Here are the answers to your questions on organic farming: 1. Principles of Organic Farming: Health: Organic farming should sustain and enhance the health of soil, plant, animal, and human life. Ecology: Organic farming should work with ecological systems and cycles, rather than against them, by promoting biodiversity and soil health. Fairness: It should provide fair conditions for all involved in food production and be economically viable. Care: Organic farming should be managed with consideration of the environment, future generations, and the need for caution when using new technologies. 2. Define Organic Farming: Organic farming is an agricultural system that avoids the use of synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides. It emphasizes the use of organic methods like crop rotation, composting, green manuring, and the use of natural predators to manage pests and diseases. 3. What is Biodiversity? Write the Importance and Uses: Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, and the ecosystems they form. It is crucial for maintaining ecosystem services like pollination, soil fertility, water purification, and climate regulation. Importance: Biodiversity supports food security, agricultural resilience, and ecosystem health. It is also essential for the development of new medicinal compounds and the aesthetic, cultural, and economic value it provides. Uses: Biodiversity is used in agriculture (e.g., crop and livestock varieties), medicine (e.g., plant-based drugs), and ecosystem services. 4. Roles of Agrobiodiversity: Agrobiodiversity refers to the diversity of plants, animals, and microorganisms used in agriculture. It plays a key role in increasing agricultural resilience, improving soil health, pest control, and ensuring a steady food supply by providing diverse gene pools for breeding more resilient crops and livestock. 5. What is Carbon Sequestration?: Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, usually in soil or vegetation, as a means of reducing the impact of greenhouse gases and mitigating climate change. 6. Types of Conservation Tillage: No-till: Soil is left undisturbed except for the planting of seeds. Reduced-till: Minimizes tillage to reduce soil disturbance and preserve soil structure. Mulch-till: Involves tilling only enough to incorporate mulch into the soil. 7. Benefits of Conservation Tillage: Reduces soil erosion. Improves water retention. Enhances soil organic matter and fertility. Reduces fuel and labor costs. Increases carbon sequestration. 8. What is Soil Organic Matter?: Soil organic matter (SOM) is the decayed remains of plants, animals, and microorganisms in the soil. It improves soil structure, enhances nutrient availability, retains moisture, and fosters a healthy soil ecosystem. 9. What is Soil Organic Carbon?: Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the carbon component of soil organic matter. It plays a vital role in soil fertility, water retention, and carbon storage, thus helping in climate change mitigation. 10. What is Bio-compost?: Bio-compost is compost made from organic waste, decomposed by microorganisms. It is used as a natural fertilizer to enhance soil health and plant growth. 11. What is Vermi-wash?: Vermi-wash is a liquid extract derived from the leachate (water) of vermicompost, rich in nutrients and beneficial microorganisms. It is used as a foliar spray for plants or a soil drench to enhance plant growth and improve soil health. 12. What is Press Mud?: Press mud is a by-product of sugarcane juice extraction during the production of sugar. It contains organic matter and can be used as a soil conditioner or organic fertilizer. 13. What is Rain Water Compost?: Rainwater compost refers to composting organic matter with rainwater. The moisture from rainwater helps in the decomposition process, creating nutrient-rich compost for soil improvement. 14. Advantages of Vermicomposting: Produces high-quality, nutrient-rich compost. Reduces waste, especially organic waste. Enhances soil structure and fertility. Supports sustainable agricultural practices by reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. 15. Differentiate Between On-farm and Off-farm Resources: On-farm resources: These are the resources available within the farm, such as soil, water, labor, livestock, and organic inputs like manure or crop residues. Off-farm resources: These are external inputs not produced on the farm, such as commercial fertilizers, purchased seeds, machinery, and technological resources. 16. What is Coir Pith Compost?: Coir pith compost is made from the waste material of coconut husks (coir pith). It is an excellent organic soil conditioner that improves water retention, aeration, and overall soil structure. 17. Define Vermiculture: Vermiculture is the practice of breeding and raising earthworms to produce vermicompost. It involves the cultivation of earthworms to process organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. 18. Difference Between Green Manures and Green Leaf Manures: Green Manures: Crops grown specifically to be plowed into the soil to improve fertility (e.g., legumes like clover). Green Leaf Manures: Leaves from trees or plants that are directly used as mulch or compost to enrich the soil (e.g., leaves from leguminous plants). 19. Advantages of Mulching: Conserves soil moisture. Suppresses weed growth. Regulates soil temperature. Adds organic matter to the soil as it decomposes. Protects plant roots from extreme weather conditions. 20. Benefits of Crop Rotation: Reduces soil depletion. Helps control pests and diseases. Improves soil structure and fertility. Enhances biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers. 21. What is Intercropping?: Intercropping is the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same field. This method can increase biodiversity, reduce pest outbreaks, improve soil health, and increase yields by using different resources more efficiently. These answers cover the basics of organic farming principles, practices, and the importance of various farming techniques for sustainability.