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Agriculture Practices Mitigate Climate Change and Global Warming

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Friends,  Most of northern India has had a freak weather. Rains and hail storms over a wide swath have caused heavy loss to wheat crop and vegetable crops in its wake. We have seen unusually warm winter season, a very different kind of rainy season. We say it is due to CLIMATE CHANGE.

What is Climate Change and what can be done by us to mitigate this change ?

Model by US EPA to differentiate between influnces on global temp rise

Model by US EPA to differentiate between influnces on global temp rise

Causes and Effect of Climate Change.

Temperature on the Earth would have shot up many times due to Sun Rays had there not been a naturally occurring balancing act going on. Earth is heated up by Sun Rays. Release of absorbed heat into space cools the earth. By reflecting the sun’s energy, earth avoids heating.

 

The Balancing is between:

  1. Variations in sun’s energy which is received by earth.
  2. Changes in reflectivity of earth’s surface and its atmosphere.
  3. Changes in green house effect (retention of heat by earth’s atmosphere).

There.  That is some discussion on  global warming and climate change.

The climate changes were thought  to relate to naturally occurring phenomenon such as volcanic activities, solar energy changes and natural changes in green house gases (GHG) concentrations. However recent climate changes cannot be explained only on naturally occurring cases. It is now required to factor in effect of human activities which also causes climate changes. From the time of Industrial Revolution, human activities producing greenhouse gases like CO2, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and others is only increasing.

increasing carbon in atmosphere

sources of carbon increasing while absorbing remains lower

Human activities currently release over 30 billion tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year.[2] The resultant build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere is like a tub filling with water, where more water flows from the faucet than the drain can take away.

Methane is produced through both natural and human activities. For example, natural wetlands, agricultural activities, and fossil fuel extraction and transport all emit CH4. Due to human activities, CH4 concentrations increased sharply during most of the 20th century and are now more than two-and-a-half times pre-industrial levels.

Nitrous oxide is produced through natural and human activities, mainly through agricultural activities and natural biological processes. Fuel burning and some other processes also create N2O. Concentrations of N2O have risen approximately 20% since the start of the Industrial Revolution, with a relatively rapid increase toward the end of the 20th century.[2]

The entire world is now united in devising ways to mitigate this worsening scenario of earth temperature increasing and causing uncertain climate changes. 

Below I write down some thoughts expressed by Mr. Jose Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General in his Foreword in publication the F&AO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), titled “2017 – The State of Food and Agriculture” on this subject.

  1. Rapid change in the world’s climate is translating into more extreme and frequent weather events, heat waves, droughts and sea-level rise.
  2. Unless action is taken now to make agriculture more sustainable, productive and resilient, climate change impacts will seriously compromise food production in countries and regions that are already highly food-insecure.
  3. Climate change .. will expose both urban and rural poor to higher and more volatile food prices.
  4. Small holder production needs to adapt to climate change and make the livelihoods of rural populations more resilient. Agro ecology and sustainable intensification are examples of approaches that yield and build resilience through practices like green manuring, nitrogen-fixing cover crops and sustainable soil management and integration with agroforestry and animal production.
  5. Livelihood diversification in rural households helps in climate risks y combining on-farm activities with seasonal work.
  6. In order to keep the increase in global temperature below the crucial ceiling of 2oC, emissions will have to be reduced by as much as 70 percent by 2050. The contribution of agriculture sector in this important. At least a fifth of increase in global temperature is due to emissions increase with conversion of forests to farmland, and from livestock and crop production.

He has further cautioned that we need to promote food security hand in hand with climate change adaptation and mitigation.

The international community needs to address climate change today, enabling agriculture, forestry and fisheries to adopt climate-friendly practices. ….. Business as usual is not an option.

Agriculture has always been the interface between natural resources and human activity. It holds the key to solving the two greatest challenges facing humanity: eradicating poverty, and maintaining the stable climatic corridor in which civilization can thrive.

 

I leave you readers on this note. I hope to bring blogs on different aspects brought out here shortly.

Meanwhile please feel free to input your valued advice.

Posted in Climate Change, farm guide Tagged with: , , , ,

Why Go For Organic Fertilisers

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Organic Fertilizers

Use of Organic Fertilizer has been in use for time immemorial. It is as old as our ancestors when human started farming for living.

Let us be clear what is organic. Organic Fertilizers means fertilizers made from living beings. Chemically speaking their molecules have carbon and hydrogen. Organic Fertilizers are made from composting of the remains of living beings be it leaves fallen from trees, shrubs, grasses, roots of pulses, fish, sea grass, dung of animals.

Composting

Composting is a process where the above materials are left to rot in controlled environment for a period of time such that at the end what is left is fine humus material without any odor. This compost when mixed with earth enhances the soil by way of increased aeration, increased water retention, increased levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and other minerals.

Composting requires good care and right conditions for it to be successful. Made with proper care and procedures, composing produces very good Organic Fertilizer.

A good compost requires:

  1. Browns like dried leaves, dried pieces of branches of trees and plants, dried bark and dried grass, which would provide for aeration.
  2. Greens which could be any sappy material, fresh grass cuttings, green leaves provide for fungi  and bacteria, and
  3. Dung of animals, most favored being cow dung for fermentation.

A good ratio for the above three is that first make a layer of one part of browns. On top of this layer put greens which is half of browns. On top of green, put a layer of dung which is half of green. One can put start another set of layers on top. This needs to be covered. Occasional drenching by water is required to keep it moist. The heap should be stirred at two weeks or so intervals. The compost should be ready by fourth month. Your Organic Fertilizer is ready for mixing with soil.

There are any number of variants to the composting methods for making Organic Fertilizer. Composting can also be of:

  1. cow dung or chicken: even though fresh dung can also be used, and in fact many places it is done, composting of same prior to use in field is preferred as it would remove any disease or virus or pests or weeds.
  2. green leaves and cuttings can also be composted though it will take longer.
  3. a mixture of greens and browns is a very acceptable composting method for urban people. They do have good access to the materials if they have small gardens and vegetable patches. Organic Fertilizer activity can be done easily in their homes, backyards or on roofs.
  4. Vermi composting is a class in itself. Very much adopted in a number of places.

a small composting drum for home useExample of a Home Composter using green leaves and dry material.  Material is stored and is easily stirred by rotation of the drum. There is an opening in the drum from where the compost material is poured in.

Advantages of Organic Fertilizer

The Organic Fertilizer have their advantages. They contain nutrients which are released into soil slowly. The Organic Fertilizer improves soil by greater aeration and high water retention. It improves health of plants and boosts growth of friendly soil organisms.

Unlike inorganic fertilizers, Organic Fertilizer are not designed to target any particular plant. What it does is produce a healthy plant. Amendment with Organic Fertilizer enriches the soil gradually. It causes no such excess of minerals. Use of Organic Fertilizers ordinarily causes no to harm human beings when the produce is consumed. It does not contaminate the water soures.

Organic Fertilizers are a joy to make for the farmers. Most of the ingredients are well available and cost of preparation is small. The time taken to produce is more and therefore this exercise of making Organic Fertilizer needs to be adopted as a part of the process of farming as a routine activity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in farm guide, Fertilizers&Fertigation Tagged with: ,

Organic Pesticides as aid to Pest Management

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USE ORGANIC PESTICIDES PRESERVE ECO SYSTEM

Pests and Pest Management are big issues in the farming activity. Use of Organic Pesticides is a great force multiplier in fighting pests in natural ways. Organic Pesticides are also one of a step in adapting the Integrated Pest Management.

When practicing organic pesticides and fertilizing, we think of preserving our Eco system consisting of the living weeds, plants, bugs and insects, fungi, etc.  and their nonliving environs i.e.  soil, water, air, minerals, pesticides, etc.

Advantage

Organic Pesticides have the advantages:

  1. Organic Pesticides unlike inorganic pesticides do not cause toxic run off into the soil.
  2. The microbial population of the soil is not disturbed.
  3. Naturally occurring mineral in the soil are not disturbed.
  4. No soil contamination or soil poisoning is caused by application of organic pesticides.
  5. No water pollution happens due to the application of organic pesticides.
  6. Reduces the requirement of heavy applications of inorganic pesticides.

On the other hand, the effective period of organic pesticides is not as long as the inorganic pesticides. In case of severe pest attack inorganic pesticides are the only way to avert total economic loss of the produce.

It is also to be mentioned that that organic pesticides are still pesticides and therefore some danger to friendly bugs and insects would be there.  When dealing with pesticides the timing and potency of the application is critical.  Farmers all over the world have any number of homemade organic pesticides formulations. And that is why using organic pesticides is so practical and profitable. Organic pesticides can be made with locally available vegetables, roots, soil and other ingredients.

Some of the formulations are discussed below.

Neem Tree

Neem flowers and leaves

Neem spray:

Ingredients   Neem oil at 10000 PPM  100 ml, castile soap liquid 10 ml, vegetable oil 10 ml are mixed in a 15 liter capacity hand or motorized sprayer.  The foliage spray may be undertaken in the evening. Sprays are effective when plants are not water stressed. This spray is also very useful as a preventive for any pest onslaught. The Neem oil is a very powerful natural insecticide. It is biodegradable and is non-toxic to birds, bees, animals. Neem oil spray is used for a number of pests infestations and also used as a natural fungicide.

chillies

red chillies

Chile Pepper / Diatomaceous Earth:

Grind two handfuls of dry chilies into a fine powder and mix with 2 liters of water. Strain out the chilies. Add 1 cup of Diatomaceous earth and a small amount of castile soap. Let it set overnight. Shake well before applying. Chilies as such may or may not be an insecticide but it is very potent action on the insects. Diatomite is used as an insecticide, among its many uses. Due to its abrasive and physico-sorptive ( tendency of a material to absorb and transmit water and other liquids by capillarity) properties it absorbs lipids from the waxy outer layer of insects’ outer skeletons causing them to dehydrate. It is also helpful to add onion or garlic to this solution.

 

garlic cloves

garlic cloves

Garlic spray:

Garlic is used as a non-toxic pesticide. It repels the pest and affects their respiration. To make garlic spray, take 2 whole bulbs (not just 2 cloves) and puree them in a blender or food processor with a small amount of water. Take one liter of water. Mix garlic puree in this water. Let the mixture sit overnight, then strain it into a jar, adding 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap, and enough water to fill one liter jar. To use this homemade insecticide, use 1 cup of mixture with 1 liter of water and spray liberally on infested plants. Garlic may be used as an inter crop to protect from fruit borers, aphids, moths etc.

Soap and oil Sprays:

Ingredients: one cup of vegetable oil mix with 1 or 2 table spoons of liquid Castile soap. Shake well and let it settle down for some time. For spraying use 2 table spoons of this liquid with 1 liter of water. The spray deposits on the bodies of the pests and affects their respiration.

Castile soap is made from vegetable oils of coconut, olive, and hemp. Like most soaps, which are on the more basic or alkaline side of the pH scale, Castile soap registers at about 8.9 on the pH scale. This is around the same level as baking soda and slightly more alkaline than mild dish soap, although less alkaline than bleach or corrosive tile cleaners.

Posted in farm guide, Pesticides Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Concept of Integrated Pest Management

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Integrated Pest Management saves in cost

and ensures eco balance

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT is a strategic management practice which is designed developed and managed by the FARMER himself to contain, reduce and eradicate the pests which reduce the economic value of his produce. Integrated Management is the key word here as the farmer has designed this for the total life cycle of his produce.

Why Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Pest Management keeps eco system balanced and uses a mix of cultural, biological and chemical methods to fight any pest menace to the crop. Proper Integrated Pest Management program would ensure least disturbance to the ecology of agricultural system of that place. Integrated Pest Management aims to maintain the dynamic balance between the Biotic (living) e.g. plants, weeds, pests and their Abiotic (nonliving) environment e.g. rivers, sun, air, ground, minerals, pesticides. Examples  – Farmers using pesticides to kill one living thing (pest) will also affect another living thing (beneficial). Pesticides usage affects ground water.

Pesticides may not always be effective. The application of pesticides usually does not ensure complete wipe out of pests – they can still survive and resurface. This will happen if pesticide is applied inappropriately, at not the proper times and not delivered with proper machines.

Integrated Pest Management is done by farmers for farmers. It is designed by farmers. It is easy.

Economy in cost. Integrated Pest Management program, implemented as per the design, would save Farmers big savings by way of higher yield resulting in higher income and reduced expenses on pesticides and labor cost on pesticide application.

Good for Environment. So many stories come to light about contaminated ground water making life unhealthy for residents of that area. Integrated Pest Management by avoiding excessive pesticide usage helps in creating a healthy environment.

Integrated Pest Management has four components:

  1. Preventive Measures
  2. Monitoring the crop
  3. Continuous assessment of any pest damage to the crop
  4. Applying an appropriate action

Preventive Measures

polyhouse cultivation

polyhouse cultivation

The Farmer would think out a number of preventive measures to guard against any loss of crop due to pest attacks. The following are some management practices which would be beneficial.

  • Ploughing and tilling operations of field; fencing around crop; netting over the crop.
  • Full sanitation methods, cleaning of tools, implements, own self; eliminate any place where pest may hide.
  • Biological control methods e.g. use natural enemies of pests. This method once established would become permanent. Farmer may also plant flowers or crops which attract such natural enemies of pests.
  • use herbicidal products such as Neem leaf extracts.
  • Pheromones usage to confuse the pests multiplying.
  • Use seeds and seedlings which are of disease and pest resistant variety.
  • Inter cropping with crops resistant to pests.
  • Get a vigorous growth of the crop.

Monitoring

After the crop is planted, Farmer needs to monitor the same. Farmer would be scouting and looking for telltale signs of presence of pests, type of pests, and the intensity of attack by such pests. This activity would include:

  1. Regularly going round the field and observing. This activity helps in early detection of any pest attack on the crop.
  2. Correct detection is the key to the success of the Integrated Pest Management. My page has some details on the pests and diseases of plants. Identification of the pest allows curing of only the target areas and target pest. By proper detection of the pest, farmer would choose the correct pesticide, choose the most effective time to apply the pesticide and could also consider use of organic control.

Assessment of pest damage to the crop

In Integrated Pest Management Farmers would refrain from using Chemical Pesticides haphazardly. An assessment of the threat is first made based on:

One FORECASTINGS – using weather reports and weather conditions that can exacerbate any break out of diseases and pests formations. It may be possible to use non-chemical herbicidal pesticides for such occasions. Another forecast may be based on the past records kept by the farmer for any particular season or crop.

IPM threshold

setting IPM thresholds

And second on THRESHOLDS levels that would trigger the type of action on pests whether mild or vigorous, that would be taken to ward off the pest menace. The farmer would set up a threshold of crop injury he would tolerate waiting for the biological and herbicidal anti pest measures to take place. Only after that threshold mark is passed, the farmer would weigh in with chemical pests (which have already been identified in the monitoring activity).  The cost of pesticide would be less than the cost of loss of crop.

Applying an appropriate action

Farmer would take all control measures to control the pest menace once he finds that the economic threshold has been reached. Here also it is possible to take out the diseased crop and let the remaining stand which would be more cost effective. Full chemical control is required in case of loss of crop in whole is seen and there is no other strategy of containing the pest density. Needless to say that chemical control would only succeed on the availability of a pesticide identified for the type of pest in question; and on proper application of the same.

Summarizing Integrated Pest Management has the following advantages even though Farmer needs to give more of his  time and energy as well as getting into the technical aspects of the methods.

  1. Resistance to a Pesticide is slowed down
  2. Helps in keeping Balance of Eco Systems
  3. Ultimate cost effective for farmers
Posted in Diseases and Pests of plants Tagged with: , , , , , ,

How to choose a Pump Motor for Irrigation

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How to choose a Pump Motor for Irrigation

You need a pump motor for irrigation.  Yes one can go to the market and buy the best and biggest pump available and start irrigating. But remember nothing is free and cost in running operations with this pump may become too high to sustain. Also the best of market may not be best for your needs.

A pump motor consists of two parts: first is the Pump and second is the Motor. The Motor provides the energy to the Pump which will create the required water Head Pressure.

Two pump motors of same horsepower may not perform in same way in a system of irrigation.  I discuss below steps to choose pump motor which will meet your requirements best.

Let us see the figure below which illustrates the text.

choose a pump motor based on flow required

pump curves

Any pump motor has a capability of flow of liquid measured in lpm (liter per minute) or gpm (gallons per minute). It also has the capacity to raise the water level to a height called the pressure head.

The curve in red color and denoted as H/Q is the flow rate curve of a pump motor. As can be seen if the Head is high the flow rate is lower and if the Head is low the flow is more.

The curve in green and denoted by n/Q is the efficiency of a pump motor. The efficiency n is never going to be 100% for reasons which are discussed below. Generally efficiencies around 55% are achieved. This allows for a 5 to 10 percent plus or minus efficiency to accommodate for higher pressure or higher flow rate.

We need to determine what flow rate is to be achieved at what Head pressure on the flow rate curve.

FLOW RATE

IT IS the total volume of liquid to be discharged from the various places and points in the irrigation system in a given time. It is usually measured in lpm (liters per minute) or in gpm (gallons per minute).  You would need to count how many drippers, end points, sprinklers and to know their respective discharge rates. Then simply add every discharge to get the total flow rate.

In a practical application, there would be several routes of discharge. It needs to be noted that discharge cannot exceed the supply.

PRESSURE HEAD

calculation of total water head pressure on a pump

total water head

The above diagram shows physically the various static Heads when water is to be lifted to a desired height from a given depth. In addition if drip lines or sprinklers are used their operating pressure is also to be considered.

Pumps will operate with Dynamic Head which is calculated as:

Dynamic Head = Static suction head + static elevation water head + sprinkler/drip pressure + all frictional loss heads due to pipes and fittings used.

The sprinkler/drip pressure is mostly given in psi (pressure per square inch). This should be converted to water head with the formula:

PSI  =  2.31 feet head of water

General values for drip/sprinklers are:

Drip Irrigation = 70 feet head (30 PSI)
Spray Type Sprinkler Heads = 93 feet head (40 PSI)
Rotor Type Sprinkler Heads = 104 feet head (45 PSI)

Let us assume the well water is at a depth of 20 feet. The maximum height to which water is to be elevated is 10 feet. And let us assume drip irrigation so the water head for this is 70 feet. Therefore the total dynamic head = 20 + 10 + 70 = 100 feet head of water. To this frictional losses are to be added as the total length of pipe and number of bends and other fittings.

Choosing a Pump Motor

Now that we know the Flow Rate and Water Head required for the irrigation, consider the pump motor curve shown in the beginning. This curve is an illustrative one only and you need to go through manufacturer’s specifications to choose a pump which meet your requirement of flow rate and water head.

Calculations for pump motor power requirements

Earlier I have mentioned that the efficiency of a pump would not be 100%.  The reason is in two terms used to calculate power requirement  of a pump motor.

The first terms is Water Horsepower = (Flow Rate in gpm x Water Head in feet) /   3960

The second term is Break Horsepower = Water Horsepower / efficiency

For calculation in lpm and meters, conversion tables may be used.

General formula for the same calculation is as follows taking the specific gravity of the liquid also into consideration.

BHP   =  (Total Head *Flow Rate*Sp. Gravity) / (efficiency*3960)

Example:  20 drip lines each with 200 drip points each @ 2 lph  at 30 psi (70 feethead of water).  suction head 5 ft. Elevation Head 5 ft. Efficiency 50%.

Total Dynamic Head  = 5+5 + 70+20 (friction)=100 ft

Flow = 200 x 20 x 2 lph = 8000 lph or 2000 gph or 34 gpm    approximate value

Bhp = (100 x 34) /(3460 x .5) = 2  hp

A quick note please —   while the lift head of a centrifugal pump is limited only by the power of the pump, the suction is limited by gravity and frictional losses in the pipe to about 22 feet ! 

Refer also to Drip Irrigation

Posted in Drip Irrigation, farm guide Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Importance Of Soil Testing OR How To Save on Unnecessary Fertilization

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Importance Of Soil Testing

OR

How To Save on Unnecessary Fertilization

Every crop or plant require different nutrients and in different quantities at different stages of its life cycle. The farmer needs to take decision on this after carefully carrying out a thoughtful exercise. The soil and water itself have nutrients available and therefore it is cost economic first to have proper soil and water testing done, analyzed and evaluated, and, then only make only the required addition of fertilizers to bring up total content of nutrient up to mark for the particular crop or plant.

Gone are the days when one would happily spray or distribute all types of fertilizers in the field, sow the seeds, water the land and then be happy that he has done the best and now nature will reward him with its bounty. The arable land is constantly shrinking due to many reasons – expansion of cities, rapid industrialization, expanding colonies, road networks. The mankind is growing very fast. The happy go lucky attitude will not do now. One now needs to work out how to optimize the produce from his farming. Agriculture has now become a science and industry – and happily both science and industry have come forward to help the farming community.

There are three important stages in any crop life cycle:

  1. Sowing stage
  2. Growing stage
  3. Maturity stage

The stages would take different time spans depending on the particular variety sown or cultivated or planted. The nutrient requirement for three stages seldom remains same. Therefore one would need to schedule fertilization according to the particular stage after having soil testing.

From where plants get nutrition

Sun, water and soil have for ages provided all nutrients of all kinds available for plants. The soil is giver of nutrients to plants. Water also is a giver of nutrients. The soil however differs from place to place and all soils do not yield equal doses of nutrient contents required for the plants. Here is where science helps in understanding the soil i.e. the physical aspects of soil, its chemistry and biology.  Physical aspects include TEXTURE, WATER CONTENT, WATER HOLDING CAPACITY, and WATER FILTERING CAPACITY. Biological properties would include how much respiration is in the soil, whether earth worms are present. Chemical properties include pH and E.C. and soil minerals levels.

Soil Test act as aid in determining nutrient requirment

In determining requirement of fertilizers, the first step is to know the levels of the nutrients available within the soil mass and in water which is used for irrigation. With this knowledge, the farmer would be able to take an informed action to supplement the exact nutrient required by the plants at each stage of its life cycle. SOIL and WATER tests do just that. Both SOIL and WATER TESTING would  determine the E.C. as indicator of salinity (or presence of minerals), the pH as measure of alkalinity or acidity and the individual mineral content mainly N, P, K, Ca, Mg and specialized for others such as Fe, Mn, B, Zn etc.

Steps for soil and water testing

  1. Collect samples
  2. Analysis of samples
  3. Interpretation of the analysis

Collection of Samples

The collection of samples involves collecting earth samples in small quantity from a number of pre-determined spots of the land. The selection of these pre-determined spots is based on the topography of the land and must include any type of land generally different from rest of the land. If the field is uniform even one sample per field may be enough. In case different crops are planned, a Grid survey suitably divided would be beneficial. Generally,  land where piles of manure are there or nothing is to cropped, are not tested.

It is advisable that samples are taken from about 4 to 6 inches depth from the top layer which is the root zone; however if the root zone is deeper or shallower then samples are required to be taken accordingly. Various tools are used for collection of samples.

After collection at each selected point, all samples collected are put in a plastic bag. All samples are mixed together at the last; the samples of different type of land are kept separate. The reason for taking deeper samples is that top soil receives fertilizers but roots are below and we need to know how much nutrient is available in the root zone.

Analysis of samples for E.C. (general ppm of N, P and K) and pH

The collected sample is handed over to the Soil Testing Laboratories. There are normally government run laboratories but there are also specialized private laboratories. The difference would be that former would be having a pre-set number of tests whereas the latter would be able to do a number of additional specialized tests in addition to normal tests.

The soil is first aggregated, cleaned of any stone particles, grass or big boulders. It is now dried out in the sun after which it is powdered.

This powder is taken by a set volume and then mixed with pH neutral water. According to test methods, different dilution volumes may be used. One is to use same volume of water as the sample; the second is to use twice the volume of water as the sample and third also used is have a further diluted solution by having greater volume of water as the sample.

Here it needs to be understood that whatever method of dilution is used, the same needs to be continued for any further soil testing.

The E.C. and pH can easily also be measured by the farmer as there are a number of portable pen type meters available in the market.

Specific analysis of soil samples for Nutrients

This test can be performed by soil labs only and to a certain extent by purchasing soil testing kits which can test for N, P, and K separately. Depending upon the method followed by individual soil testing laboratory, different extraction methods may be used for extracting the N, P and K contents. Such extraction method is written in the test report. The extraction methods followed generally are not uniform across the soil laboratories and one could get different results for the same sample. The test results are not absolute numbers but are empirical numbers. The farmer again needs to keep continuity with the same soil test laboratory for all further test results. The test result in addition to numbers may also indicate terms like “LOW”, “GOOD” /”HIGH”

A HIGH would mean cutting down on fertilizer and LOW on apply more of fertilizer. see this indicative chart.

Interpretation of tests

Now that both the samples of soil and water have been tested at first what leaps to eye is the E.C. and pH of the soil and water and what it tells is the presence of minerals in both and the acidic or saline nature. Further reading of the analysis brings out individual component of nutrient present in soil and water. Aided with this knowledge the scheme for fertilization is drawn up which would include adding particular nutrients to increase nutrient levels and pH levels to optimum for that crop.

The pH values of soil and water are also to be studied. It is known that difference types of crops, plants, flowers prosper much more in particular pH range. The addition of fertilizer is also to be selected so that correct pH conditions can be obtained in the soil. See also Let us talk about Fertilizers

The fertilization scheme would also include doses, rates at which dose are to given, timing, and irrigation management.  It may be stated that soil testing is an economic cost in the production of crops. It is time consuming. By itself a soil test would not prevent crop growth due to pests, diseases, bad irrigation etc. As shown in the chart above, if the soil is having High nutrient, there no need for adding fertilizer and the probability of increasing yield is less.

The yield versus fertilizer application rate is discussed in more details by me in my post.

The importance of the soil and water tests is in maximizing our yield while economizing on fertilizer cost.

As discussed above we may summarize as follows:

  1. Determine need for fertilizer nutrients by SOIL TESTS.
  2. Take care of pH of soil and water
  3. Choose crop most suited to your land characteristics
  4. Take advantage of nutrient already available in soil and water
  5. Maximize efficiency by giving only required fertilizers
  6. Avoid unnecessary additions of fertilisers

Please feel free to share your views and comments.

Posted in farm guide, SoilWaterTests Tagged with: ,

Are You Inviting Pests and Virus in your farm?

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Are You Inviting Pests and Virus in your farm?

Ringing your farm boundary with trees may just do that.

 

Some Farms just love to invite Pests and Virus to what ever crop is planted. Farmers need to be careful in planning their farms to avoid inviting Pests and Virus.

In this farm, lemon trees have been planted sometime late in the rainy season. The farm boundary has a number of forest trees, some variety of teak, bottle guard trees, camphor trees, bamboos etc. – some are quite tall and some are middlish height. Due to this in winter a lot of shade falls on the farm ground as sun is low in east as can be seen in photo. Only when sun is in south do the full sun rays fall here. As said, in winter, in this particular place, the direct sun rays are only just warm.

So as I was taking a visit to this farm house, I was observing how the lemon plants were coming up. All plants in the south side were well looking good. But in this northeast corner plants were showing upward curling of leaves, yellow leaves and in some leaves presence of leaf miner. See photos.

I have also had occasion to observe that the roots of trees in the periphery of land had come into the Polyhouse and then risen upwards into the flower beds and through these root the  daily dose of Fertigation and watering which was actually meant for the flowers was going to the trees. And this diversion of feed to trees was causing distress in plants of flowers with some plants outright wilting and production in others going down substantially. A lot of effort had to be made to cut the roots coming into the Polyhouse. This effort I am happy to say did result in restoring the health of flower plants in the Polyhouse.

That brings me to the headline of my blog today. The trees which are normally planted around the boundary of a farming land:

  1. Occupy the space above the ground.
  2. Roots extend on all sides inside the ground in search of food.
  3. Any number of worms, pests, parasites make their residence in the tree trunks and limbs.
  4. The tree canopy obstructs the sun rays.
  5. The canopy also obstructs smooth falling of rains on the land below.
  6. A lot of farm land becomes useless for any other farming activity.
  7. The trees extending on all sides, roots extending all sides, cause a number of disputes between neighboring farms.
  8. Birds make a perch on the trees and it is easier for them to damage your crops.

Yes trees provide for environment; provide a scenic value and a solid sense of ownership. But the problems created by trees probably far outweigh the same. Installing cement or plastic posts at intervals between farm lands should normally be enough solid ownership experience, besides being cheaper and free from pests, worms, parasites, birds, virus generated by trees.  Trees are best in a group of its own apart from farming lands. Trees and even barbed or other type of wire mesh are really not required for boundary indications of farming land. Why I include barbed or other wire mesh is because of high cost of installation and then high cost of maintenance of same. If one does not maintain the wire mesh, not only it looks ungainly but is dangerous to those working around the same.

Fencing is really required if animals are to be protected and then good fencing needs to be installed. Otherwise ….

Let us have your opinion on this.

Posted in Diseases and Pests of plants, farm guide Tagged with: , ,

Easy Detect If You Are Giving Less or More of Nutrients

Posted on by nkp — No Comments ↓

 

Easy Detect If You Are Giving

Less or More of Nutrients

Like a child we care for our plants.

Local environ provides the basic to a plant – the earth, the air, the water and sunshine. Fertilization is to be done as part of fertility management so that the growth and production of the plant of whatever type is on course with the desired objectives which will remain maximizing yield and optimizing costs for same. Such management would in some ways reduce the differences in environs at different places.

We have discussed in our article how usage of fertilizers slowly increases productivity at first but pushing it beyond a point is actually detrimental to productivity and if not corrected plants will die. A balancing of Fertigation is thus most essential in fertility management.

There are number of advisory articles as to how much Fertigation is optimum quantitatively. Below we discuss how by visually monitoring our plants also such information can be gleaned for a quick assessment. Thereafter more can be attempted to regain the balance in Fertigation management.  Let us discuss one by one the nutrients Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Iron (Fe) below.

NITROGEN (N)

Deficiency symptoms: plants show slow growth, will show chlorosis in lower leaves the leaves will turn yellowish.

Excess symptoms:  delayed flowering and plant growth will be reduced. Older leaves are curled, chlorosis (yellowing) and necrosis occurs in the leaves.

 

PHOSPHOROUS (P)

Deficiency Symptoms: leaves tend first to turn dark shade of green, plants growth is less. When deficiency is more, leaves would turn reddish purple and if persisted then necrosis may set in. Such behavior is also seen in winters.

Excess symptoms: Excess of P would also stunt growth. Additionally intake of nutrients Iron, Zinc, Magnesium and Copper would be reduced in plant thus inducing deficiency of these.

 

POTASSIUM (K)

Deficiency Symptoms: Plants gets weak, its stalk thin, and necrosis sets in the lower leaf margins.

Excess symptoms: Excess of Potassium reduces intake of certain nutrients and induces deficiencies like Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium and Magnesium.

 

CALCIUM (Ca)

Deficiency Symptoms: it is important nutrient. Deficiency of same results in necrosis (darkening) of budding points and in roots.

Excess symptoms: reduces uptake of nutrients Potassium, Magnesium and Boron.

 

MAGNESIUM (Mg)

Deficiency Symptoms: deficiency of Mg affects older leaves by way of chlorosis; also the leaves curl upwards on the edges.

Excess symptoms: if in excess, will affect uptake of Calcium.

 

IRON (Fe)

 

Deficiency Symptoms: show first as Interveinal chlorosis of the younger leaves and slowly extends to tips; dieback may occur if persistent deficiency.

 

Excess symptoms: excess reduce uptake of Manganese. The iron deficiency or excess is related also to pH of soil so that needs to be seen before any fertility management is undertaken. Lower leaves show necrotic specking.

 

A continuous observation of the condition of the plants tells us a lot about the health of the plant. This is how plants communicate. It is possible to make a quick assessment of our Fertility Management practice and thus take care of many a problems in fertigation.  Welcome if the readers add some thing of your own experiences and share with  us all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in farm guide, Fertilizers&Fertigation