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Organic Farming

Global Perspectives and Methods

2nd Edition - June 29, 2023

Editors: Sarath Chandran, Unni M.R., Sabu Thomas, D K Meena

Paperback ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 9 1 4 5 - 2

eBook ISBN:

9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 9 1 4 6 - 9

Organic Farming: Global Perspectives and Methods, Second Edition provides the core definition and concepts of organic farming, also addressing current challenges and goals. The… Read more

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Organic Farming: Global Perspectives and Methods, Second Edition provides the core definition and concepts of organic farming, also addressing current challenges and goals. The book provides a comprehensive resource, from sustainability to influences on the ecosystem, including the significance of seed, soil, water and weed management, and other important aspects. In addition, it presents advancements in the field and insights on the future. This fully revised and updated edition expands coverage to include important economic considerations, understanding the influence of nanotechnology on organic farming, vertical farming, organic farming and livestock management, as well as the future of organic farming.

Written by a team of global experts to provide current concepts of organic farming, this resource is valuable for researchers, graduate students, and post-doctoral fellows from academia and research institutions.

Cover image
Title page
Table of Contents
Copyright
List of contributors
Chapter 1. Organic farming—a key to food security and agricultural sustainability
Abstract
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Evolution of organic farming
1.3 An overview
1.4 Conclusions
References
Chapter 2. Integrated weed management in organic farming
Abstract
2.1 Introduction—what is integrated weed management in organic farming?
2.2 Understanding weeds
2.3 The organic integrated weed management hierarchy
2.4 Weed seed rain and seedbank
2.5 Rotations
2.6 Plants versus weeds
2.7 Soil conditions
2.8 Crop and pasture choices
2.9 Pre-crop emergence weeding
2.10 Sowing, planting, and related techniques
2.11 Post-crop emergence weeding
2.12 Perennial crops
2.13 Conclusions
References
Chapter 3. Pest control in organic farming
Abstract
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Concepts
3.3 Final considerations
References
Chapter 4. Nutrient management in agriculture: the contributions of organic and conventional nutrients to food security and the environment in Africa
Abstract
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Theoretical foundations of organic and inorganic nutrient management
4.3 Organic versus inorganic nutrient management and global food security
4.4 Organic versus inorganic nutrient management and African food security
4.5 Agroecology and conventional nutrient management in Africa: benefits and challenges
4.6 Conclusion
Funding
Acknowledgments
References
Chapter 5. The potential of agroecological properties in fulfilling the promise of organic farming: a case study of bean root rots and yields in Iran
Abstract
5.1 Bean market class
5.2 Initial drought practice
5.3 Irrigation frequency
5.4 Plant density
5.5 Planting date
5.6 Planting depth
5.7 Crop rotation
5.8 Urea application
5.9 Weeds
5.10 Soil texture
5.11 Bean fly
5.12 Chemical treatment of soil
5.13 Soil pH
5.14 Organic matter
5.15 Rhizobial symbiosis
5.16 Animal manure
5.17 Herbicide
5.18 Irrigation system
5.19 Seedbed
5.20 Seed treatment with fungicides
5.21 Cultivation method
5.22 Soil moisture
5.23 Temperature
5.24 Concluding remarks
References
Chapter 6. Understanding organic agriculture through a legal perspective
Abstract
6.1 Introduction
6.2 A brief history of organic agriculture
6.3 Key international legal elements underpinning organic agriculture
6.4 How regulations should be? How to better implement them?
6.5 Conclusion
References
Websites
Chapter 7. Impact of organic food and organic agriculture on human health and ecosystem
Abstract
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Reasons behind the popularity of organic farming
7.3 The nutritional benefits of organically grown plant and animal foods
7.4 Consumption of organic foods and its health implications
7.5 The impact of organic farming on the human ecosystem
References
Chapter 8. Vertical farming and organic farming integration: a review
Abstract
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Present status of vertical farming
8.3 Vertical farming techniques
8.4 Hydroponics
8.5 Aeroponics
8.6 Aquaponics
8.7 Crop preferences
8.8 Growth media for vertical organic farming
8.9 Advantages of vertical farming
8.10 Disadvantages of vertical farming
8.11 Trends in organic farming
8.12 Export of organic food
8.13 Vertical organic farming integration
8.14 Challenges and opportunities
8.15 Lighting
8.16 Heating
8.17 In reduction of water demand
8.18 In recycling of organic waste
8.19 In climate change resilience
8.20 In safety from natural disaster
8.21 In new landscape
8.22 In carbon footprint reduction and air quality
8.23 Vertical farming offers more productivity
8.24 Future perspective
8.25 Conclusion
References
Chapter 9. Organic farming is indispensable in addressing key future challenges
Abstract
9.1 Organic farming is part of the solution
9.2 Organic farming: a smart planetary practice
9.3 Where do we stand?
9.4 Global expansion of organic farmland
9.5 Global organic market
9.6 Impact of pandemic on organic sector
9.7 Various organic approaches to address future challenges
9.8 Policy intervention and future look
9.9 Possible ways for effective functioning of policies and legislation
9.10 Conclusions
References
Chapter 10. Role of nanotechnology in organic agriculture
Abstract
10.1 Organic agriculture: idea and rationale
10.2 Agricultural nanotechnology in organic farming
10.3 Constraints of nanotechnology
10.4 Prospects
10.5 Epilogue
References
Chapter 11. Bioenergy production and organic agriculture
Abstract
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Energy use in organic agriculture
11.3 Status quo of bioenergy production in organic agriculture
11.4 Outlook
References
Chapter 12. Biofloc technology: a strategic way to waste recycling in aquaculture
Abstract
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Biofloc: the fact file
12.3 Conclusion
References
Chapter 13. Conversion of fish processing waste to value-added commodities: a waste to wealth strategies for greening of the environment
Abstract
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Fish processing waste as potential source of value-added compounds
13.3 Green processing of fish processing waste toward blue economy
References
Chapter 14. Distillery coproduct in fish nutrition: strategies for transforming waste into wealth
Abstract
14.1 Introduction
14.2 Rationale in fish feed
14.3 Classification of distiller’s grains
14.4 Conclusion
References
Chapter 15. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture: a balanced ecosystem approach to blue revolution
Abstract
15.1 Introduction
15.2 About IMTA
15.3 IMTA system designs
15.4 Selection of species
15.5 Inorganic extractive subsystem in IMTA
15.6 Organic extractive species subsystem in IMTA
15.7 Fed-aquaculture species subsystem in IMTA
15.8 Nutrient flow
15.9 Recovery efficiency
15.10 Food and quality
15.11 Sustainability
15.12 Selected projects on IMTA
15.13 Case studies
15.14 Benefits
15.15 Challenges
15.16 Conclusion
References
Chapter 16. Biochar production methods vis-a-vis aquaculture applications: a strategy for sustainable paradigm
Abstract
16.1 Introduction
16.2 What is biochar?
16.3 The raw material used for biochar production
16.4 Methods of biochar production
16.5 Properties of biochar
16.6 Factors affecting biochar quality
16.7 Application of biochar in the aquaculture production system
16.8 Conclusion and future prospects
References
Chapter 17. Organic aquaculture: an overview
Abstract
17.1 Introduction
17.2 Rationale of organic aquaculture
17.3 Organic aquaculture at a glance: India vs. globe
17.4 Opportunities in organic aquaculture
17.5 The fundamentals of organic aquaculture
17.6 Epilogue
References
Index

Sarath Chandran

Dr. Sarathchandran C currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry in the Department of Science and Humanities, School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Chennai. He obtained his Ph. D. in 2016 from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala.

Affiliations and expertise

Department of Science, Amrita School of Engineering, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Chennai, India. His research interests include photocatalysis, green energy harvesting from various sources including, development of eco-friendly fuels, etc.

Unni M.R.

Sri. Unni M. R., is the Hon. Director of Inter University Center for Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India. He is also the Registrar, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India

Affiliations and expertise

Inter University Center for Organic Farming and Sustainable Agriculture, Mahatma Gandhi University, Registrar, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India

Sabu Thomas

Prof. Sabu Thomas is one of India’s most renowned scientists known for his contributions in polymer science and nanotechnology. He is a scientist, administrator and a teacher of national and international students. He joined Cochin University of Science and Technology, India, to pursue his bachelor’s degree in polymer science and rubber technology. He went on to complete his Ph. D. at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India. After attaining industrial experience, he returned to Mahatma Gandhi University, India, as a lecturer. He currently serves as the Vice Chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi University. He has guided over 116 Ph. D students. He has received several national and international awards for best researcher and is a member of numerous scientific bodies and committees. He has been honoured with honorary doctorates from University of South Brittany, France; University of Lorraine, France and Siberian Federal University, Russia. He has authored more than 1,200 research publications and 156 books. He has been ranked 114th in the list of the world’s best scientists (Stanford University, USA). He was also selected for the DST Nanomission award 2020. He received Honorary Professorship from Siberian Federal University in 2020. Last year he was honoured with C.N.R Rao Award Prize Lecture in Advanced Materials by Materials Research Society of India (MRSI). He was elected as the Foreign Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences (EurASc)-2019. In 2022 he was honoured the Bailey Medal Award and in 2021 was awarded the Kairali Lifetime Research Award 2021 by the Kerala government.

Affiliations and expertise

Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India

D K Meena

Dr. D. K. Meena is a Senior Scientist working at ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata, India. Dr. Meena has in his credit more than 60 international, 10 national peer reviewed articles, 25 book chapters, more than 50 popular articles. In addition, he is a member of the Editorial board of Research Biotica, Review Editor of Frontiers in Aquatic Physiology, and Section Editorof the World Journal of Food Science and Technology. Dr. Meena received the Young Scientist Award from the Academy of Environmental Biology, Fellow of Environmental Biology, Fellow of Fisheries and Life Sciences, best Presentation awards in international and national forums. He has worked for more than 10 years on conversion of waste to wealth and his work has been published in high impact journals. He has also commercialized brewery waste-based fish feed, and is currently developing silkworm pupae waste-based fish feed.

Affiliations and expertise

Senior Scientist ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI)