Handbook of Organic Farming and Biofertilizers
Contents: Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction and basics. 2. Animal residues. 3. Agricultural residues, tree wastes, green manure and urban wastes. 4. Agro-industrial byproducts. 5. Canning and food processing wastes. 6. Organic wastes from fermentation industries their uses. 7. Tannery sludges in agriculture. 8. Rock phosphate, basic slag and fly ash. 9. Organic agriculture. 10. Composting of organic wastes. 11. Underground biodiversity and biofertilizer. 12. Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes. 13. Frankia - non legume symbiotic association. 14. Production technology for Azolla - a biofertilizer for rice. 15. Asymbiotic nitrogen fixation - azotobacter and others. 16. Azospirillum as biofertiliser. 17. Bluegreen algae as biofertilizer. 18. Phosphorus solubilizing microorganisms as biofertilizer. 19. Mycorrhizae as bio-fertilizer. 20. Production technology for Biofertilizers. 21. Methods and culture media. Annexes: 1. Important sources of organic farming. 2. Mechanical composting for compost plant. 3. Standards for Biofertilizers. 4. List of biofertilizers manufacturers in India. 5. List of mechanical compost plants in India. 6. Production of biofertilizer/organic inputs in India by various unit 2004-2005. Index.
From the preface: "This book highlights various sources of organic and biological agents which can be used for organic farming and as well as for maintenance of soil fertility over years\'. Organic manures are byproducts of processes of decomposition of organic materials available both in rural and urban areas. Organic manures have been used by the farmers from the beginning of agriculture. But it was neglected in India during the past two to three decades.
The production of biofertilizers is a new development and they are produced by isolation, selection and culturing on mass scale of specific microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi. Nitrogen fixing and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms are produced as biofertilizers and made available to farmers to supplement nitrogen and phosphorus needs of the crops with either organic or chemical fertilizers. Moreover, these inputs are inexpensive and eco-friendly."
