Method of non conventional farming systems
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This document discusses several non-conventional farming systems: Organic farming uses techniques like crop rotation and compost to cultivate land without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Hydroponics grows plants without soil by suspending roots in nutrient solutions. A grow box is an enclosed container that creates ideal indoor conditions for growing plants using hydroponics or soil. Trough culture grows crops in containers or structures and allows plants to be grown in places unsuitable for traditional farming. Urban and peri-urban farming cultivates crops and raises animals in and around cities to provide fresh food and income opportunities for urban communities.
Method of non conventional farming systems
- 1. NON- CONVENTIONAL FARMING SYSTEMS Organic farming: Organic farming is a non-conventionalmethod of farming primarily used to cultivate land and grow crops using techniques such as crop rotation, compostand green manure. Organic farming aims to keep the soil alive and in good health by using organic wastes (crop, animal, and aquatic wastes) other biological materials and beneficial microbes to release nutrients to crops for increased yields in a pollution-free environment. Organic farming aims to avoid the use of synthetic and harmfulpesticides, fertilizers, growth regulators, hormones, antibiotics and livestock feed additives. Hydroponics: Hydroponics is the growing of plants withoutsoil. The name is derived from two Greek words; hydro (water) and ponic (labour). Hydroponic plants can be grown in gravel, water, sand, or even in the air. They are suspended in, or misted with, a nutrient solution. The roots receive nutrients directly instead of having to grow out into the soil to reach them. This allows plants to be grown in smaller spaces. Hydroponic plants are not at risk of attack frompests or diseases found in soil. They also haveno competition fromweeds found in soil. Thereforehydroponics plants reduceor eliminate the use of pesticides and insecticides. Grow box : A grow box is an enclosed container usually used for growing indoor plants. A grow boxcreates the ideal conditions required for the growing and flowering of plants indoors. Plants can be grown by using hydroponics or soilin a grow box. They can be used to grow for many reasons such as a lack of available outdoor space, the desire to grow vegetables, the need to grow vegetables during cold weather months and to protect plants against pests or disease. Grow boxes vary in size depending on the space available and can be constructed fromnatural or manmade materials. In the Caribbean we constructgrow box fromnatural materials such as bamboo and wood and man-madematerials such as blocks, bricks and galvanized sheeting. A special mixture of top soil, animal manure, sand and rotted leaves can be used as the growing medium in grow boxes.
- 2. Trough culture: This is the growing of crops in containers or structures that have the required width and depth. This is usually done on a small scale. Trough culture is a rapid method of expanding agriculture. Itallows people to grow crops in places that were not suitable to grow crops. Theseplaces include rooftops, empty lots, indoor gardens and home gardens. Trough culture along with grow boxes enable plants to be grown wherethere is limited space and poor or no soil. There are various growing mediums that can be used in troughs, depending on the location of the trough and the types of plants to be grown. They rangefromsoil-less substances, such as perlite, vermiculite and wormcastings (the end product of composting worms in the soil also known as wormmanure) to organic soil mixes. Urban and peri-urbanfarming: Urban and peri-urban farming is the cultivation of crops and the rearing of animals in, around or near cities, towns, or villages. Urban farming is usually done on small areas of land whilst peri-urban farming is usually done on larger areas of land on in a semi-intensive or commercial way. Urban and peri-urban farming produces fresh vegetables (lettuces, cabbages, pak choi, celery and spinach), fruit (tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumber) and animals such as poultry and goats. Urban and peri-urban farming providethe following benefits: urban and peri-urban income and e of the economy informally. The costs of supplying, transporting and distributing food fromruralareas to urban and peri-urban communities continue to increasebecause of the increase in ruralproduction and import costs. When the producereach the urban and peri-urban areas they become very expensive, thereforefactor like this ensure urban and peri- urban farming.