These days there is lot of discussion on zero budget natural farming as a means for doubling the income of farmers in India. With little or no scientific evidence available to show that crop production without supplying nutrients via mineral fertilizers can produce enough food for burgeoning population in India, there is need to discuss whether natural farming is going to be a viable alternative to fertilizer based farming.
We need both organic and inorganic sources of nutrients for sustaining high yield levels and maintaining soil health. Ideal strategy should be that farmers are encouraged to use all available organic sources and then fertilizers are applied to meet the nutritional requirement of the crops.
It is highly difficult sir. It is good if we follow at subsistance level but on commercial level, adoption of intergrated approach is more fruitful than avoidance of mineral fertilizers.
Mineral fertilizers efficiency is very low in India and Pakistan and there is substantial potential their use can be reduced. Shrinking farmland and rising population is putting huge pressure on soils to produce more food. Replacing mineral fertilizers with other nutrient sources means we have to massively increase our usage of manure and plant residues incorporation to soil. A permanent legume-cereal crop rotation will also be needed. Even if we do so, I still feel these sources cannot fulfill crops nutrient demand and food security will be at a big risk. A better way to go would be to improve nutrients use efficiency, integrate the use of all nutrient sources, and mineral fertilizers use should be cut to half.
Dear Bijay Singh
I submit that fertilizer-based agriculture is the answer to overcome the rapid population growth. Natural farming has been done in my country Indonesia for a long time. The natural farming system is still practiced by several tribes in Indonesia. It's just that the weakness of this system is low production so that a large area is needed
The real picture of overall sustainability in zero budget natural farming seems to to face many challenges. For instance, there is disagreement over the natural farming in fulfilling the requirement of food production and difficult to evaluate its sustainability. However in mean time we can shift to Integrated Nutrient Management rather than completely relying on natural farming.
We can reduce huge pressure of chemical fertilizers. For this, we need to achieve certain level of soil organic carbon in soil through adopting organic fertilizers, incorporating straw and crop stubble, crop rotations etc. . For example, if critical level of soil organic carbon is 30 g/kg, over and after there will be no need for the application of chemical fertilizers. But for this we need to improve fertilizers use efficiency.
Besides, there is a serious need to aware the farmers about the importance of addition of crop stubbles, organic manure and green manuring in the field as well as balance use of chemical fertilizers.
It is not possible to produce enough fodd with only organic sourse of plant nutrients.Organic sourses content very less amount of all plant nutrientswhich can not able to fulfill nutrient demand of crops.
Zero budget farming is not possible to produce enough food for largest population country like a India
Hi Bijay Singh,
This link may be useful to explore and learn about the benefits of sustainable farming. I think no matter the quantity of food we want to produce, there is to understand that tomorrow is a product of today’s actions:
https://sustainablefarming.com.au/horticulture/
Thought of using only organic sources of nutrients is very nice but the availability of the material may be limited so it may be difficult to follow. But if we think we may achieve the same yield as we get with the application of chemical fertilizers but in that just we have to do few things as follows:
We have to add organic sources through soil to maintain the soil health
We have to replace water soluble fertilizer by the organic extracts which are the direct sources of the nutrient like nitrogenous source as an amino acids and other nutrients also then we can achieve the yield also along with the soil health.
As I understand the zero budget natural farming doesn't include the use of solid organics or organic manures as followed in organic farming. Even natural mineral sources from outside are also not proposed for use in zero budget natural farming.Only liquid organic preparations are allowed for nutrients supply and pest control.I request the participants of the discussion to provide the technical details of zero budget natural farming. How to build and maintain soil organic matter in zero budget natural farming is a difficult question.Less nutrients dense crops like some vegetables can be tried in zero budget natural farming.
It is quite obvious that the crop production to meet the food demand of ever-growing population will not be feasible through a complete avoidance of mineral fertilizers. As per my own experience to work on zero-budget natural farming in a hill region of Uttarakhand concludes that the quality of produce gets improved highly and the yield gets reduced significantly to great extent particularly in major filed crops. Thus, the zero-budget natural farming (that is natural farming without use of chemical inputs) may be promoted at slow and steady rate, but the use of chemical fertilizers should be under control or under reccomendation.
Overall, for a quality life, quantity of food you eat will not affect you to that extent than the extent you get affected from a bad quality food (food containing chemicals). One needs promotion and other requires attention for it optimal use.
Thank you
A brief perusal of fertilizers use and food grains production data in India showed one interesting observation. In almost a decade from 2009-10 to2017-18 , the NPK fertilizers use remained around 26.5 million tonnes. But the food grains production increased from 218 million tonnes to 285 million tonnes. Among the fertilizers, the N use increased and P and K fertilizers use decreased during the decade, some sort of imbalanced fertilizers use. I believe that more use of micronutrients , organic manures and irrigation might have contributed to higher productivity and production during the decade .I understand that the biofertilizers use also increased during the period .I believe that the rational use of inputs and better management of resources contribute to increased and sustainable food grains production.
Yes, intigrated nutrient manage ment found more usfull for sustaining product igy as well as soil health.
It is not possible to produce enough food by limiting it to organic fertilizers alone, but it is possible to produce a lot of food in the long term based solely on organic fertilizer. the nutrients available in the organic matter are not in form completely assimilable by the plants, they must first be transformed thus for a large production the researches must be based on the non-toxic chemicals which can accelerate the mineralization.
No, it not possible to produce enough food only with organic source. Of plant nutrients. When we look in past era of our nation, at the time of indipendance country population only 30 croes, even though it was time of hungur due to organic farming at that time
Zero budgeting natural farming is only feasible on family size farming. We cannot totally withdraw inorganic mineral nutrition from our farming systems, considering the positive effects on food production. All we need to do is to conduct a soil test, formulate the right quantity and quality fertilizer required by each crop and teach the farmers to apply at the correct time.
We need also to promote integrated farming.
Not possible for burgeoning population in India but it is possible to such condition , every farmers should be adopted like 2-3 animal, poultry farm. fully management of crop residue and then used to soil.
This question has been asked several times especially in agroecologies and niches supporting the production of both arable and permanent crops. For while usage of organic fertilizer has been advocated following attendant vagaries of use and misuse of inorganic fertilizers, niche-specific requirements may tempt one to say no. However, the possibility cannot be ruled out given the processes in ecosystems.
In my opinion, there is the need to embrace both in order to meet the colossal demand for food that the growing population require for the following reasons:
1. The two are not mutually exclusive. This is because, even legumes that naturally fix nitrogen to the soil and are therefore hailed as a “green” technology cannot carry out this natural function without being fed with phosphorus. Phosphorus plays significant role in definition of quality of output.
2. Both fertilizer types have different compositions and functions, and farmers need both. While mineral fertilizers provide high amounts of nutrients that plants need in order to grow strong, organic resources contain organic carbon, which is an essential ingredient of healthy soil. Neither mineral nor organic inputs can provide both of these properties on their own. Moreover, applying these in combination often creates added benefits. For instance, in drought situations, applying crop residues in combination with fertilizer can alleviate moisture stress and enable crops to take up the nutrients in found in mineral fertilizers more easily and
2. Farmers can’t produce enough organic matter without mineral fertilizer. Rapidly expanding populations mean soils are not getting a break. Traditionally, fields would be left fallow to improve soil fertility, but now there is less opportunity to do this, and less organic matter around to apply to soils to help them regenerate. Using mineral fertilizers will actually help a farmer produce more leftover crop residue and biomass, which can be used as organic fertilizer.
In short organic and inorganic fertizers are not alternative but it must be in integration for soil health and getting full potential of crop production
I agree to increase crop production, a combination of mineral and organic fertilizer is needed
Yes, integration is must for sustainable soil health and increasing productivity
We need both organic and inorganic sources of nutrients for sustaining high yield levels and maintaining soil health. Ideal strategy should be that farmers are encouraged to use all available organic sources and then fertilizers are applied to meet the nutritional requirement of the crops.
Dr.Bijay Singh,I agree with your view that our farmers should use organic manures to a greatest extent possible and use fertilizers to balance the rest of the nutrient requirement of crops to maintain or sustain the yields. As I understand, with the current foodgrain production of 285 million tonnes or more, the nutrients(NPK) uptake is around 38 million tonnes.We are currently applying,16-17 million tonnes of N, 7-8 million tonnes of P2O5 and 2.5 to 3.5 million tonnes of K2O.Fertilizer nutients are applied in the range of 27-28 million tonnes where as manure nutrients are applied in the range of 6-7 million tonnes(25%).It is a big question ,how far one can replace fertilizers with more or additional organic sources of nutrients. We need better estimates of nutrient supply from organics.Another big question is how long our Government meet the fertilizer subsidy of Rs.85,000 crores or more every year. Another bigger question is that how to supply P and K fertilizers by continuouly importing from from outside(100% of K fertilizer is imported and 90 % of either finished or raw materials of P fertilizers are imported).Overall continuous/ sustainable supply of plant nutients in Indian agriculture is very important to sustain foodgrain production at desired level and it requries long term strategic planning and policy decisions.Sinple promotion of zero buget farming may not serve the purpose of production of requite food grains to feed the ever- growing Indian population.
This is very good informative and good strategy for sustainable crop production as well as soil health
Ashokkumar V. Rajani : I find you are very actively following answers in this discussion. May I have your detailed views?
I am assistant professor at Junagadh Agricultural University. My Ph. D. Research on Major nutrients dynamics in a calcareous AICRP-LTFE soils
This debate has been cleared since decades, logically and practicaly. Of course we cannot rely entirely on organic fertilizers to produce enough food. Moreover, organic waste cannot cover the vast agricultural land. In a definite word, mineral fertilizers are indispensable for production to meet the growing demand of population. We owe our existance by billions to mineral fertilizers. In fact, in many cases, the integration between organic and mineral fertilizers becomes useful than depending solely on one source.
The Karnataka Government funded about 10 crore for 4 agril. universities to conduct research on ZBNF in about 5000 farmers field across Karnataka. The results are not supporting ZBNF practices. In the first season only, the deficiency symptoms of nutrients were observed, weed infestation, pest and disease were found higher. The crop yield decreased considerably.
Still results from different experiments are under needs to be compiled.
In my view.
- the present crop varieties are nutrient responsive and it needs nutrients for growth and reproduction.
- Indigenous soil nutrient supplying capacity is too low to support this crop nutrient demand
- The minor and major pests will cause major damage, resurgence of insects pests may be severe if not controlled at right time.
- An integrated approach is management of pests, nutrients much better than, ZBNF.
Straightway the answer to the question is "No". But the main concerned about the agriculturists/farmers/scientists is that there is necessity of paying attention on 'sustainable agriculture' for the future generations. Otherwise , ill effects of using mineral fertilizers only as a source of nutrients has been observed by the people in different parts of India.
Yes, for sustain healthy Soils for future generation, sustainable soil management essential through integrated mananagement of agricultural inputs
Obviously no, but we need to use more of organic fertilizers in areas where they are readily available and limit the use of chemical fertilizers to situations where there is urgent need to replace a particular nutrient as well as areas where organic fertilizers are scarce or limited.
Plants need minerals and do not discriminate whether the source is organic or inorganic, in my experience chemical fertilizers are still irreplaceable, since modern, high-performance plant materials demand high doses of fertilization that the organic does not supply
Yes organic fertilizers can not able to replace chemical fertilizers
Morevere organic fertlizrs, biofertilizers also helps in sustainable agriculture
The use of high quantity of enriched organic manures may be sustaining food production with the changes of food habits taken by humen in daily means used of fruits etc.
To obtained effective benefits from any crop production, we must use both organic and inorganic sources of fertilizers. There is no replacement with organic fertilizers instead of inorganics one
To fulfil the demand of everincreasing population the agril production need to be enhanced, without deteorating our natural resource particularly soil, water and air also. Soil and water act as major compoanant in crop production, where soil act as store house for nutrient. plant take it without any discrimination.
Zero bugdet is concern for optimal yield nutrient supplementation is essential either by organic and inorganic.Today both the inputs are costliest as fertilizer is easily avaialble but the quantum of biomass availability from orgnic sources to supply that much quantum of nutrient is huge.
Dear Colleagues,the the crux of the matter is, how much organic waste/materials are available for recycling in crop production? How many tonnes of the nutrients NPK the organics can provide? Do we have realist quantitative information on different oganics available district- wise or agroecological/climatic zone- wise? In the districts where organic farming or Zero budget natural farming is being promoted such information is really needed .Organic farming and integrated nutrient recommendations are available crop- wise in a district or agroecozone .But to implement those recommendations we need information on the availability of the organic sources of nutrients. Even for deciding the incentives/subsidies to the farmers such information is needed or need to be generated. At least the currently available information need to be compiled district-wise from secondary data sources and validated through primary data from sample surveys.
Huge quantity available in India but not used in properly. Now govt. Is preparing organic manure at panchayet level. Panchayet will be separated solid and liquid and make manures then sale to Farmers.
Organic and inorganic fertilizers are required for sustainable food production. Inorganic fertilizer releases nutrients for early establishment while organic fertilizer is a slow release to sustain the growth.
There must be a balance between organic and inorganic fertilizer application for sustained crop production. Natural farming alone is not an alternative, but mineral fertilizer application could be limited.
For sure you can produce food without mineral fertilizers but it will never be enough. with the application of mineral fertilizers, the grower are getting closer to the potential production of his crop. You can not avoid using mineral fertilizers but you can rationalize its use.
Basically the question of sustainance we need to seperate first sustiance should be in soil health and secondly sustainance in food grain production.
Both aspect are more important as
We need to balance both things by judicious application of various organic and inorganic sources of nutrients.
more than 50% of current world population depend on fertilizers and plant improvement technologies. My view is, in order to sustain at current level of production, provide as much as nutrients from organic sources and balance reset of the requirement with synthetics at least until we find complete alternative to the inorganic fertilizers
Yes, substantial addition of biomass and other natural sources contain maximum nutrient are the alternative for complete avoidannce of inorganic fertilizer.
Mr. Vaibhav till we have no alternate for complete avoidance of inorganic fertilizers which fullfil plant requirement for essential nutrients
Yes sir i agree with you as concsidering existing condtions it is not possible today to coplete avoidance of inorganic material
Yes, till it is not possible to avoid inorganic fertilizers completely, but it is reduce to some level by suplimenting organic sources of nutrients.
For now the anwser is no but such can be possible in future. The urine and faeces we pass out daily are orgarnic, so also some left over frruuts, vegetables and peels such as banana, orange, cassava etc. If all these are recycled and make use of then we are sure of complete organic farming.
The material which was we are using as organic need to check their chemical content by various analytical procedure as we know the residue or persistence in remain for many year.
Yes, it is possible but may not be practically viable and economical for the farmers under present situation. Plants daily need nutrition, like men, either in organic or inorganic form. Bigger question is how to balance productivity, soil health, water pollution, human health and farmer income.
Now a days we wants sustainance in our production system or stability. for that porposue whatever methodology and practices we need to adopt that we need to accept preferably those should be economical and easily avaialbale.
Theoretically, it may be possible to use mineral fertilizer only but practically not sound because of growing demand of food for increasing population. However, use of mineral fertilizer should be encouraged to maintain soil quality.
Soil quality only be maintain by integration of organic and inorganic inputs
For everincresing population ee need to adopt integration of both, considering area under cultivation and the people indirectly depends on it.
It will be possible to sufficient produce food for people of India if people of India got food alternate days or avoiding food.
It appears that behind this propaganda or aspiration no concrete scientific discussion was held.
No,
organic nutrients alone are not enough to increase crop yields to meet global food demand.
Yields of organic agriculture are much less than conventional agriculture and that the organic sources of nutrients are not enough to increase crop yields required to feed global population.
Integrated and/or site-specific precision nutrient management of inorganic and organic sources is crucial for sustainable soil fertility management and to achieve food security.
There is need to develop such a crop plant type that respond to low level of nutrient. As aerial nutrition need to be check at what extent they can gives us response.
Vaibhav, we can not able to ful fiil plant nutritional requirement only through aerial application
Novel media aslo become a substitute for soil at some extent. Particularly in green house condition or for high value crops.
Vaibhav, green house is OK for off season crop production, but it not able to provide food security to our nation
With all our knowledge of science and technology,we understand that the the expected output depends on the input we make in any farming or production system .So one has to see whether the agricultural production is commensurate with the inputs in terms of water and nutrients.Soil is not inhaustible source of source nutrients and so one has to feed the crop plants to get the desired production.So we have to follow a budget approach including all inputs and outputs. Any excess input can be avoided and efficiency in production can be achieved. Soil nutrients can be used to the extent possible with out deteriorating the soil health and productivity.
I think fertilizer alternative farming will be costly w.r .t productivity . But healthy .
It is always desired to use organic materials and manures in agriculture to the extent available for meeting the needs of crops and soil microbes.But one should not exaggerate their availability in a given area and use in agriculture. One cannot recycle all the nutrients ,water and energy with out losses .What ever is lost or removed from the system has to be returned or replenished to sustain crop production at desired level.
Yes, integration of all source of nutrients is important for sustainable soil health as well as productivity
Integration is essential, however now the time to quantify the nutrient content in each material particularly organic material and accordignly either we have to enriched or mix and produce for nutrient managment. Once we know the which is best combination of differant organic resources we coled able to manage it more efficiently according to nutrient requirement of crop or for nutrient replanishment.
Vaibhav, result of LTFE clearly indicate that we can able to reduced 50 % RDF when we applied FYM with chemical fertilizers
Yes sir, as it is one of the important outcome of LTFE. However, any new concetrated organic manure if available at chiefer rate it need to be reavels.
But Vaibhav at now a day there is shortage of organic manures due to decreasing population of animals
Is it necessary to apply organic material every year for maintenance of soil physical or other properties.
As its decomposition rate is quite more and nutrient availability is also slower can alternate year aplication is able to maintain rest of the properties of soil with judicious application of fertilizer.
Yes, as far as possible we must add organic manures for sustainable productivity
I think, it is not easy to feed the ever increasing population with use of only organic amendments.
Yes, it not possible to feed our nations population only through organic farming
Yes, if we are able to supply required quantity of nutrients to crops by adopting all possible means such as organic manures, biofertilizer, residue recycling, green manuring, legume-non legume rotations, etc.
Yes, Anil Kumar we must supply all essential plant nutrients though integration with chemical fertilizers
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