Table Of ContentPrinciples of
Organic Farming
About the Authors
Dr E. Somasundaram, is the Professor and Head
of the Department of Sustainable Organic
Agriculture, Directorate of Crop Management, and
PRO of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Coimbatore, involved in education, teaching,
research and extension activities on organic
agriculture in the University. He has completed
M.Sc. (Ag.) with University rank and won S.R.P.P. Chettiar Gold
Medal and Shield, A.C Mudaliar and Rao Saheb Murugesa Mudaliar
awards for the best M.Sc. (Ag.). Student of the University. He has
also won PPIC Gold Medal for the best M.Sc. (Ag.) Thesis on resource
conservation and recycling for rice yield maximisation and IOB Gold
medal for the best M.Sc. (Ag.) Student in Agronomy. He is the recipient
of Prof. Subramanian and Dr.K.K.Subbiah awards for the best Ph.D.,
student in Agronomy. Recently he received the best Professor in
agribusiness management during 24th B School awards at Mumlai.
He visited several countries for presenting papers. He published many
books besides having 50 research publications and many popular
articles to his credit. He continues to guide M.Sc. and Ph.D. students.
Dr. D. Udhaya Nandhini, Post Doctoral Fellow,
Centre of Excellence in Sustaining Soil Health,
ADAC & RI, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University,
Trichy. She has completed her M.Sc. in Agronomy
in the same situation with reference to cropping
system in pigeonpea. She was awarded with Student
Senior Research Fellowship and worked on stress
physiology to study the effect of Lipo Chito Oligosaccharides (LCO)
compounds on maize and blackgram under stress conditions. She
was the recipient of Adarsh Vidya Saraswati Puraskar Award. She
authored 2 books besides having 30 research publications and several
popular articles to her credit.
Dr. M. Meyyappan obtained his B.Sc. (Ag.), M.Sc.
(Ag.) Agronomy and Ph.D in Agronomy from
Annamalai University. He secured first rank in M.Sc.
(Ag.) Agronomy. He is working as Assistant Professor
of Agronomy in Annamalai University from 2000
onwards. He is teaching various subjects for Diploma
in Agriculture, B,Sc. (Agri and Horti.), M.Sc. (Ag.) Agronomy and
Ph,D Agronomy students. He participated and presented papers in
eleven international conferences and twenty five National seminars.
He published twenty six research papers in various journals and
conference proceedings. He guided six M.Sc. (Ag.) Agronomy
students. He authored individually for two books, Basic Text Book
on Forestry and Notes on Water Management during 2012 and 2013
respectively.
Principles of
Organic Farming
E. Somasundaram
D. Udhaya Nandhini
M. Meyyappan
First published 2022
by CRC Press
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British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
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ISBN: 978-1-032-19784-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-26084-4 (ebk)
DOI: 10.1201/9781003260844
TAMIL NADU AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
Dr. K. Ramasamy, Ph.D. Coimbatore - 641 003
Vice-Chancellor Tamil Nadu, India
Foreword
Global interest has been increased on organic farming as it has
diversified benefits to the society and enviroQment. The rapid growth
of organic farming at global scale started during the implemented
and movements were promoted by both governmental and non
governmental organizations. This led to rapid development of organic
farming with co-ordinate and rational approach. By the end of 2017,
about 50.9 million hectares of organic agriculWural land including in-
conversion areas reported around 179 countries in the world showing
posLtiYe growing trend as compared to yesteryears.
The infRUPDtLon on organic agriculture is scattered while the interest
on subject is increasing linearly day by day. Therefore this effort
with the aim to fill the gap of need on various aspects of organic
farming and its publication is quite appropriDte and timely. The present
book title “Principles of Organic Farming” provides solid background
information that is accessible for those who have a stURng interest in
organic agricultural education, research and development.
I hopH that the book will cater the needs of undergraduates and
postgraduates studying organic agriculture and sustainable crop
production. The interpretation of subject matter in each chapter of
this book has also been made carefully and systematically by the
authors giving more emphasis on the requirements at thH agricultural
university level education in the country.
I have no doubt that this text book will go through many editions,
being reworked and updated to become a standard reference for
those pursuing courseV on organic farming in the country with
the days to come.
viii Principles of Organic Farming
The efforts by Dr. E. Somasundaram, Dr. Udhaya Nandhin and Dr.
M. Meyyappan to develop the theme for each chapter and transform
into a valuable publication deserves appreciation.
I am sure that this textbook would be of great value for the students
in particular and will be useful to the teaching community at large.
Place: Coimkbatore (K. Ramasamy)
Dated 17-10-2018
Preface
The quantitative sufficiency of food in our country has led into think
the maintenance of soil health and crop husbandry techniques, which
maintain the nature’s balance. Organic agriculture (OA) can be seen
as pioneering efforts to create sustainable development based on other
principles than mainstream agriculture. Practices of organic farming
are resilient and becoming increasingly important due to pressing
needs to protect the air, soils, and water; to improve socioeconomic
conditions of farmers, farm workers, and rural communities; and to
provide healthy, safe, and nutritious horticultural products to a rapidly
increasing world population.
Organic agriculture has always been India’s inherent advantage and
strength. The shift in the global consumption patterns, health
awareness among the consumers and the increasing significance of
sustainability is now putting Indian organic products to the forefront
both internationally as well as in the domestic market.
Principles of Organic Farming is a practical oriented text to organic
crop management that provides background information as well as
details of ecology-improving practices. This book is meant to give
the reader a holistic appreciation of the importance of organic farming
and to suggest ecologically sound practices that help to develop and
maintain sustainable agriculture. This book represents a current look
at what we know about organic farming practices and systems,
primarily from the Indian perspectives.
This book is intended as a professional basic textbook for
undergraduate level students and will specifically meet out the
requirement of the students of Organic Farming being taught at
many of the universities. In addition, the purpose of this work is to
spread the basic concepts of organic farming in order to; guide the
