6.organic farming of medicinal plants By Mr. Allah Dad Khan Visiting Professor Agriculture University Peshawar

Organic Farming of Medicinal

Plants in KPK. By

Allah Dad Khan, Former .

Director General Agriculture

Extension KPK Province [email protected]

03329221298

Q u ic k T ime ™ a n d aP h o to - JP E G d e c o mp re s s o r

a re n e e d e d to s e e th is p ic tu re .

Soil Organic Matter

Bodies of microorganisms involved in decomposition

3. Byproducts of decomposition

Partly decomposed (unrecognizable) plant residues

C:N Ratio

SOM 10-12:1 Plant Litter 20-400:1Bacteria 4:1Fungi 10:1

Soil Organic Matter

SOM is:55% C5% N0.5% P0.5% S

AliveMicrobial Biomass (fungi, bacteria) 2-5% of SOM

DeadNon-humic substances 20-30% of SOMHumic substances 60-80% of SOM

How does Organic Matter Improve Soil?

1) increase water holding capacity

2) nutrients attach to O.M.3) O.M. improves tilth (aggregate)The amount of humus in soil is directly proportional to the

amount of nitrogen in soilSoils high in O.M. are easily worked and may be described

as having good tilth.

Why Organic Farming

Organic farming in the form of agriculture includes crop rotation, application of green manure, compost, bio fertilizers, biological pest and diseases control to maintain soil productivity and restrict the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Infact the organic farming rely on the management of the soil. It enhances the chemical, biological and physical properties of the soil and the increasing amount of nutrition in soil plays a key role in suppressing weeds, pests and diseases in eco-friendly manner .

Techniques for Organic Farming for Medicinal Plants

1. Zero cultivation /no till cultivation2. Practice Clean Culture 3. Integrated Pest Management (IPM).GAP4. Insect traps, lure and attractants.5. Use of Biological pest control (natural enemies of pest)6. Use of Organic Compost fertilizer and bio micro inoculants.7. Use of Organic Pest and Disease control materials.8. Use of indigenous resistant plant varieties and strain.9. Practice crop rotation and following (resting the soil for some time).10. Growing and inter-cropping of pest repellant and herbal plants.11. Integrated Weed Management (IWM)12. Growing the right crop on the right soil, climate and at the right time.13. Solarization 14. Integrated Nutrient Management ( I NM)15. Vermipost 16. Integrated Farm Management ( IFM)

Good Agriculture Practices Guidelines for Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) of Medicinal

Plants Principles and Guidelines for Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) 1 Seeds and propagation material Seeds in use are to be identified botanically, indicating plant variety,

cultivar, chemotype and origin1. The material used should be 100 % traceable. The same applies to vegetatively propagated parent material. Parent material used in organic production has to be certified as authentically organic.

2. Cultivation Depending on the method of cultivation e.g. conventional or organic,

growers should be allowed to follow different »Standard Operating Procedures« for cultivation (to be elaborated). In general, care should be taken to avoid environmental disturbances. The principles of good crop husbandry must be followed including an appropriate rotation of crops.

3. Soil and Fertilization Medicinal and aromatic plants should not be grown in soils that are

contaminated by sludge. Furthermore, soils should not be contaminated by heavy metals, residues of plant protection products and any other unnatural chemicals. It should therefore be endeavoured to apply the use of chemical products with as minimum negative effect as possible.

Good Agriculture Practices 4.  Irrigation Irrigation should be minimized as much as possible and only be applied according to

the needs of the plant. 5.  Tillage should be adapted to the growth and requirements of plants. 6. Pesticide and herbicide application shoud be avoided as far as possible.  7. Harvest Harvesting should take place when the plants are of best possible quality, according

to their different utilizations. 8. Primary processing Primary processing after harvest includes such processing steps as washing,

freezing, distilling, drying, etc. All these processes, whether for food or medicinal use 9.Packaging After the repeated control and eventual elimination of low-quality materials and any

foreign bodies, the product should be preferably packaged in new, clean and dry sacks, bags or chests. The label must be clear, permanently fixed and be made of non-toxic material. Information must conform with the national labelling regulations

10.Storage and Transport Packaged dried materials and essential oils should be stored in a dry, well

aerated building, in which the daily temperature fluctuations are limited and good aeration is guaranteed. Fresh products (except basil) should be stored between 1°C and 5°C while frozen products should be stored below –18°C (or below –20°C for longer term storage).

Good Agriculture Practices

11. Personnel and Facilities Personnel should receive adequate botanical education before performing tasks that

require this knowledge. 12. . Documentation All parent materials and processing steps, including the location of cultivation, have

to be documented. Field records showing previous cropping and used inputs should be maintained by all growers.

13. Education It is highly advisable to educate all personnel dealing with the crop or those engaged

in the management of production, in production techniques as well as the appropriate use of herbicides and pesticides.

  14. Quality Guarantee Consultation between producers and buyers of medicinal and aromatic plants, with

regard to quality questions, e.g. active principles and other characteristic ingredients, optical and sensoric properties, limited germ numbers, plant protection chemical residues and heavy metals, must be based on nternationally recognized or national specifications and should be laid down in written form.

9. Growing and inter-cropping of pest repellant and herbal plants

There are crops that repel certain insect pests. Intercropping tomato with cabbages and

cauliflower will help reduce the diamondback moth attacking cabbages. Learn what

these crop combinations. You will not only reduce your cost of pest and disease control

but may even increase your income per unit area with the crop combination. 

12. Solarization It is a non contaminant soil disinfestation technique. It is

based on the sun irradition to provide a temperature rise; and humidity increase this effect. The use of polyethylene ( usually transparent) to cover the ground soil (upper layer), increases the thermical effect and avoid soil moisture loss, raising temperature to letal levels for living soil organism.

ntegrated Farm Management Integrated Farm Management (IFM) involves: a commitment to good husbandry and animal welfare efficient soil management and appropriate cultivation techniques the use of crop rotations minimum reliance on crop

protection chemicals and fertilisers careful choice of seed varieties maintenance of the landscape and

rural communities enhancement of wildlife habitats a commitment

to team spirit based on communication, training and involvement.