Introduction
Local ingredients are the major input for any indigenous practices. In organic farming, Panchagavya is the widely used indigenous product for nutrient management. Except Panchagavya, farmers have lesser options for nutrient management. In this context, two indigenous products for nutrient management for sugarcane cultivation were documented from Panikampatty village of Karur district.

Fish ensilage for higher yield in sugarcane cultivation

Description
Shri. Gopalakrishnan from Panikampatty village of Karur district cultivate sugarcane for the past 20 years and had tried different organic products to boost the yield. He has produced an organic product called ‘Fish ensilage’. Fish wastes are collected from shops and chopped into small pieces and kept in a container. For every kg of fish waste, one kg of molasses or jaggery is added and the mixture is kept for 15 days for ensiling.  After
15 days, the mixture is squeezed and filtered and the extract is collected in a separate container. The extraction from the same mixture is repeated after 15 days. The filtered fish extract is sprayed @150 ml/litre of water for sugarcane.

Farmer’s perspective
The farmer says “It not only supplements the nutritional requirement, but also increases the sugarcane yield to a greater extent and I am aware about the practice from my forefathers and practicing the same for a longer period”.

Scope and utility
Fish emulsions are not only good organic nitrogen sources, but also supply phosphorous,   potassium,   amino   acids,   proteins   and   trace   elements   or   organic micro-nutrients that are really needed to provide nutrition to soil and plants. One of the benefits of fish emulsion is that they provide a slow release source of nutrients to soil without over feeding all at one (Stephen, 2012).

Rationality
Fish ensilage’s use was successfully demonstrated as an organic package for getting higher yields in onion cultivation by Shri. V. Antonysamy of Chintamani, Puliangudi in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu (Farmers’ note book, Eco–friendly methods to boost onion yield, Science and Technology, The Hindu, 20.06.2014).

Prof. Teruo Higa from University of Ryukyus, Okinwa, Japan has undertaken a study for several years in Effective Micro-organism (EM). In his famous  EM “Bokashi ”, he has used animal based residues like fish/bone meal, animal dung and crab shell along with several crop based organic products like rice, corn/wheat bran and press mud. The EM technology developed from the University is in use in over 90 countries of the world. It has revealed the significance of fish emulsion in soil and crop health.

Present status
This practice is being promoted as an effective nutrient management for sugarcane. Several organic farmers are following the practice in the study area. Further, it was known from him that as an organic farmer, Shri. Gopalakrishnan is promoting this practice in many national and international conferences and meetings. He had participated and presented the details about the practice in three international organic conferences and symposia.

Lime egg emulsion as a sugarcane booster
Description
‘Lime egg emulsion’ is an another organic product produced as a booster for cane growth by Shri. Gopalakrishnan. Ten eggs were placed in a container and 20-25 limes
crushed and added over the eggs and one kg jaggery is added with the mixture and kept in an air tight container for 10 days. After ten days, the lid is opened and stirred well. Again the same quantity (one kg) of jaggery is added and kept air tight for another 10 days. After
20 days, it is used for sugarcane @ 10 ml/litre of water.

Farmer’s perspective
The farmer says “the lime egg extraction not only boosts the cane growth, but also increases the tonnage. As like fish emulsion, I have learnt the practice from my fore fathers and this practice is being followed by several farmers in the area ”.

Rationality
Ramu Thampalya (2004), Seed Inspector at Department of seed certification and organic certification reported that the lime-egg solution is an effective plant growth promoter and it can be used along with Panchagavya as well (Ramu Thampalayagowder. Linkedin.com).

Present status
The farmer commercially producing the product and selling to other farmers. Several organic farmers purchase the product from shri. Gopalakrishnan and applying for sugarcane. He reported that it is one of the organic growth promoter for sugarcane.

Mixed grains as green manure for sugarcane cultivation

Introduction
Dhaincha or Sunnhemp are the recommended green manure crops for sugarcane cultivation and seeds of green manure crop are sown on one side of the ridges on 3rd or 4th day after planting sugarcane. The green manure crops are incorporated after 45 days or at flowering stage. But in Velayuthapalayam of Karur district, farmers follow a traditional way of cultivating green manure crop in sugarcane. The practice was documented from Shri. Venkataraja.

Description
Shri. Venkatraja adopted several traditional organic practices in sugarcane cultivation; using mixed grains as green manure is one among them. Before sugarcane planting, 20-25 kg of mixed seeds are sown, which include legumes, oilseeds, cereals,
spices, green manure, leafy vegetables, etc., and after 30 days of sugarcane planting, the green manures are incorporated  in the soil by deep ploughing. At 45 DAP of sugarcane, the mixed seeds are sown again and incorporated into soil during earthing-up at 3rd or 4th month. Thus, he cultivates two cover crops and incorporate the same for sugarcane.

Farmer’s perspective
The farmer says “The practice of using mixed grain as green manure gives better results. In ancient times, it used to be called as ‘Nava thaniyam’. Since, the mixed grains are sown twice, the nutrient uptake by sugarcane from the green manure is more and there is no need to apply any additional fertiliser”.

Scope and utility
Cover crops are incorporated at flowering stage to improve soil properties.

Green manure not only boosts sugarcane growth, but also, suppress weed growth, reduces soil erosion, enhances soil fertility and improves infiltration of water.

A rapid increase in soil micro organisms also has been evidenced by the practice.

Rationality
Mixed grains with different rooting system and rhizosphere chemistry supports different types of microbes and also dissolves various soil nutrients. The nutrients absorbed by cover crops are released for sugarcane after its incorporation. This practice requires absolutely no capital outlay after the initial purchase of handful of seed.

The main benefit of the green manure is the addition of organic matter to the soil.

Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen in large quantity and thus reduces the in-organic fertiliser requirement.

Present status
It is well known fact that green manure helps in crop growth and development. Cultivating mixed grain as green manure is an age old practice in Tamil Nadu and the farmers who practices organic farming are adopting the practice for a longer period. But in recent times, very few farmers are following the practice due to non awareness of the practice and it needs more labour and time from sowing to incorporation. It is very easy to farmers to apply inorganic fertilisers compared to cultivating green manure crops.

So, majority of the farmers are not following the practice and the adoption rate for the practice is around 10-15%. The practice may be popularised as one of the component of the package of practices in the integrated nutrient management for sugarcane.

Mixed grains are used as green manure