Organic Manures as a Component of INM in Potato

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Organic Manures as a Component of INM in Potato

Introduction

During the last two decade, ‘Organic Agriculture’ has emerged as a dynamic ‘Alternate Farming System’ This has been necessitated as a consequence of resource degradation in our efforts to achieve high yields in various crops to meet the increasing demand of food by the burgeoning population.

Simultaneously, there is also a growing global awareness on food health and environment. Like other food stuffs, the consumers are also concerned about the potato, they eat.

Both the international and domestic communities are becoming more and more conscious on issues like residues of poisonous agrochemicals in potatoes and their associated health and environmental hazards.

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Organic Manures as a Component of INM in Potato

Introduction

Both the international and domestic communities are becoming more and more conscious on issues like residues of poisonous agrochemicals in potatoes and their associated health and environmental hazards.

In view of such growing awareness, there has been a paradigm shift and interest to adopt organic potato production systems, which are ecologically and economically viable and socially justified.

India with its varied climate and variety of soils has an enormous potential for organic production of potato.

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The potato produced without the use of agrochemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides and synthetic growth regulators is called organic potato. Its production depends mainly on improved seed including genetically engineered potato strains, crop rotation, minimum tillage practices, manuring through organic materials (viz. crop residues, animal excreta, nitrogen fixing legumes, green manure, off farm organic residues), mineral bearing rocks (viz. rock phosphate and gypsum) and management of pest and diseases through non-polluting substances like biopesticides. Application of biological control principles including use of sulphur dust, extracts of toxic plants and antibiotics derived from fermentation are part of this. It permits use of biologically produced plant growth regulators, wind energy and solar energy. The weed control is affected through crop rotations and manual weeding.

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Organic Potato Production

Organic Manures as a Component of INM in Potato

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Organic Potato Production Contd…

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The operative principal objectives of organic potato production are:• Produce potato of high nutritional quality in sufficient quantity.• Work with natural systems rather than seeking to dominate them.• Make maximal but sustainable use of local resources.• Encourage and enhance the biological cycle within farming system

involving microorganism, soil flora and fauna, plants and animals.• Ensures the basic biological functions of soil-water– nutrients- human

continuum.• Maintain and increase the long term fertility of soils.• Use as far as possible, renewable resources in locally organized

agricultural systems.• Work, as much as possible, within a closed system with regard to organic

matter and nutrient elements.• Avoid all forms of pollution that may result from agricultural techniques.• Maintain the genetic diversity of potato and its surroundings.• Allow potato producers adequate returns and satisfaction from their work,

including a safe working environment.• Consider the wider social and ecological impact of potato cultivation.

Organic Potato Production

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Organic Potato Production Contd…

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Evaluation of Approaches

Compared to conventional method of potato production, the tuber yields in different potato cultivars (viz. Kufri Anand, Kufri Sutlej, Kufri Bahar, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-2) were always observed to be lower in three organic approaches (biodynamic, use of bulky organic manures and homeopathy). The reasons for reduced yields included slow release of nitrogen from organic source causing forced maturity, N deficiency and reducing chlorophyll content in leaves ultimately resulting in lower yields.

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Evaluation of Approaches

However except homeopathic approach, organic tuber yields increased consistently (70-80%), in all the cultivars tried, in succeeding years, when the crop did not suffer from frost or disease and was raised on same site without disturbing layout. The tuber yields, though low under organic approaches, had higher dry matter content, specific gravity and superior chip colour to conventional approach. The soil analysis revealed that use of organic manures improved the soil organic carbon content and the total nitrate nitrogen in soil profile.

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Future Strategies

In order to harvest a good crop of organic potato, selection of suitable varieties is one of the most important pre-requisites. The use of varieties that are better adapted to local biotic conditions (e.g. biological control of pests and diseases, climatic stress) has to be promoted. All the best varieties/land races of the conventional farming may not be suitable for organic potato production. Improved nutrient use efficiency is required for better utilization of nutrients that will in turn, result in production of higher biomass, partitioned efficiency to improve the harvest index/ economic yield.

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