Organic Soil Fertility Management: A Complete Guide for Indian Farmers

 Learn natural methods like composting, green manure, mulching, and microbes to maintain organic soil health and fertility for sustainable farming.

Introduction: The Heart of Organic Farming is Healthy Soil

In organic farming, the focus is not just on what goes into the soil—but on what the soil becomes. Unlike chemical farming that provides short-term results, organic soil fertility management builds a living soil ecosystem that supports crops year after year.

This guide explores 5 key pillars of organic soil fertility:

• Natural ways to enrich soil (Compost, Green Manure, Vermicompost)

• Power of organic mulching

• How to maintain soil pH and nutrient balance

• Role of soil microbes in organic farming

• Real-world case studies from Indian organic farmers

Let’s dig deep—literally and figuratively 🌱

                                                                                

1. Natural Ways to Improve Soil Fertility

A. Composting

Compost is decomposed organic matter made from crop residues, cow dung, vegetable waste, and dry leaves. It improves:

• Soil texture

• Water-holding capacity

• Microbial diversity

How to Make Compost at Farm Level:

1. Collect kitchen & farm waste

2. Mix with dry material (straw, sawdust)

3. Add cow dung slurry (acts as microbial starter)

4. Layer and turn every 15 days

5. Ready in 60–90 days

Tip: Cover compost heap to prevent moisture loss and pest infestation.

B. Green Manuring

Green manure crops are grown not for harvest, but to be ploughed back into the soil. Common crops:

• Dhaincha (Sesbania)

• Sunhemp (Crotalaria)

• Cowpea

Benefits:

• Adds 40–80 kg nitrogen/acre

• Improves organic matter

• Loosens compact soil

• Controls weeds

C. Vermicompost

Earthworms eat organic waste and excrete nutrient-rich castings. Vermicompost is high in NPK and microbes.

How to Set Up:

• Use Eisenia fetida (red worms)

• Prepare shaded pit/trough

• Add moist organic waste in layers

• Keep moist & dark

• Harvest after 30–40 days

Nutrient Content (approx):

• Nitrogen: 1.5%–2%

• Phosphorus: 1%

• Potassium: 0.8%–1%

“Compost feeds the soil. Vermicompost energizes it.”

                                                                       

 

2. Role of Organic Mulching

Mulching means covering soil surface with organic matter like straw, leaves, or husks.

A. Types of Organic Mulch

• Dry Mulch: Wheat husk, dry grass, sawdust

• Live Mulch: Intercropped cover crops (e.g. legumes)

• Green Mulch: Fresh leaves, banana sheaths, chopped weeds

B. Benefits of Mulching

1. Reduces Soil Erosion – Protects topsoil from wind/rain

2. Retains Moisture – Reduces evaporation by 70–80%

3. Suppresses Weeds – Blocks sunlight

4. Feeds Soil – As it decomposes, it adds organic matter

5. Improves Soil Temperature – Keeps it cooler in summer, warmer in winter

C. Application Technique

• Apply mulch after sowing or around plant base

• 2–3 inches thick

• Keep 2–3 cm gap from stem to avoid rot

“Mulch is nature’s blanket—it protects and nurtures.”

                                                                             

 

3. Maintaining pH & Nutrient Balance Naturally

Ideal Soil pH for Crops: 6.0 – 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

A. Signs of Imbalance

• Too Acidic (<5.5): Yellowing, poor root growth

• Too Alkaline (>8.0): Micronutrient lock-up

B. Organic Methods to Correct pH

ProblemSolutionApplication Rate

Acidic SoilWood ash, Lime powder1–2 kg/cent, as needed

Alkaline SoilGypsum, Organic compost100–200 kg/acre

C. Maintaining Nutrient Balance

• Rotate crops to prevent one-nutrient depletion

• Use compost + green manure mix

• Apply oil cakes (neem, groundnut)

• Foliar spray of seaweed extract or Jeevamrut

Oil Cake Nutrient Comparison (per 100 kg):

Cake TypeN %P %K %

Neem Cake5.01.01.5

Castor Cake4.51.81.2

Mustard Cake4.01.21.5

“Balance the soil, and the soil will balance your crop.”

                                                                           

 

4. How Soil Microbes Help in Organic Farming

Microorganisms are the invisible workforce of organic farms.

A. Types of Beneficial Microbes

1. Nitrogen Fixers – Convert air nitrogen to soil form

   • e.g. Rhizobium, Azotobacter

2. Phosphate Solubilizers – Unlock P in soil

   • e.g. Pseudomonas, Bacillus subtilis

3. Mycorrhizae Fungi – Expand root zone

   • Boost phosphorus and water absorption

4. Decomposers – Break down organic waste

   • e.g. Trichoderma, actinomycetes

B. Organic Inputs to Boost Microbes

• Jeevamrut – Cow dung, urine, jaggery, soil mixture

• Beejamrut – Seed treatment bio-tonic

• Panchgavya – 5 cow-based products for foliar use

C. Microbe-Friendly Farming Tips

• Avoid chemical sprays that kill microbes

• Don’t over-irrigate—maintain moist but aerated soil

• Apply organic matter regularly

“Feed the microbes. The microbes will feed your plants.”

                                                                             

 

5. Case Studies: Real Organic Soil Management in India

A. Punjab – Mr. Surinder Singh (Ludhiana)

Approach:

• Green manuring with dhaincha

• Own compost pits

• Panchgavya foliar sprays

Result:

• Reduced fertilizer cost by 50%

• Yield increased by 20% over 3 years

B. Maharashtra – Organic Cotton Farmers (Wardha)

Approach:

• Neem cake + vermicompost mix

• Mulching with cotton stalks

Result:

• Soil structure improved

• Pest pressure reduced

C. Kerala – Vegetable Grower (Palakkad)

Approach:

• Daily Jeevamrut application

• Farmyard manure + wood ash for pH

Result:

• Better taste, color in veggies

• pH corrected from 5.4 to 6.5 in one season

“Organic farming is slow magic. The change is small daily but massive in a year.”

                                                                         

 

Conclusion: Grow the Soil, Not Just the Plant

Fertile soil is not just a growing medium—it is a living factory. Organic soil fertility is about:

• Nourishing soil life

• Returning what we take

• Farming in harmony with nature

Start with:
✅ Regular composting
✅ Balanced mulching
✅ pH monitoring with organic tools
✅ Microbe boosters like Jeevamrut
✅ Observing your soil and adjusting naturally

“Don’t just feed the crop. Build the soil that feeds it.”

Organic Soil Health Tools for Indian Farmers

• Soil Health Card – pH & nutrient profile

• ICAR Organic Farming Manual – Guidelines & practices

• Kisan Call Centers (1800-180-1551) – Free guidance

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) – Local soil support

Suggested Reading

• Introduction to Organic Farming in India: A Sustainable Revolution in Agriculture

• Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)