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    Fertilizer Ingredients


    2010 - 02.04

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         It is a well-known fact that, application of fertilizers can provide the nutrients, essential for plant growth. They are generally applied on the soil or leaves of the plants to promote rapid growth and development. Fertilizers generally come in three basic forms; dry, soluble and time released. Soluble fertilizers are dissolved in water, while the time released fertilizers can come in both dry and soluble form, and they are released slowly over a period of time.

         Fertilizer Ingredients

         Whether organic or synthetic, the key ingredients in fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, usually referred as NPK. These are the primary macro nutrients, found in any fertilizer. However, their concentration can vary considerably from one fertilizer to another. The concentration of these three main components of fertilizers are expressed as, three numbers printed on the label of a particular fertilizer. For example, if a fertilizer is labeled as 10-5-5, then it contains 10% nitrogen, 5% phosphorus and 5% potassium. Here is a brief explanation about these fertilizer ingredients and their role in plant growth.

         Nitrogen (N) (more…)

    Organic Farming Methods


    2010 - 01.31

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         It is a farming practice which involves the use of eco-friendly methods to grow crops and the exclusion of synthetic products such as chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides. Organic farming is practiced on 32.2 million hectares of land the world over. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) carries out the tasks related to setting standards and regulation of organic farming activities worldwide.

         Organic Farming Methods

         The use of organic farming methods is aimed at enhancing the productivity of crops without the use of any kind of synthetic materials and adopting a sustainable approach towards farming.

         Cultivation

         Polyculture is an important aspect of organic farming. In the traditional form of farming, monoculture is practiced, which includes growing a single crop in a given piece of land. Though the motive behind cultivating a single crop, is to reduce costs incurred in fertilizers, seeds, pesticides, etc. However, it creates problems in the long run. The reduction in the fertility of the soil owing to the extraction of nutrients over a long period and soil erosion result from the practice of monoculture. Moreover, the pests become immune to the chemicals used for their control. Polyculture is a completely different approach towards farming as compared to monoculture. In this method of farming, a variety of crops are cultivated on a single piece of land. It helps attract different soil microbes. Some crops act as repellents to pest and this results in pest control, in an organic manner.

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    Fish Farming Techniques


    2010 - 01.31

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         Fish farming is the main form of aquaculture and it is now done on a large scale, to meet the increasing demands of fish protein. As the name suggests, fish farming is the commercial raising of fish for the purpose of food. One of the forms of fish farming, called as hatchery pertains to the releasing of fish species into the tanks or enclosures, in order to supplement the fish species or increase the numbers of fish. Hatchery is made, so, that recreational fishing can be given a boost. The unprecedented increase in commercial fishing has resulted in overfishing and this has compelled the growth of fish farming, so that, the demands of fish protein can be adequately met. Salmon, carp, tilapia, catfish and cod are some of the fishes that are raised extensively in commercial fishing.

          There are two types of fish farming viz. extensive farming and intensive farming. Here is a discussion about the fish farming techniques.

         Caging Systems

         Nets or cages are popular methods of fishing in off shore coastal areas and freshwater lakes, ponds and oceans. Fish are raised in the cages, fed artificially and harvested when the numbers of fish meet the required demands of market. Some of the advantages of cage farming systems is, that this farming technique can be practiced in various types of water sources like lakes, ponds, seas and oceans, that offers flexibility to the farmers. Also, many types of fish can be raise together and the water can be used for various other purposes like water sports. In this farming method, superior quality cages are constructed and put in the water sources to raise the fish. Spread of diseases, poaching and concerns of poor quality water are some of the disadvantages of this farming system.

         Ponds (more…)