Effect of organic farming practices on soil physical properties

Abstract

A survey was conducted in Bellary district Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka (zone-3). Only such of those farmers who were practicing it for more than five years were selected and the information on type and quantity of organics used by them in different cropping systems viz., Groundnut, Finger millet, Onion, Drumstick and Maize was collected, Soil samples from the selected 30 organic farms and the neighboring conventional farms under the same cropping system were also collected. The results revealed that the physical properties of soils were found to be influenced favorably by the organic farming practice. A reduction in bulk density and an increase in particle density and an increase in water holding capacity and an increase in porosity was noticed in all the soils under organic farming. A reduction in pH was observed in soils under organic farming. But however, there was no appreciable change in the EC of soils. A wide variation in increase in organic carbon content in soils of organic farms over conventional farms was observed. The soils from D22 farmer recorded highest increase in porosity (6.78%) while the lowest increase was in soils of D23 farmer (1.65%). The increase in porosity might be due to better soil structure as evidenced from increase in water stable aggregates.