Sustainable and Modern Agriculture (Organic Farming, IPM, INM)
What the exam asks
Sustainable and Modern Agriculture tests organic farming, IPM, INM, conservation agriculture, precision farming and soil-health management. Expect definitions, comparisons and a nutrient-plan calculation that combines organic and mineral sources.
Core rules
- Organic farming relies on organic manures, compost, green manure, biofertilizers, crop rotation and biological pest control; it restricts synthetic inputs but still needs balanced nutrients.
- IPM uses scouting, ETLs, cultural and biological control, and pesticides only when justified. It is not chemical-free farming by definition.
- INM combines organic sources, biofertilizers and mineral fertilizers to meet crop needs and maintain soil organic matter.
- Conservation agriculture rests on minimum soil disturbance, permanent soil cover and crop diversification; it reduces erosion and fuel use but needs weed and residue management.
- Precision farming uses site-specific information and inputs; it can improve efficiency but requires data, equipment and skills.
Worked example
A crop needs 120 kg N ha−1. The farmer applies 10 t ha−1 FYM containing 0.5% N, and assumes 60% of that N is available in the first season. FYM N applied = 10,000 kg × 0.005 = 50 kg; available N = 50 × 0.60 = 30 kg. Mineral N needed = 120 − 30 = 90 kg. Urea required = 90 ÷ 0.46 = 196 kg ha−1. Reasoning: credit only the available fraction, then calculate fertilizer from the balance.
Traps
Organic farming is not automatically high-yield or pest-free; IPM is not zero pesticide; INM is not only chemical fertilizer. Do not count total manure N as immediately available. Residue removal for fuel can conflict with conservation agriculture. Certification claims need records and inspection, not just practice.