000			04972nam a22002417a 4500
003			OSt
005			20251024130137.0
008			251024b ||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
040			_cCPGS
100			_aKurkalang, Saphina Mary _96073
245			_aCharacterization of existing farming system for agro-ecological sustainability / _cSaphina Mary Kurkalang.
260			_aUmiam : _bCPGS-AS, CAU, _cDec 2024.
300			_a114p. : _bill.(some col.) ; _c30cm.
440			_a[Agronomy, School of natural Resource Management] _99067
504			_aIncludes bibliographical references.
520			_aA farm study was conducted during 2020-2022 in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya to determine resource (land, labour & nutrient inputs) allocation and soil management strategies as well as to identify the constraints within the existing farming systems in Ri- Bhoi district of Meghalaya for understanding the contribution of spatial heterogeneities in resource use efficiencies caused by the interaction between soil qualities and farmers’ decisions for sustaining the system. A field survey in participatory mode on farm characteristics and management practices were carried out with a total of 240 farmers selected randomly who were further categorised into three resource groups (RSG1- wealthy, RSG2-medium and RSG3 -poor). Farmers managed several organic and mineral resources to attain their production goals. The net flow of resources was not equal creating areas with carbon and nutrient accumulation and depletion. Resource flow under all three groups of farmers exhibit a positive N & P nutrient balance while K mining of -2.4 kg ha-1 and -0.51 kg ha-1 was recorded in RSG1 and RSG2, respectively. This emphasizes that nutrient stocks of individual plots within farms and village territories can differ considerably due to resource management. Thus, plots in RSG3 which received substantial amounts of nutrients from animal manure and household waste, maintain a relatively high level of productivity. A non-significant variation was observed in labour productivity for all the three groups of farmers. Further, there were 13 (thirteen) existing farming systems identified during the survey while Crop + Livestock+Poultry +Horticulture recorded significantly higher soil available N, K and SOC stock over crop enterprise alone thus, indicating the increased residue recycling and, as a consequence, have the capacity to reduce the external purchase of inputs in the former system. N nutrient recycling in turn helps to increase the soil nutrient availability and soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics. The active pool of soil organic carbon (SOC) was greater than the passive pool due to significant additions of organic matter. This sensitivity makes active SOC an important early indicator of soil quality. The main challenge associated with adoption of farming system as documented during the field study, was it requires skill, knowledge, resources, labour, and capital which are not always available with small and marginal farmers of the region. Information on constraints and recommendations was gathered through a comprehensive interview schedule and analyzed using frequency and percentage. Major constraints are imbalanced use of fertilizers (95.83 %),heavy incidence of pest and disease (92.08 %), 82.00 % of farmers struggled with high labour costs and shortages, while 80.00 % reported monocropping of rice as a major problem which also result in decline soil fertility. 85.00% of farmers reported livestock and poultry bird vulnerability, lack of scientific knowledge about fish rearing (37.08 %), limited market access and value addition (44.16 %). Hence, to effectively influence farmers' attitudes towards farming system, it is crucial to implement appropriate strategies through trainings, demonstrations, access to credit facilities, and a reliable supply of highquality inputs. The success of farming systems will largely depend on accurately targeting various farm enterprises and how variable the soil fertility is. Differences in resource ownership and biophysical conditions result in varying opportunities for individual farmers, even within the same geographical area. Given the close relationship between farming and the environment, agricultural activities significantly impact soil health, water resources, landscapes, and biodiversity. Therefore, there is a pressing need for region or location specific policies that offer crop-specific pricing, insurance, and income support to help shield farmers from market volatility while also preserving agro-ecological resources and maintaining ecological balance through the sustainable management of natural resources.
650			_aFarming systems
650			_aResource allocation _xSustainability. _910732
650			_aNutrient balance. _910733
700			_aRam, Vishram _eMajor Advisor. _99037
856			_uhttps://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810222039 _yOnline access.
942			_2ddc _cPTH
999			_c5877 _d5877