Organic Farming Mandya - University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

Organic Farming

The University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore has given more importance to organic farming with the establishment of Research Institute on Organic Farming (RIOF) in 2008 at GKVK, UAS, Bengaluru of the following objectives.

Objectives

To validate existing organic farming practices and local wisdom.
To develop various production technologies of producing liquid organic manures, FYM, compost, enriched compost etc., for efficient recycling of organic wastes.
To identify suitable Integrated Farrming Systems (IFS) for different agro-climatic zonces and promoting them.
To develop package of practices for different organic crops.
To develop and promote suitable bio-fertilizers and bio-pesticides for organic farming.
To promote capacity building to organic farming stakeholders.

RIOF Activities & Services

Research institute on Organic farming has been actively serving farming community & organic growers in promotion of organic farming. The centre is involved in Research, Demonstration and Extension in organic farming.

Technical Guidance & training on organic farming to farmers, NGO’s, Organic growers, line department officials.
Mass production of Bio-fertilizers and Bio-control agents and supply to farming community and organic growers.
Testing of Organic inputs (viz., organic manures, bio-fertilizers, liquid organic manures) for private and government agencies.

Steps taken to fulfill the objectives

UAS, Bangalore is engaging 09 research stations in two different agro-climatic zones in southern Karnataka under RIOF.
Separate organic blocks have been created for conducting field trials and demonstrations on organic farming.
The Organic Farming Research Station, Nagenahally, Mysuru is completely converted to organic farming (24 ha) since 2008. The total area available for organic farming research and demonstration under UAS (B) is 34 ha.

Research

Established organic blocks at different Agricultural Research stations of UAS (B) Viz., OFRS-Naganahalli (Mysore), ZARS- V.C. Farm, Mandya, ARS-Chinthamani, ARS-Balajigapade, ARS-Madenur, ARS-Pavagada, ARS-Tiptur, ARS-Gunjevu, ARS-Arasikere.

The RIOF Centre has created an exclusive research and demonstration block for organic farming on an area of 5 ha at ‘J’ block, GKVK Research & Demonstration in organic farming practices is being carried out in this block. Field and lab testing of organic products of government and private firms is also donce by centre. A separate research block to conduct organic experiments has been maintained for PG students. A unique one acre model organic vegetable demonstration block is maintained at RIOF field unit, GKVK since 6 years.
The Institute is having well established Mass production laboratory for bio-fertilizers and bio-control agents. Both solid & liquid form of biofertilizers and bio-control agents is produced at the centre & made available to farmers, organic growers and KVK’s.
Organic input production units like compost, vermicompost, liquid organic manures, Azolla production units are established at RIOF field unit.

Training hall is available with centre for conducting training programmes to farmers, line department officials, students in organic farming.

Results / Outcome

The centre is pioneering in use of liquid organic manures viz., Vermi-wash, liquid biofertilizers and bio-control agents, waste decomposers, biodigester liquid organic manure, Beejamrutha, Jeevamrutha&Panchagavya in nutrient management, botanical extracts in pest and disease control etc.,, Use of Panchagavya, fish nutrient and Jeevamrutha liquid organic manures in different concentrations at important growth stages has significant effect on Growth and yield.

Field bean – Application offish nutrient solution @ 2.5% vegetative + 5% flowering +2.5% pod development stage- Pod yield (17.25 q/ha) and 13.79 q/ha seed yield.

Bhendi / Lady’s finger / Okra – Maximum mean fruit yield (83.38 q/ha) was found in the treatment applied with panchagavya @ 3% at vegetative stage + Jeevamrutha @ 5001 / ha at flowering stage.

Field bean – Maximum pod yield (12.96 q/ha) and seed yield (10.37 q/ha) was recorded with fish nutrient solution applied @ 2.5% at vegetative +5% at flowering + 2.5% pod development stage.
Scientific validation of Zero budget natural farming (ZBNF) at RIOF, Bengaluru The analytical studies of Beejamrutha&Jeevamrutha liquid organic manure was done at RIOF and Beejamrutha is used for seed treatment and is alkaline pH (8.00), with 2.38% N, 0.127% 485 Fe-168 ppm, Mn-16 ppm, Cu- 36 ppm & Zn-18 ppm nutrient content. It has to be used on day of its preparation. Jeevamrutha liquid organic manure is used as nutrients in crop production. This is acidic in nature (4.85) with 1.96% N, 0.173% 0.280 Fe-318 ppm, Mn – 46 ppm, Cu – 51 ppm & Zn-12 ppm nutrient content. Also Beejamrutha&Jeevamrutha is rich inmicroorganisms viz., beneficial bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, N-fixers and P-solublizers. Jeevamrutha has to be applied at 7 days – 10 days of its preparation, where microbial load will be at highest range.
Biodigester is a structure / unit to prepare liquid organic manures in large quantity using animal wastes like dung, urine and various organic agricultural wastes. From the various studies conducted at various Agriculture Research Stations of UAS (B), it was found that the bio digester tank is the suitable tool for the production of large quantities of liquid organic manure using animal wastesand crop residues/wastes/weeds etc., Package of Practices has been developed for Finger millet, Maize, Redgram and Groundnut by using liquid organic manures viz., Biodigester liquid organic manures &Jeevamrutha.

1. Organic finger millet production
- Application of 10 t FYM as basal followed by application of recommended nitrogen in form of bio-digester liquid on N equivalent basis in two splits at 25-35 DAS followed by 50-60 DAS has increased the finger millet yield.
- Application of 100% recommended nitrogen in form of compost as basal followed by seed treatment with beejamrutha and application of liquid organic manure Jeevamrutha @ 400 1per acre in two splits at 25-35 DAS followed by 50-60 DAS has increased the finger millet yield.
1. Organic Maize production
- Application of 10 t FYM as basal followed by application of recommended nitrogen in form of bio-digester liquid on N equivalent basis in two splits at 20-25 DAS followed by 50-60 DAS has increased the Maize yield.
- Application of 100% recommended nitrogen in form of compost as basal followed by seed treatment with beejamrutha and application of liquid organic manure Jeevamrutha @ 400 1per acre in two splits at 25 DAS followed by 50-60 DAS has increased the Maize yield.
1. Organic Redgram production
- Application of 10 t FYM as basal followed by application of recommended nitrogen in form of bio-digester liquid on N equivalent basis in two splits at 30-40 DAS followed by 60-70 DAS has increased the Redgram yield.
- Application of 100% recommended nitrogen in form of compost as basal followed by seed treatment with beejamrutha and application of liquid organic manure Jeevamrutha @ 400 1per acre in two splits at 30-40 DAS followed by 60-70 DAS has increased the Redgram yield.
1. Organic Groundnut production
- Application of 10 t FYM as basal followed by application of recommended nitrogen in form of bio-digester liquid on N equivalent basis in two splits at 25-30 DAS followed by 50-60 DAS has increased the groundnut yield.
- Application of 100% recommended nitrogen in form of compost as basal followed by seed treatment with beejamrutha and application of liquid organic manure Jeevamrutha @ 400 1per acre in two splits at 30-40 DAS followed by 60-70 DAS has increased the groundnut yield.

Developing Organic package of practices for Nutri-cereals (Millets)
Foxtail millet (Navane) Setaria italic
Proso millet (Baragu) Panicummiliaceum
Barnyard millet (Udalu) EchinochloaFrumuntacea
Brown top millet (Korale) Brachiaria ramose
Little millet (Same) Panicumsumatrens

Kodo millet (Haraka) Paspalumscrobiculatum

Research studies on organic nutrient management in French bean (Phaselous vulgaris),Bhendi(Abelmaschusesculentus), Chilli (Capsicum annum), Tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum), Black cumin (Nigella sativa), Coriander (Coriandrumsativum) and Rice bean (Vigna umbellate) has indicated good results in organic farming pratices.

Similar studies to develop organic package on use of various organic sources in combination with liquid organic manures is being evaluated in oil seed crops like sunflower, groundnut, niger and sesamum.

Developed one acre model on organic vegetable production at RIOF field unit, UAS, GKVK, B-65.
Evaluation of different oilcake extracts for biofertilizers production– With the concern of successful production of biocontrol and bioagents by using locally available oilcakes viz., ground nut, neem and pongamia were found to show higher shelf life of all the biofertilizers and biocontrol agents till 60 days after inoculation. The addition of Glucose at 1% has resulted in higher microbial count than without glucose. Neem followed by groundnut and pongamia has shown better shelf life of microorganisms and hence these oilcakes are better alternative for farmers to mass multiply local.

Extension & Training Activities

Demonstration of cultivation of organic vegetable crops to educate farmers and other stakeholders (1 acre model) at RIOF field.
Demonstration of preparation of liquid organic manures, plant based biopesticides, different methods of composting and vermicomposting.
Demonstration of organic cultivation practices-Nutrient Management, Pest & Disease Management.
Production and marketing of biofertilizers, bio-control agents of popularize the use in farming community.
Training on organic farming to all stakeholders of organic farming.