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ENHANCING SOIL FERTILITY

IN ORGANIC FARMING

S. Arumugasamy, K. Subramanian & Subhashini Sridhar

Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems,

Chennai
July 2012

Title

Enhancing Soil Fertility in

Organic Farming

Authors

S. Arurnugasarny. K. Subramannan &

Subhashini Sridhar

PREFACE

1.D.Nirmala Dcvi &

K Vijayalakshmi

Publication

November 2007

1st Reprint

July 2012

Financial Support

Jarnsetji Tata Trust, Mumbai

Cover photograph

Arjun Dogra, Fcotone,

Chennai

Cover design

Anand Ramachandran, Chennai

Typesetting

S. Ramesh

Published by

Centre for Indian Knowledge

Systems, Cnennai

Copies can be had from

Centre for Indian Knowledge

Systems
No.30, Gandhi Mandapam Road.
Kotturpuram, Chennai 600 085
Ph: (044) 24471087, 2447862
E-mail : info@ciksorg /
ciksorg@gmaii.com

To increase productivity, high yielding varieties, fertilizer and

pesticide chemical were used in agriculture. The chemical
fertilizers that were used to increase soil fertility have caused
serious problems. Several changes have been brought about in
the pH of the soil and also the microbial population has been
destroyed to a large extent.
Farmers have, realized the problems of continuous use of
chemical fertilizers, They are now looking for organic
alternatives to chemicals. It is possible to enhance the fertility
of the soil using farmyard manure, composts and bio fertilizers.
This book describes in detail the different ways by which soil
fertility can be enhanced using organic material. It also provides
information on the preparation of simple composts. We hope
1
i
tnat
tnls win oe or use to ann organic rarmers across the
country We are glad to bring out the first reprint of this
book.
.

Website : www.ciks.org
Printed b

Unique Graft Printers

Old no. 42, New no. 40

lyam Perumal Street

Royapettah, Chennai

600014

Chennai
July 2012

K. Vijayalakshmi
Research Director

Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems:

INTRODUC1

or

(Chickpea)

A Brief Profile
Objectives
The Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems is an
organisation devoted to exploring and developing the
contemporary relevance and applications of traditional
Indian knowledge systems with the focus areas being
agriculture and health care. Our aim is to strengthen and
revitalize indigenous sciences and practices.
-

Activities
Some of the major programmes of the centre are:
Action Research and Training Programmes on

various aspects of sustainable agriculture.

Setting up of Rural Gene Banks for the conservation

of Traditional Seed Varieties.

Developing organic packages for crops such as

paddy and cotton.

Research on the applications of Vrkshayurveda

(Traditional Indian Plant Science).

Preparation of audiovisuals on various aspects of

organic farming.
Publication of books, posters and newsletters on

T aditional Health Care and Traditional Agriculture.

Forfurther information contact:

Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems

No.30, Gandhi Mandapam Road,
Kotturpuram, Chennai 600 085
-

Ph: (044) 24471087, 24475862

e-mail: info@ciks.org / ciksorg@gmail.com

website : www ciks.org

The farming system that was followed by

harmony with nature. The soil was then very
>
level of microbial population with the use oft
The environment was also clean and pollution
any chemical contamination. Hence in those days,,
lived a long and healthy life.
During the late 1960s, in order to increase the productivity to
meet the needs of the increasing population, modem techniques
were introduced in agriculture in the name of Green Revolution.
As a result, hybrid seeds gradually entered agriculture. Large
amounts of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides were
introduced and farmers used them in their fields to increase
the productivity. The farmers. who were initially reluctant to
use them, slowly started using chemicals in their fields,
considering the short term benefits. During the initial stages,
chemical fertilizers combined with ti e f tile soil, ncarly
doubled the production. But gradually, the pH level of the
soil was disturbed and the soil lost its fertility due to use of
high levels of chemical fertilize s
When chemical fertilizers are used the microorganisms and
earthworms that live in the soil are destroyed and as a result,
the soil loses its fertility. The sol beco ties hard and it becomes
difficult for the seeds to germinat ir such soil.
Today, farmers have realiz
,d the effects of chemical fertilizers
t
and are looking for organic alternatives In the following
section, we would see about th ar c u types, amount and
methods of use of organic inputs for increas ig soil fertility.

1.

Farmyard Manure

The waste of cattle, goat and pig are generally used as farmyard
manure. All the nutrients required by the plants are present in
small quantities in this manure. They remain in the soil for
long periods and produce good results.

Method of Use
Nearly 57 tractor loads of farmyard manure should be applied
for one acre, When farmyard ma rure is allowed to remain in
the soil for long periods, there are chances for more than 50%
of the nutrients to get wasted due to soil erosion and high
temperature. Hence, the manure should be applied and
ploughed into the soil on the same day. When it is not possible
to use it on the same day, the manure should be kept covered
and water should be sprinkled.
2.

Biofertilisers

Some of the microorganisms found in the soil fix atmospheric

nitrogen and convert it into a form that can be absorbed by
plants. The manure containing such microorganisms are termed
as Biofertilizers, Some of the microbes that are commonly used
include Acetobacter, Azospirillum and Ph osphobacteria. They
not only reduce the expenditure but also increase the yield and
improve the fertility of the soil.

Azospirillum can be used for all varieties of crops.

Acetobacter it is mostly used for sugarcane crop.
Rhizobium It should be used only for leguminous crops
The species Rhizobium leguminosarum can be used for
crops such as Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea or Red Gram),
Vigna mungo (Black Gram), Vigna unguiculata (Cowpea),
Vigna yadiata (Green gram) and the species Rhizobium

laponicum can be used for crops such as Cicer (Chickpea)

and Glycine max (Soybean). The Rhizobium species used
for a particular crop has no effect on the other crups.
Seed treatment using Rhizobium produces good results.
Phosphobacteria it is a type of bacteria that is capable
of growing around the root surface of the plant. The
growth of this microorganism helps in conversion of
insoluble phosphate (a source of phosphorus) into a
soluble form in the soil, Thus it aids in absorption of
phosphorus by plants. This can be used for all kinds of
crops.
-

Method of Application
Biofertilisers can be applied to the plants in four different ways.
a)

Direct mixing with seeds

b)

Use in Nursery

c)

Root immersion and planting

d)

Direct mixing with soil

a.

Direct mixing with seeds

500 g of Azospirillum is needed for treating the seeds requir d

for one acre of land. The seeds that are ready for sowing are
taken in a wide mouthed vessel. In another vessel litre of
cooled rice gruel is mixed with Azospirillum and stirred well
with a clean spatula. This semisolid solution is then added
little by little to the vessel containing the seeds and nixed x eli
with the hand. Later, the seeds are dried in shade for 3D mInutes
and immediately sown

One kg of Azospir ilium is required for the seedlings to be

transplanted in one acre of land It is mixed with 5 kg of
farmyard manure and strewn in the nursery 30 minutes before
transplanting Then the seedlings are plucked and placed for
30 minutes in the nursery o I itselr so that their roots are
submerge& Tf e s edlings a I en ansplante&

One kilogram of Azospiril ii mixed well with 50 litres of

water. The roots of seedlings a e doped in this solution for 30
minutes and then plant d

Yield is increased by 1020% in all crops.

It helps in development of roots.

Things to be taken care of while using biofertilizers

Biofertilisers should be used before the date of expiry.

+

They should not be used along with chemical fertilizers.

They should be stored in dry and dark places.

Chemical fertilizers should not be used in fields where

biofertilizers have been applied. There are chances for the
microorganisms to be destroyed when chemical fertilizers
are used.

Azolla
Abo 2 kg of an nitrog n fix rig biofertiliser (Azospirillum /
cetobacter) and 2 kg i pl phuius fixing Phosphobactria
are mixed with 25 kg of farm ard manure or compost and then
added to the soil on tI r da of sowing or a day before sowing.

Azospirillum, Acetobacter 131 izobium

+
They fix the atmospheric ni rogen in the root regions of
crops, thereby enabling asy assimilation of nitrogen by
crops. This enable the plant to grow well

The cost of ad

ri

cr I srs s reduced by 10%.

It is a floating fern that grows in the stagnant water of rice

fields, This plant contains an alga called Anabc

ena azollae in
4
the cavities of the fronds. It provides the necessary nutrients
and space required for the growth of this algae. In turn, the
algae provide azolla with the fixed atmospheric nitrogen and
other nutrients essential for its growth Azolla grow s well in
marshy land where paddy is cultivated
Method of Application
About 23 kg of Azolla is required per acre of land. First, re
water should be allowed to stagnate in the land to be cultivated
Then Azolla should be sown. After 15 days, these plants a e
stamped into the soil before transplanting is done. It degrades
in about 7-10 days and provides nitrngen to the ricP crnp.
Growing Azolla along with Paddy

After 5-10 days of planting, Azolla should be strewn in the

rice fields. It grows along with rice as an intercrop It grows
well in about 25 days and spreads uniformly o er the field,

Then the water in the field is allowed to drain and Azolla is

stamped beneath the soil. Once again, Azolla grows profusely.
This is again stamped at the time of second weeding. Burying
Azolla beneath the soil once helps in fixing 15-20 kg of nitrgen.

seasons, Thereafter, it grows naturally in the land and produces

the desired result.
Advantages of using Blue Green Algae
+

Crops obtain 60% nitrogen content by use of blue green

algae.

Advantages of using Azolla

+

It provides nitrogen to the crops.

Expenditure made towards purchase of manures is reduced

to a great extent.

The algal filaments decompose in the fields and increase

the humus content of the soil.

It dissolves phosphorus and makes it available to the crop.

Yield increases.

The crop grows well,

It dissolves iron and sulphur salts stagnating in the soil,

thereby increasing soil fertility.

By growing it along with paddy crop, weeds can be

eliminated,

It not only increases soil fertility but also enhances the

chemical properties of the soil.

Use of Azolla as a green manure is equivalent to the use

of Ammonium sulphate fertiliser,

Plant growth hormones produced by it increases plant

growth.

Blue Green Algae

3.

Modified Panchagavya

It is a type of photosynthetic cyanobacteria that belongs to the

plant kingdom. It is found in paddy fields where good sunlight,
water, high temperature and high nutrients are found, It fixes
atmospheric nitrogen. It can be seen floating as dense mats in
paddy fields. It is a filament ous form found on the water
surface. It grows well in clayey and alluvial soil.

Modified panchagavya is a growth promoter produced with

the combination of five products obtained from the cow along
with few other bioproducts.

Materials Required

Materials required for preparing modified panchagavya required

for one acre of crop.

Method of Application

Blue Green algae is added to the soil within 5-10 days of

transplanting at the rate of 4 kg/acre. They arc available as small
bits in plastic packets. This should be powdered and added
directly to the soil. -[ ater should be allowed to stagnate to a
depth of 3-5 cms in fields where algae are grown. Blue green
algae should be added to the field continuously for 4 cropping
6

Cow dung

5 kg

Cows urine

3 litres

Ghee
Cows Milk

Curd

ilitre
2 litres

Tender coconut

3 litres

Cane juice or jaggery

3 litres (or) 1 kg

Yellow plantain

12 nos (or) honey kg

Method of Preparation

Mix cow dung and ghee together and keep it separately

in a plastic / mud pot and cover the mouth of the pot
with a khada cloth.

Stir this well in morning and evening for a week.

After a weeks time, add milk (boiled and cooled), curd,

cows urine, tender coconut, jaggery/ sugarcane juice,
yellow plantain (ripe), mix together and keep it
undisturbed for a day and filter it using a gunny cloth.

Panchagavya which is now ready should be stored in

plastic bottles,

water or can also be used for direct spraying. For use along
with irrigation water, 300 litres of this extract is required for
nne acre of the crop. For foliar spraying, 10 litres is required
per acre of the crop. This improves the soil fertility and gives
good yield.
5,

Green Manure

There is a general practice among the farmers to cultivate certain

crops in the field before cultivating the main crop and
ploughing them back into the soil, before they come to
flowering. Such crops are called as green manure crops. They
help to improve soil fertility.
Commonly used Green Manure Plants
Sun hemp (Crotalariajuncea)
Dainchaa (Sesbania cannabina)
Sesbania (Sesbania speciosa)

Amirthakaraisal

Wild indigo (Tephrosia purpurea)

Its uses are much similar to Panchagavya. The preparation is

easy and economical.

Indian indigo Indigofera tinctoria)

lephrosia noctiflora

Materials required
Fresh cow dung

10 kg

Cows urine

10 litres

Jaggery

250 gm

Water

100 litres

About 1045 kg of green manure seeds are required for

cultivating in one acre. They should be ploughed into the soil
before they start flowering (i.e. 45-50 days after sowing). rhe
fibre content of the crop would increase once they start
flowering and hence takes long time to decay.

6.

Method of preparation
The above mentioned ingredients should be added to a cement
tank and mixed well. The extract would be ready for use the
next day. 10% of this extract can be used along with irrigation
8

Green Leaf Manure

It is a common practice among farmers to plough in the green

leafy twigs of certain plants into the field rhe plants that are
used for this purpose are termed as green leaf manure plants.
9

Commonly used Green Leaf Manure Plants

Cake

Basal manure Topdressing

Neem seed powder

40 kg / acre

25 kg / acre

Neem tree (Azadirachta indica)

Neem seed cake

from the oil expeller
from the shop

60 kg / acre
100 kg / acre

25 kg / acre
50 kg / acre

The spotted glinicidia (Gliricidia sepiurn)

Groundnut cake

40 kg/acne

25kg /acre

Sins tree A1bizia lebbeck)

Gigantic swallow wort (calotropis gigaritea)
Indian beech (Pongamiapinnata)

The tanners cassia (Cassia auriculata)

The white gulmohar (Delonix elata)
Care should be taken to plough in only the green leafy twigs.
It would take a long time to decay when thick sterns are used.
About 740 cartloads of green manure leaves are required for
once acre of land.

Oil Seed Cakes

Nitrogen is highly essential for crop growth. Crops require more

of nitrogen during its initial stages of growth. Oil seed cake is
a good source of instant organic nitrogen. There are different
kinds of oil seed cakes such as groundnut cake, neem seed cake
and castor seed cake that are used for the crops. Neem cake can
be used as the basal manure for all kinds of crops. It is advisable
to use them in limited quantities for the vegetable crops.
Groundnut cake can be used in large quantities.
About 40400 kg of oil cakes would be required for use as
basal manure, Groundnut cake can be used both as basal manure
and for top dressing. The different oil cakes can also be mixed
together and used. Quantity required for one acre of paddy
crop is given below:

I0

8.

Application of Silt

Silt is commonly found on the banks of the water bodies such

as lakes, rivers and ponds. Silt is a manure of high quality,
containing several nutritive elements. It is the sedimentary
deposit of the top soil, dead life forms and their debris.
About 5-7 tractor loads of silt should be applied per acre of
sandy soil. They should be applied 3-4 times in a year. This
will reduce the sandy nature of the soil and it becomes clayey.
This in turn improves the water holding capacity of the soil
which favours microorganisms.
Silt should be applied for clayey and alkaline soils. Application
of silt to such soils will increase the clay content of the soil
and reduce the water percolation capacity. Hence, there will
be water stagnation in the farm throughout and it gets diffi ult
for cultivation of crops.
9.

Crop Rotation

Today, there is a practice of cultivating the same variety of c op

every season. When the same crop is planted every seaon he
soil becomes deficient of the particular nutrient that is utili ed
by the plant.
Ii

Crop rotation refers to the cultivating of different crops that

have different nutrient requirements. When leguminous plants
are cultivated, they trap the atmospheric nitrogen and convert
it to the form that can be easily utilized by the plants. Some
of the examples are given below.
Seasons

Samba

C
R
0

P
S

It is equally important to conserve rain water. It is necessary

to take steps to prevent soil erosion and enhance soil fertility.

Counter ploughing.

Dividing a large farm area into small sized plots.

Forming bunds of equal heights.

Cultivating cover crops.

Growing trees

Raising wind breaks

(July Dec.)

Navarai
(Dec March)

(April June)

Paddy

Black gram

Sesame

Paddy

Ground nut

Paddy

Paddy

Cottor

Any of the above mentioned techniques can be employed

according to the suitability of the respective areas.

Paddy

Vegetables

Green manure
crops (for seeds)

11. Composting Techniques

Sornavari

The crop cultivation should be planned in such a manner that

the nutrients used by the first crop should be replaced by the
following crop. The nutrient requirement of the second crop
should be also different.

10 Preventing soil erosion

Prevention of soil erosion is as important as that of improving
the soil fertility. Depending on the nature of top 5011 and the
soil profile, we decide whether soil is fit for cultivation or not.
Generally, the first few inches of soil hold most of the nutrients
required by the plants. Most of the agricultural activities take
place in this region. Hence it is extremely important to prevent
the top soil from being eroded away by wind and rain

Composting is the method of converting the organically

available, non decayed plant and cattle waste into a dark brown
textured, fluffy organic material rich in humus and low in
density. The organic matter that is obtained is referred as
compost.

Types of Composting
There are two main types of composting namely
a.

Vermicompost

b.

Biodung compost

a.

Vermicompost

A shady area with no direct sunlight is an ideal location for

building a vermicompost bed. The banana stems and leaves
should be piled up to make a tight rectangular bunch

13

Partially decomposed cow dung should be added to a height of

45 to 60 cm. The cow dung will act as food source for the
earthworms immediately after they are introduced. Once they
establish themselves in the bed, the earthworms will start
feeding on the banana vegetation pieces. Water should be
sprinkled on the surface to maintain moisture levels.
Earthworms need a moist environment to survive and will
perish if it gets too dry. Hence maintaining moisture levels is
critical to the process.

compost that is collected from the heap will have unnecessaty

objects like stones and litter. These have to be removed by
sieving before they are packed for storage. The sieve separates
the stones and litter. More importantly it also separates out
the earthworms which can be released back into the heap I he
sieved compost is now ready for packaging and use on the field.

To harvest the compost, the top of heap should be left to dry

out so that the worms move to the deeper layers. The compost
can then be collected by raking the surface carefully. The

b. Biodung Compost
Land Selection

The land selected should not be low lying or prone to

water logging.

An upland that has shade is ideal for compoct preparation.

The land selected for compost preparation should not be

penetrated by roots of trees and it should not be sandy.

There should be no irrigation channels near the

composting area.

Agricultural wastes that would ealy decompose should

be used for compost preparation.
A place of 6 m x 1.5 m x 1.2 m dimension chould be selected.
he length can be adjusted according to the requirement).
1
Spread the twigs to a thickness of 0.15 m as the basal ma a
th
Spread coconut fronds uniformly over it. Follow this v f at
or dry agricultural waste to a thickness of 0 15 C
Sprinkle water over this in a such a way that all the te
material becomes moist. After this, sprinkle cow dung s )fl
on the agricultural waste. Repeat the above steps u to a I ht
r
of 1-1 2 m from the ground level. re shar uld be
sm
Le
k
p
thateachlayer
5
O
isatleast0.l 30 m
all
k
wi
h
surface
whol
the
cover
and
surface
on the under
polythene sheet. Sprinkle water penrdicallv at a ;rten..iI of
nn
23 days. The water that evaporates due tn Ii ,r
n heat lr
a
the polythene sheet and returns back c t

14

15

Nearly, 2 kgs of earthworms are required for a heap of 6 ft

length, 3 ft width and 2 ft height. The earthworms will quickly
get in to the top layer of partially decomposed cow dung.
Earthworms are very sensitive to changes in temperature and
moisture. They need a continuous supply of food in the form
of compost material. Hence the heap should be constantly
monitored and maintained.
Water should be sprinkled on the heap just after inoculation.
As a find stage the bed should be covered with dried litter or
hay. This helps retain the moisture and also protects the
earthworms from predators. The earthworms will feed on the
partially decomposed cow dung and convert all the biomass
into manure within 15 to 25 days of inoculation. After about
25 days the vermicompost can be collected for use. The heap
should be cleared of the hay and litter first. The bed should be
checked for casts of the earthworms to ensure the proper
consumption of the organic matter. The excrement of
earthworms is a stable mass of soil closely bound to organic
matter. They have high nutrient levels and good water retention
capacity.

(Pj

5 days, the temperature raises to 50_600 C. Insert a twig into

the heap and remove it. The tip of the twig should be hot when
touched. This is an indication of proper composting. The heap
should be turned over once on the 30th day. The compost would
be ready in 60 days.
Note: Cow dung solution should be prepared by dissolving
2 kg of fresh dung in 10 litres of water.
Importance of Composting
+

Converting the waste into compost and applying them

to plants, helps the plants to utilize the nutrients easily.

The microbial content would be high in lands where

vermicompost is being used.

The water holding capacity of the soil increases.

Growth of weeds is controlled,

The pH of the soil is also maintained properly.

Chemicals should not be mixed along with organic products

in order to improve the soil fertility. The benefits of using
organic products will be lost when chemicals are used.
The time taken for conversion to a complete organic farm varies
depending on the extent of damage to the soil, the climatic
conditions of that particular area and the quality and quantity
of inputs used for improving soil fertility.

16