Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Farming and Environmental Concerns
Sustainable Agriculture, Organic Farming and Environmental Concerns
This domain tests sustainability principles, organic management, composting, green manuring, crop rotation, biological control and environmental risks. Odisha contexts include rice-fallow improvement, soil organic matter decline and coastal salinity.
Core rules and concepts
- Sustainable agriculture aims to maintain productivity while protecting soil, water, biodiversity and livelihoods. It does not mean low input at any cost; it means efficient and resilient management.
- Organic farming avoids synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and relies on compost, manures, green manure, legumes, crop residues and biological control. Certification requires a conversion period and documented practices.
- Composting balances carbon-rich and nitrogen-rich materials. A C:N ratio near 25–30:1 favours decomposition; too much carbon slows it, and too much nitrogen causes losses.
- Crop rotation, cover crops, mulching and integrated nutrient management reduce erosion and improve soil organic matter.
Worked example
FYM is applied at 10 t/ha and contains 0.5% N. Total N applied = 10,000 kg × 0.005 = 50 kg N/ha. If 30% is available in the first season, first-season available N = 50 × 0.30 = 15 kg N/ha. The reasoning is to convert tonnes to kilograms, multiply by the nutrient percentage, then apply the availability factor.
Traps that cost marks
Do not assume organic manure supplies all nutrients immediately. Do not equate organic farming with zero nutrient management. Do not use immature compost, which can immobilise nitrogen or damage seedlings. Do not ignore the conversion period required before organic certification.