A comprehensive management approach is envisaged to improve soil health in organic farming, the ecology and living soil quality of the area can be created by the continuous incorporation of crop and weed biomass, animal dung, urine-based manure (FYM, NADEP, vermicompost), biofertilizer and bioenhancer, special liquid formulations (e.g. vermiwash, compost tea, etc.).
As a general rule during the harvest period, crop residues and cattle feces should be returned directly or indirectly to the plot. As a policy, the amount of biomass extracted from an organic farm for human feed and fibre, animal feed or firewood should be replaced with any other bio-waste on the farm. In phosphorus-deficient and acidic soils, some amount of mineral grade rock phosphate and lime can also be added directly to the field or mixed with compost.
Fertilizers can be further improved by incorporating biofertilizers, microbial inoculants, etc. Special fertilizers such as biodynamic compost, cowpet compost, biodynamic preparations such as BD-500 and BD-501, special formulations such as Panchgavya, Dashagavya, Biosol etc. are also useful and ensure adequate productivity.
The use of EM formulations has also been found to be effective in soil culture and composting. The use of oilcakes, poultry manure, concentrated manure (a mixture of oilcake, poultry manure and rock phosphate) for crops with high nutrient demands and intermittent soil culture can also be an ideal, low-cost alternative to manure.
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