.

 

Main properties:

        I.            It is less fertile.

      II.            It has high iron content.

    III.            It is highly porous.

    IV.            It has adequate quantities of lime and potash.

      V.            It lacks nitrogen phosphorus and humus.

    VI.            Bajra is the only grain cultivated in it.

 

B. Sandy Soil:

This type of soil is found in east Hazaribagh and Dhanbad. These two areas compose the trough basin of Damodar, which is famous for sandy soil. Such soil is formed by the gradual decomposition of sandy loan and sandy soil. The properties of this soil are:

 

        I.            It is yellowish

      II.            It is poor humus content

    III.            It is less fertile.

 

C. Black Soil:

The soil is found in the Rajmahal areas. The soil of Rajmahal contains basalt. The main ingredients are Kaolin, Potash and Iron-Oxide. This soil has higher proportion of clay, which has a very high water retaining capacity. The areas with higher elevation has thin layer of black soil with light colour but in areas with lower heights, the soil has thick layer and dark colour.

 

Main properties:

                                i.            It has water retaining capacity.

                               ii.             It contains lime, iron, magnesia etc.

                             iii.            It becomes sticky after getting water.

                             iv.            The soil of this type in lower areas is more fertile.

 

D. Laterite Soil:

The laterite soil is found in the highlands of Rajmahal, western Ranchi plateau and Pat region of south Palamu, and Dhalbhum area of Singbhum. The main components of this soil are aluminum, iron oxide and manganese oxide. The main defect of the soil is acid reaction. The main crops of this soil are castor, pigeon pea, etc.

 

Main properties:

        i.            It has high iron content.

       ii.            It has low content of phosphorous, nitrogen and potash.

     iii.            It is prone to acid reaction.

     iv.            Its yield is low.

 

E. Red Micacious Soil:

This soil is mostly found in mica areas of Jharkhand such as Koderma, Mandu, Jhumri-Tilaiya, etc. This soil becomes light pink in areas of higher elevation. Studies have shown that soil acidity together with low potassium and sulpher content, moderate nitrogen together with deficient zones of zivc, copper and born certainly indicate in general the low fertility of the soil in Jharkhand. It requires attention on soil management practices for optimum agricultural production.

 

Vermicomposting

 

Vermicomposting is a process in which the earthworms convert the organic waste into manure rich in high nutritional content. In this process organic manure is prepared through vermiculture (worm-farming).  (Composting means breaking down of organic materials such as leaves and food scraps into soil.)

Earthworms feed on the organic waste materials and give out excreta in the form of ‘vermicasts’ that are rich in nitrates and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium and potassium. Fertilizer, thus formed, enhance the soil quality.

 

Advantage of Vermicomposting

1.    It develops roots of the plants.

2.    Improves the physical structure of the soil.

3.    Improves the fertility and water retaining capacity of the soil.

4.    Helps germination, plant growth, and crop yield.

 

Disadvantages of Vermicomposting

1.    Time consuming process – manure takes more than 6 months to get prepared.

2.    Four odour is released.

3.    High maintenance – feed has to be added, care should be taken that worms should not be taken away with flood.

4.    Manure level should be monitored periodically.

 

Nitrogen Fixing bacteria and their applications

 

Nitrogen fixing bacteria are microorganisms present in the soil or in plant roots that change nitrogen gases from the atmosphere into solid nitrogen compounds and put it into the soil.  Examples of nitrogen fixing bacteria are rhizobium bacteria which form symbiotic relations with the leguminous plants, Azotobacter which is commonly found in the rhizosphere of plants, Azospirillum, and Frankia etc.

 

Applications of Nitrogen Fixing bacteria

1.    Fixing of nitrogen

2.    Preventing soil erosion by converting it or anchoring it with strong root systems.

3.    When applied as green manure, it increases soil fertility

4.    Keep the soil moist

5.    Attract pollinators throughout the crop’s flowering period.

 

Concept of Organic farming

 

Organic farming is an agricultural process that uses biological fertilisers and pest control acquired from animal or plant waste. Organic farming was actually initiated as an answer to the environmental sufferings caused by the use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. In other words, organic farming is a new system of farming or agriculture that repairs, maintains, and improves the ecological balance.

Advantages of Organic Farming

1.    Economical: In organic farming, no expensive fertilisers, pesticides, or HYV seeds are required for the plantation of crops. Therefore, there is no extra expense.

2.    Good return on Investment: With the usage of cheaper and local inputs, a farmer can make a good return on investment.

3.    High demand: There is a huge demand for organic products in India and across the globe, which generates more income through export.

4.    Nutritional: As compared to chemical and fertiliser-utilised products, organic products are more nutritional, tasty, and good for health.

5.    Environment-friendly: The farming of organic products is free of chemicals and fertilisers, so it does not harm the environment.

Disadvantages of Organic Farming

1.    Incompetent: The major issue of organic farming is the inadequate infrastructure and marketing of the product.

2.    Less production: The products obtained through organic farming are less in the initial years as compared to that in chemical products. So, farmers find it difficult to accommodate large-scale production.

3.    Shorter shelf life: Organic products have more flaws and a shorter shelf life than that of chemical products.

4.    Limited production: Off-season crops are limited and have fewer options in organic farming.

Types of Organic Farming

Organic farming is divided into two types, namely:

1. Integrated organic farming
2. Pure organic farming

Pure organic farming means avoiding all unnatural chemicals. In this process of farming, all the fertilisers and pesticides are obtained from natural sources such as bone meal or blood meal.

Integrated organic farming includes the integration of pest management and nutrients management to achieve ecological requirements and demands.

Organic farming is a method of farming system which primarily aimed at cultivating the land and raising crops in such a way, as to keep the soil alive and in good health by use of organic wastes. Example of organic wastes are crop, cow dungs etc.

Other biological materials along with beneficial microbes (bio-fertilizers) to release nutrients to crops for increased sustainable production in an eco friendly pollution free environment.

As per the definition of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) study team on organic farming “organic farming is a system which avoids or largely excludes the use of synthetic inputs (such as fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, feed additives etc) and to the maximum extent feasible rely upon crop rotations, crop residues, animal manures, off-farm organic waste, mineral grade rock additives and biological system of nutrient mobilization and plant protection”.

FAO suggested that “Organic agriculture is a unique production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity, and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs”.

Need of organic farming

The scientists have realized that the ‘Green Revolution’ with high input use has reached a plateau and is now sustained with diminishing return of falling dividends. With the increase in population our compulsion would be not only to stabilize agricultural production but to increase it further in sustainable manner.

Thus, a natural balance needs to be maintained at all cost for existence of life and property. The obvious choice for that would be more relevant in the present era, when these agrochemicals which are produced from fossil fuel and are not renewable and are diminishing in availability. It may also cost heavily on our foreign exchange in future.

The key characteristics of organic farming include

• Providing crop nutrients indirectly using relatively insoluble nutrient sources which are made available to the plant by the action of soil micro-organisms
• Nitrogen self-sufficiency through the use of legumes and biological nitrogen fixation, as well as effective recycling of organic materials including crop residues and livestock manures
• Weed, disease and pest control relying primarily on crop rotations, natural predators, diversity, organic manure , resistant varieties and limited (preferably minimal) thermal, biological and chemical intervention. The extensive management of livestock, paying full regard to their evolutionary adaptations, behavioral needs and animal welfare issues with respect to nutrition, housing, health, breeding and rearing
• Careful attention to the impact of the farming system on the wider environment and the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats