I appreciate and agree with the comments of Dr.Christian.I have not come across in literature any restrictions or particular prescriptions in use of energy or machinery in organic farming.Dr.Christian ,is there any regulation on burning of straw in fields in organic farming for ease of cultivation or control of pests or weeds etc.?

Dr Christian and Dr Rao,

Thanks for the information. Little elaboration of the doubts may make the query more clear. Literatures report estimation/conversion of inputs, e.g. FYM for in situ production. Present days, farms rely using compost/FYM purchased/transported from elsewhere. Large scale composting units with good infrastructure (big iron/steel/concrete sheds, sometimes fitted with tiles) whether fits to the basic principles of sustainable farming!! Do you think in near future the issue needs deliberations?

I do not think there is any restriction on the issue of energy consumed in organic farming as long as the production is sustainable and soil health is sustained. 

Dr.Borah,Large scale/mechanical composting may be a common feature in developed countries.Even quality of such composts may  be uniform and meet certain standards.Cost of production and commodity price may go hand in hand.Produce price also should  be attractive in organic farming.But small farmers have to be innovative and depend on their own resources in organic farming to meet their own needs.

Dear  Christian Reinhard Vogl,

Thanks for your useful inputs and literature.

We have always emphasized that OF is recycling/utilization of farm waste/resources. As has been reaffirmed by you, we can not use huge quantities of organic manures (most of it transported from other place). The complete farming should make a balance among the different components (crop, livestock etc0 and resources (soil, water, inputs).

Use of synthetic products has limitation because of 1) potential negative impact on ecology and 2) energy consumed during their manufacture. So, if the application of a particular synthetic compound does not affect the biota, environment, food quality (residue below permissible level), and secondly if its dose is such that the share of energy for its manufacture is very low (as in the case of using machineries), can we use it in OF?

 Annangi Subba Rao,

Thanks for your comments. What you mentioned about composting in developing country is true and I do agree. But, we have seen in India such big units without having own resources like animal dung. Common practice is to lift the dung from far away. Besides, the quality of the raw materials (in terms of potential contamination with heavy metals or pesticides) is a cause of concern.

 Dear Parameshwar Shirgure,

It's not only about sustainable production in OF. Consumption of energy in terms of burning fossil fuel is key issue in OF and accordingly there should be as far as possible minimum use of farm machineries that run on fossil fuel. This is one of the reasons for restriction in use of synthetic compounds as very high level of energy being consumed during their manufacture.

Dr.Borah,I have seen two types of bigger compost units,one-run by land lords with large land area and good number of cattle/buffaloes.I know large organic farmers (may not be certified)purchasing fodder/straw or dung from neighbors, from the same village/close by villages.Second-probably the composting units in urban or peri -urban areas purchasing dung from local city based dairies or villages away from city zone.As mentioned by you, there may contamination of composts from urban or peri-urban areas.We suggested different uses for such composts based on quality criteria and they may not be used in organic farming without proper quality evaluation.

Saha,J.K. and others(2008)Quality indices of municipal solid waste composts for safe use in agriculture.Technical bulletin no.6 Indian Institute of Soil Science,Bhopal.

Thanks A S Rao sir