Indian Journal of Agronomy
Year : 2009, Volume : 54, Issue : 1
First page : ( 9) Last page : ( 14)
Print ISSN : 0537-197X. Online ISSN : 0974-4460.

Integrated farm management for linking environment

Kathiresan R.M.

Department of Agronomy, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu, 608 002.

Correspondence address: (E-mail: rm.kathiresan@sify.com)

Invited lecture delivered at National Symposium on “New Paradigms in Agronomic Research” held at Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat during 19–21 November, 2008.

Abstract

The concept of Integrated Farm Management (IFM) is more feasible for small-farm holdings and it serves as a tool for linking environmental safety with weed control besides offering scope for conservation of agro-biodiversity. The component elements of fish culture and poultry rearing in transplanted rice have shown to compliment weed control by 30% besides imparting sustainability as improved soil health and economic returns. The technology has been upscaled for adoption by farmers through on-farm demonstrations and farmers training. Under rainfed upland conditions, integrating goat rearing, especially for grazing during the off-season complimented weed control by 45.17% and addition of goat manure to fields grazed upon by goats contributed for 31.34% weed control during the cropping season. Technology for integrating a medicinal herb Coleus amboinicus with insect agents Neochetina eichhorniae/bruchi for the bio-control of water hyacinth has also been evolved and demonstrated in aquatic systems. Naturally regenerated stands of Prosopis juliflora in social sites are shown to be better managed by slashing and digging out roots followed by rehabilitative cropping with sunflower + cowpea. Another invasive alien weed Parthenium hysterophorus is shown to be resisted by avenue plantations with Tamarindus indica.

Top

Key words

Biological, Eichhornia crassipes, Goats, Grazing, Insect agents, Plant products.

Top