INDIAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY THE INDIAN ECOLOGICAL SOCIETYINDIAN ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY (www.indianecologicalsociety.com) Past President: A.S. Atwal and G.S.Dhaliwal (Founded 1974, Registration No.: 3058-74) Registered Office College of Agriculture, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana ~ 141 004, Punjab, India (e-mail : indianecologiealsociety@gmail.com) Advisory Board Kamal Vata S.K. Singh S.K.Gupta Chanda Sido Atwal B. Pateriya KS. Verma Asha Dhawan AS. Panwar S.DamRoy VE. Singh Executive Council President AK, Dhawan Vice-Presidents R.Peshin SK. Bal Murli Dhar General Secretary SK. Chauhan Joint Seeretary-cum-Treasurer Vaneet Inder Kaur Councillors AK. Sharma A. Shukla S. Chakraborti A. Shanthanagouda Members TR. Sharma Kiran Bains S.K. Saxena Veena Khanna Jagdish Chander R.S.Chandel N.S. Thakur R.Banyal ‘TH. Masoodi Ashok Kumar Associate kaitor SS. Walia K. Selvaraj Editors RK. Pannu Harit K. Bal M.K. Meena J. Mukherjee GM. Narasimha Rao M.N, Rao Mushtaq A. Wani Harsimran Gill Haseena Bhaskar AK Tripathi Sumedha Bhandari Maninder Kaur Walia The Indian Jounal of Ecology is an official organ of the Indian Ecological Society and is published quarterly. Research papers in all fields of ecology are accepted for publication from the members. The annual and life membership fec is Rs (INR) 700 and Rs 4500, respectively within India and US $ 40 and 700 for overseas. The ‘annual subscription for institutions is Rs 4500 and US $ 150 within India and overseas, respectively. All payments, should be in favour ofthe Indian Ecological Society payable at Ludhiana. KEYLINKS WEB site-hup.//indiancoote Membership:hitp://indianecologicalsociety.com/society/memebership! Manuscript submission:hitp://indianecologicalsociety.com/society/submit-manuscript Status of research paper:http:/indianecologicalsociety.com/sceiety/paper-status-in-joural-2 Abstracts of research paperschitp://indianecologicalsociety.com/society/indian-ecology-journals! alsocicty.com,INDIAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY STS CONTRIBUTING PAPERS. CCAP Conference 2017 Climate Change and Agricultural Production-Adapting Crops to Climate Variability and Uncertainty (April 6-8, 2017) Editors A.K Dhawan Sanjeev K. Chauhan S.S. Walia S. Sheraz Mahdi Organized by Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour-813 210, Bhagalpur, India Indian Ecological Society, Ludhiana-141 004, IndiaIndian Journal of Coolegy (2017) 44 Special Isove-4) CONTENTS 01 Exposed to Global Warming Challenges, Opportunities and Future Directions AX Singh, S. Sheraz Mahdi and RIK Sokane (02 Application of RAPD and ISSR Markers for Fingerprinting of Promising Myrobalan Accessions (Terminaia chobula Retz.) An Indigenous Minor Agroforestry Tree Species Mahantappa Sankanur, N.B. Singh, Sanjeev Thakur, N.V. Saresh and Archana Verma 03. Assessment of Vulnerability to Agriculture in Kosi Region of Bihar Jyoti Bhart, Meera Kuman, S.M. Rahaman, LK. Meenaand S.L. Baiwa 01 Syetom of Root Intensification in Mustard: Climate Change Mitigation and Climate Resilionce Strategy, ‘Shashank Tyagi, Sanjay Kumar, M.K. Singh and Sunil Kumar 05. Statistical Modelling for Forecasting of Pear! Millet (Pennsetum glaucum) Productivity Based on Weather Variables S. Kour, PR. Vaishnav, S.K. Behera and U.K. Pradhan 06 Characterization of Stress Tolerant Mungbean Rhizobia es PGPR and Plant Growth Promotion Under Abiotic Stress. Homanta Kumar Mondal, Shikha Mchta, Harshproct Kaur and Rajosh Gora 07 Inheritance Patter of Salt Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) at Seedling Stage Patil Srinari Reddy, S. Thirumeni, K. Paramasivam, J. Karthick, Geddam Satyadeviand N. Selvarajeswari 08 Farmers Adaptations to Climate Variability under Nagarjuna Sagar Right Canal of Andhra Pradesh N.S. Praveen Kumar, ¥. Radha and KSR PAUL 09 Adaptation Behaviour of Farmers with respect to Climate Change in Ranchi, Jharkhand Varsha Kumari and O.P. Mishra 10. Genetic Variability of Chickpea Genotypes under Heat Stess Condition: Character Association and Path Cooffcient Basod Analysis Sanjay Kumar, Anand Kumar, Anil Kumar, Ravi Ranjan Kumar, Raj Kishore Roy and Tejashwini Agrawal 11. Spatial Distribution of Lead in Soils of Different Agro-climatic Zones of Jharkhand Rekesh Kumar, Shweta Shambhavi, Rajkishore Kumar, ¥.K. Singh and Suni Kumar 12. Estimation of Crop Wator Requirement Using CROPWAT 8.0 Model For Bina Command, Madhya Pradesh Anshu Gangwar, TR. Nayak, RAM. Singh and Ashutosh Singh 43. Chlorophyll Stability: A Better Tra for Grain Yield in Rice under Drought Sareeta Nahakpam 14 Study on Wilingnooe to Adoption of Mitigation Moaoures of Croenhouse Gace Emission in Dairy Farming Pampi Paul, B.S. Meena, Mukesh Kumar and Archana Bhatt 415. Analysis of Morpho-Physiological Traits for Rice Improvement Under Submeraence Condition Rajesh Kumar, Nilmani Prakash and Vinay Kumar 16 Exploring Genetic Diversity for Heat Tolerance among Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik:) Genotypes Anil Kumar, Anjali Kumari, Sanjay Kumar, Anand Kumar, Ravi Ranjan Kumar and PK.Singh 17 Effect of Light Intensity on Yield of Wheat under Eucalyptus tereticomis based Agr-silv-horticultural System Vishal Johar, R.S. Dhillon, K.K. Bhardwaj, Vinita Bisht and Tarun Kumar 18 Exogenous Applied Salicylic Acid Alleviates Adverse Effects of High Temperature on Photosynthesis in Late ‘Sown Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Shailesh Kumar, V.P. Singh, Sweta Mishra and Ajay Arora 19. Productivity and Economics of Wheat in Pearimillet-Wheat Cropping System Babli and Pawan Kumar 20 Effect of Tilage, Nutrient Management and Mulch on Productivity and Profitability of Cropping Sequences Under Vertsols in Central Plateau Zone of Maharashtra WAN. Nerkhede, RN. Khandare, 8.5. Khazi and MJ. Dende 21 Influence of Pressurised Irigation with Fertigation on Nutrient Uptake, Yield and Quality Parameters of Groundnut | Jeetendra Kumar Soni, N. Asoka Raja, Vimal Kumar and Ashutosh Kumar Date of Publication 15.03.2077] 13 a 28 33 38 43 48 53 59 65 n 7 93 90 95 100 105 109 11522 23 24 25 28 ca 28 29 30 3 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 a 42 43 44 CONTENTS Effect of Combined Organic and Inorganic Fertlizers and Weed Management for Sustained Productivity 120 of Aromatic Rice Pooja Kumari and D.K. Roy Effect of Different Row Arrangements on Performance of Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) and Dwarf Field 124 Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Intercropping Association ‘Shiv Bahadur, Surajyoti Pradhan, C.L. Maurya, Rajni ano S.K. Verma Impact of Tillage Practices on Growth, Yield and Economics of Lathyrus under Rainfed Rice Based Cropping 128 ‘System of Chhattisgarh To) Ram Banjaro, C.P. Pali and Abhishok Shor! Yield Improvement of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through Foliar Supplement of Potassium Nitrate under Low 132 Photothermal Quotient during Anthesis Amab Roy Chowdhury, Sunil Kumar, Mainak Ghosh, S.S Acharya and J.S. Deo! Clondardization of Date of Planting and Variety of Cproutng Broceoli (Draasica oleracea L.varitaioa Penk) 497 U. Thapa, R. Mondal, S. Kr. Subba, PH. Prasad and S. Nandi Effect of Fertility Levels and Biofertlizers on Macro Nutrient Content and Uptake by Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.) 142 Chetan Kumar Jangir, DP. Singh, Jagdish Choudhary and Jitendra Sharma Response of Wheat Varieties to Foliar Application of Bioragulators under Late Sown Condition 146 Savitri Sharma, B.S. Shekhawat, S.M. Gupta and H.L. Yedav Influence of Sowing Environments on Yield Attributes and Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties 150 tunder System of Wheat Intensification AK. Sonkar and JK. Singh Organic Farming Practices: A Way for Sustainable Agriculture 196 V. Sakthirama and S.D. Sivakumar Analysis of Radiation Use Efficiency, Yield Attrbutes and Quality Parameters of Basmati Rice (Oryza sativaL.) 164 Abhilash, Chander Shekhar Dagar, Raj Singh, Premdeep and Sagar Kumar Establishment of in vitro Micropropagation Protocol for Rase (Rosa x hybrida) cv. Raktagandha 166 ‘Shyama Kumari, Kanwar Pal Singh, D.V.S.Raju, Sapna Panwar and Subhashish Sarkiel Genetic Variability for Seed Yield and Protein Content in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik. L.) am Umakant Banjare, H.C. Nanda, Chitralekha Shyam, Upendra Sahu, Mallesh Parsagoni and Arun patel Genetic Diversity Analysis in Groundnut (Arachis hypogaza L.) Genotypes using D Statistics 175: Tulsi Ram Dhakar, Hemlata Sharma, Namrata and Prashant Bisen Effect of Gamma Radiations on Yield and Yield Attbuting Characters of Two Cultivars of Dolichos Bean 182 (Lablab purpureus L.) in M Generation Harish Kumar, Shivaputra, Manohar Lal Meghwal and S.M. Ghawade ‘Genetic Variation Deliniation among Fodder Pear! millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.)] Accessions and Napier 186 Grass Germplasm using SOR Markers Santosh Kumar, C. Babu, S. Revathi and P. Sumathi Heterasis Studies in Vegetable Cow Pea [Vigna unguiculata(L.) Walp.] For Yield and Quality Traits 190 Risha Varan, ¥.V. Singh, Vikas Kumar Jain and Prashant Bisen Exploration of Potential of Indigenous and Exotic Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Genotypes for Vield and 195 Earliness with respect to Climate Resilient Anjali Kumari, Ani Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Anand Kumar, Ravi Ranjan Kumar and PK. Singh ‘Study of Pollen Fertility in CMS based Pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Milspaugh] Hybrids 201 ‘Nishant Bhanu Akhoun, Yugandhar Gokial, Pankaj Kumer Pandey and M.N. Singh Characterization and Similarity of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Germplasm Lines through SSR Markers 208 ‘Mankesh Kumar, Nitu Kumari, Satyendra, Anand Kumar, &.P. Singh and PK. Singh Polinator Diversity and Relative Abundance of Insect Vistars on Apple (Malus domestica Bork) In Kashmir Valley 213 Tahmina Mushtag, Sheikh Bilal Ahmad, M.A. Aziz and Tahir Mushtaq Cultural and Physiological Characters of Curvularia lunata Causal Agent of Leaf Spot in Maize 220 Kotramma C. Adaangadi, S. | Harlepur and Basamma R. Hadimani Modelling Food Grain Production in Perspective of Climate Change 228 ‘Manoj Kumar, Subrat Keshori Behera and V Bhushana Eabu Periodic Changes in Light Intensity under Populus delfoides Based Agroforestry System in North-Western India 227 Chhavi Sirohi, K.S. Bangarwa and R.S. DhillonManuscript Number: 30 ‘untiany Journal vt Evvtoyy (2017) 44 (Special fooue). 190-100 Organic Farming Practices: A Way for Sustainable Agriculture V. Sakthirama and S.D.Sivakumar’ Department of Agricultural and Rural Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, india, “Department of Social Sciences, Agricultural College & Research Institute, Trichy-620 009, India E-mail: sakthirama@gmail.com ‘Abstract: Daring ast two decades, i was observed tala positive giowth inthe organic farming which helps to sustainable agriculture by {sing evan ely fring leagues hs is Sky, tally Ue aes allude etd varus gai fein prawn use Tamilnadu was done. Totally 240 organic farmers were surveyed from fur districts: Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Dharmapur. Attitude scale was developed and used for this study with ive point Likert scale. The efferent arms and levels of adoption oforganic farming techniques were conferred. The farm ecological practices, educational qualification anc organic farming experience were significant correlated wih organic. input production. The majority of respondent have positive attitude withthe perception of organic farming system helps to maintain sustainable ‘agriculture, environmental riendly methods. ‘Keywords: Organic farming. Sustainable agriculture. Farmers’ attitude In recent decades, worldwide farmers and researchers have reacted to the sustainable agricultural models which encompass “farming by way of nature" with different ecology based approaches, variously called natural, organic, low~ input, alternative, regenerative, holistic, biodynamic, bio intensive and biological farming systems. All these farming concepts are having a vision of “farming by way of nature.” Which has contributed to understand of an agro ecology that promotes biodiversity, recycles plant nutrients, protects soil from erosion, conserves and protects water, uses minimum tilage and integrates crop and livestock enterprises on the farm (Menalled et al, 2008 & Ganeshan eta, 2013). The last two decades has witnessed @ worldwide growth in the organic farming. Meanwhile, a growing movement has ‘emerged fo develop the sustainable farming practices. The concept of sustainable agriculture is stil evolving and rowing popularly as it encompasses bath changing altitudes towards farming and developing environmental awareness (Menalled et al, 2008). The organic farming is ‘one of he primitive farming practices, in which allthe farming inputs were eupplied from within the farm and allied farm activities. The natural food chains of organic farming faclitate ahealthy eco systemin the farm (Laepple, 2008). The positive attitude of farmers as well as consumers towards organic farming and organic products encompass the substance of safe food as well as safe eco system (Nayakarathna et al, 2013). During the green revolution peetiod, the chemical base farming introduced to enhance the productivity to teed the population. Uver the periog, it has been realized that organic farming is one of the means to maintain the sustainable growth in agriculture. Hence, the farmers again shifted to the organic farming practices with Integrated farm inputs systems to reduce the cost of production. In this study, the farmers’ attitude and various ‘organic farming practices with healthy farm eco system used in Tamilnaduis analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was conducted in four districts of Tamilndu: Coimbatore, Erode, Salem and Dharmapuri. In each district, 60 respondents were selected from the registered farmers! list of Tamilnadu Organic Certification Department (TNOCD). Totally 240 farmers were surveyed with the help of well structured interview schedule (2015-2016). In addition, the secondary data were collected from different published sources like research articles and department publications. Attitude scale was developed and used for this study with five point likert scale. The SPSS 20 package was used for this study tn analyze the variables RESULT AND DISCUSSION Demographic profile of organic farmers: The profile of ‘organic farmers regarding education, land holding, experience in organic farming, source of information etc are documented in Tablet ‘Adoption of organic farming techniques : Among the various agronomic crop production practices 85.4 per cent were adopted tillage techniques with sticks, summer tillage and followed by seventy per cent of farmers adopted the mulching practices with live plants and plant wastes in the lang preparation techniques. specially, the appication of organic mulches as a soil cover is effective in improving the quality of soil with high biomass and decrease the weed density (Sinkevigiené ot al, 2009). Some researchersOrganic Farming Practices for Sustainable Agriculture Table 1. General characteristics of organic farmers_N=240 Variables Frequency Percentage Gender Mae 190 ars, Female 7 25 Age (years) 21-0 ae 26 ato cy 200 4150 at 338 51460 6 160 61 and above 31 129 Educational qualifcation Netrate o oo Primary education 2 a ‘Secondary education a 279 Graduation 59 2468 Post Gratuaton 37 184 Diploma and others “8 200 Farm Size (hectares) Large (more than 5) 53 2208 Medium (2 to 5) 102 42.50 smallimarginaliess than 2) 85 35.42 Membership f society! cooperative Yes 198 804 Na a 198 Organic Farming experience (years) 1105 73 304 61010 6 254 more then 10 406 442 Extension visi trainings Yes 108 783 No 52 a7 ‘Source of Information (multiple response) Friends/Neighbours/Retatives 214 92 Extension agentsy omciais, “6 92 Radio ey 100 Television a 88 Newspaper Cy 283 Mobile-snd motile apps 12 467, others 8 54 Organic Inputs production Produce Own 181 754 Sourced outside 59 248 pointed out that increase in grain yield by mulching is attributed primarily to improve soil moisture regime and to decrease in soll temperature (Lal, 1974). In adaition, though the drip/sprinkler irrigations are new technology, 72.5 per cent were adopted in their farm to use water efficiently, The another slash and bum technique was adopted by 61.3 for 157 decompose the sugar cane trashes and Parthenium hhysterophorus weed control etc. Meanwhile, due to environmental concern, 28.3 per cent of respondents were ‘aware but not used snd 5.8 per cent were discontinued the practice (Table 2) Under the cropping pattern, crop rotation was adopted by ‘around 89 per cent of farmers. It was evident that crop rotation to maximize the efficient use of the Nitrogen with soil quality as well as helps to control pest and diseases incidents, (Alexander et al., 2009). Almost 83 per cent were grown treelhedges plants in the farm for the purpose to reduce the wing ntenssty andto manage input needs. Also some reviews. supported that the hedge plantations helps to insect hunters, In the means of natural pest control (Nyakundi and Kamau, 2014). In addition, Mixed cropping pattern was followed by 49.6 per cent of respondents. Mean while, inter cropping pattern was followed by only 38.3 per cent of respondents. Because, Inter cropping was more sultable for crops Ike plantation and vegetable crops than the crops like millet, pulses and cereals, Farm waste compost was one of the ‘main manure used among the respondents (91.3 per cent) followed by application of organic manures (76.7 per cent) like panchakavya, jeevamirtham, hor manure etc. ‘Subsequently, 51.3 per cent of respondent were applying green manures like sunhemp, dhaincha, nodulating leguminous crops ete. Majority of farmers (94.2 %) adopted manual hoeing/weeding techniques for weed management Similarly, 75 per cent of farmers used organic input for pest ‘and disease control. Twenty seven per cent were practiced hhand picking of insects as one of the pest control measure While, 26.3 per centof respondents were not aware about the: same. The handicking is best for large. slow-moving pests, such as caterpillars, colorado potato beeties, and slugs ete (Elis et a, 1996). Though lightpheromone traps was one of the new technique, 14 per cent were adopted and 32.9 per ‘cent were evaluated the traps for adoption. Only 1.4 per cent of respondents discontinued the use of pheromone traps, due tohiah cost Around 75.4 per cent used sun dryina of farm, produce. Natural way of storage techniqueslike farm storage structure for onion and other root crops etc., were used by 629 per cont. Approximately 14.6 per cent of farmers were not aware about the storage techniques. Fram the findings, it |s obviously expiained that farmers adopted seventeen out of eighteen listed organic farming practices with majority of respondents, This indicates that level of adoption of organic forming practic i litle high; thie could be aa a reault ofthe ‘easy adoption of organic practices which are more related to the traditional practices. (Adesope et al, 2012), In addition, the information based on multiple choice158 V. Sakthirama ard Table 2. Adoption of Organic Farming Techniques S.D.Sivakumar ‘S.No Organic Farming Techniques NA_AW 7 = 7 abe 1. Grop production techniques 2. Land preparation and jiigation 1 ‘Mulching practices 01) 21) (4-7) 24(12.1) 34(14.2) 168(70.0) 010) 2 Tilage techniques-with sticks, summer tilage 625) 17(7-1) 9(88) (0) —-3(4.3) 205(85.4) (0) 3 ‘Slash and burn 010) 6828.3) 5(2.1) (1.7) 2108) | 147(61.3) 1415.8) 4 Dripisprinkloririgations 010) 8.3) 1114.6) 25(104) 20183) 1741725) 208) ». Cropping pattem B (Crop rotation 01) (13) 1104) 913.8) 19154) 214(89.2) (0) 6 Inter cropping 010) 166.7) 2(08) 43(179) 87(96.3) 92(38.3) 0(0) 7 Mixed cropping 210.8) 2410.0) 10(7.5)31(129) 4619.2) 119496) 0) 8 Treetedges planting 010) 0) 9198) IDB) 30/125) 199(829) (0) ©. Manuring techniques B Organic manures 010) 4(1.7) 524) 313) 44(18.3) 184(76.7) 0(0) 40. Green manure 010) 93.8) 29(121) 37184) 42(17.5) 1281.3) (0) 11. Farmwaste Compost 01) 0) 8A). 110.4) 1415.8) 219(91.3) 010) 42 Vermi compost 010) 1954) 69(283) 1546.3) 55(22.9) 8835.8) 8(33) 1. Crop protection techniques 19. Hand picking of insocts 36(26.3) $7(238) 31.3) | 28(11.7) 24(10.0) 657.1) 00) 14. Manual Hovingimewding 01) 128.0) (0) 20.8) 220(94.2) (0) 18 Organic input for pest and disease control 010) 0.8) 18(7.5) 1646.7) 24(10.0) 180(75.0) (0) 16. _Lightipheromone traps 26(10.8) 16(6:7) 46(192) 79(929) 34(142) 35(14.6) 4(1.7) 1, Post harvest techniques 17. Natural way of storage techniques 35(148) 521) 88.3) 18(7.5) 2310.6) 1511629) 010) 18.____ Sun drying of fam produce 010) 59246) (0) 010) _—0(0)——*184(75.4) (0) ‘Note: NA-Not Aware; AW-Awareness; interest, E-Evaluaion, T=Tial A-adoption, DO-discontinuance Figures in parenthesis ae in percentages ‘about the crops adopted by respondent indicate that 89.6 per cent respondent had vegetable crops, followed by 81.7,53.8, 32.7 ,30.8 and 21.3 per cent adopted the spices and plantation! tree crops, fruits, pulsas and coreale. At the ‘same time only 5.4 per cent had flower crops. This variation ‘was happened due to lower preference of oraanic flower crops than other crops in market, Adoption of Ecological practices of farm: In the organic {farm eco system, 98.3 per cent of farmers depend on cow for farming practioas. Most of the farmers (85.0 per cent) were rearing birds like hen, turkey, duck and pegion etc. This {farmland birds helps to control the pest population and help out to make organic manure (Garfinkel and Johnson, 2015). In ‘addition, with their main crops to mect input demand, farmers cultivate herbs and trees with 85 and 80.4 per cent respectively (Figure 1). Particularly, ree species like neem tree (Azadirachta indica), pongam tree (Pongamia pinnata) eG, and herbs tke eruku (Galorupls giyanteanr ctl (Capsicum annuum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), garic (Allium sativum) , turmeric (Curcume longa) etc, were used in organic pest and disease control inputs (Caldwell etal, 2013), Relationship between organic input production and demographic and farm ecological practices: The variables like educational qualfcation, organic farming ‘onporionos and farm o00 eyotem wore positively aorrolated with organic input production include produced by their own ‘and sourced from outside. This implies that there exist 2 parallel relationship between farmers experience and ‘adoption which means that those with high farming experience have higher adoption level of own input production. Farm size and extension visit trainings were significantly corretated with 0.05 level, which reveals that while farm size and training experience increase, they ‘adopted their own input production (Table 3). Attitude of farmers towards organic farming: Majority of respondents (80.8 per cent) strongly agreed and 16.3 per cent agreed with positive attitude that organic farming system helps to maintain sustainable agriculture and cultivation practices of organic taming encompass environmental friendly methods. Similarly, nearly 74.6 per cent and 23.8 per Cent of respondents strongly agreed and agreed respectively that organic farming helps to increase farm eco system.(Organic Farming Practices for Sustainable Agriculture 159 Fig. 4. The Organic Farm Eco System ‘Totally 76.4 per cent of respondents agreed that organic farming practices reduce the input cost; when 18.8 per cent fall on neutral with five per cent of disagree. Moreover, 51.7 per cent of respondents disagreed and 7.1 per cent strongly disagreed that organic farming practices helps to get more Table 3. Correlation coefficient of organic input production with demographic and farm ecological practices arabes Royale ‘Gender 0.026 age (years) 0175 Faueational ewalification 27a Farm Size (hectares) ozs2 Organic Farming experience (years) 0.308 Extension visi trainings zat" Membership of society! cooperative 0.058 0.295" Table 4. Attitude of farmers towards organic farming yleld. Though organic farming produces eater food, there \was less productivity than conventional. Atthe same time, 4.6 pper cent agreed for high yield of organic farming practices (Table 4). While considering overall perception, majority of the farmers had positive atitude towards organic farming, ‘CONCLUSION All examined seventeen out of eighteen listed organic farming practices which encompass land preparation and irrigation, cropping pattern, manuring techniques, crop protection techniques and post harvest techniques were ‘adopted by majority of respondents except lightipheromone: traps. Less knowledge and awareness about light or pheromone traps among the farmers is the reason of non Usage of he technique. Same way, It was insisted that there 's a requirement to increase knowledge and awareness of ‘some respondents on the techniques namely hand picking of insects, sun drying of farm produce, natural way of storage: Farmers’ atitude (N=240) SA a N ° 30. Increase the sol healthandwealth 458(65.8) €2(942) ° ° 0 eauce tne nputcost 166.7) THY) 4(THB)——T ED) v Increase the farm eco system 17a746) 571238) (1.7) ° ° Maintain sustainable agriculture 14808) 39(168.3) 7129) ° ° A clan pracices of onic farming encompass 119486) 117488) (1.7) ° ° More yield than conventional practices 20.8) 93.8) 88(96.7) 124517) 1707.1) Hhigh social values 5322.1) 130157.) 22(9.2)__26(10.8) ° Note: Sa-Sirongly Agios Agree: Neu ‘D-Disagiee, SO-Sirongly Disagree, Figues i parenthesis are ih percentages160 techniques, mixed cropping and summer tilage techniques. It was found that most of the respondents perceived that organic farming practices increased the farm eco system, Further the farm eco eyetem with animale, birds, trove herbs ‘were highly correlated with own organic input production practice. Hence the production cost willbe reduced through ‘own input materials. In addition, the farmers have positive altitude and itwas found that organic farming practices helps to maintain sustainable agriculture, have environmental friendly methods, increase farm eco system and the soil health and wealth (Rigby and Caceres, 2001). Consequently, it was concluded that organic tarming practices 1s one of tne efficient way toadopt sustainable agricultural practices, REFERENCES: ‘Adesope OM, Matthews-Njoku EC, Oguzor NS and Uguuja VC 2072. fect of Socio Economie Charactestice of Farmers oo Their Adoption of Organic Farming Practices, Crop Production Technologies, Dr, Peeyusn Sharma (Ea), ISBN: 976-053-307 TATA Intech, 212 ‘Alexander D, Rajan S, Rajamony L, UshakumariK and Sajan Kurien 72009. The Adhos Package of Practices Recommendations For Organic Farming, Direciorate of Resoarch Kerala Agricultural University Caldwell Brian, Eric Sideman, Abby Seaman, Anthony Shetton and Christine Smart 2013. Resource Guide for Organic Insect and Disease Management. Comel! 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