Abstract
This paper reviews the role of Natural Farming as an ecological farming method to produce organically grown food of safe and high quality and at the same time improve soil quality and soil health. Currently, there is a dearth of information on the effects of Natural Farming approach on black pepper farms particularly in Sarawak, Malaysia. Previous studies on other crops had indicated positive outcome using the Natural Farming method. Thus, this paper discusses the essential role of effective microorganisms in Natural Farming and their potential in pepper cultivation. Through the action of effective microorganisms, this approach should be able to transform a degraded soil ecosystem into one that is fertile and has high nutrients availability. The mixed culture of effective microorganisms applied must be mutually compatible and coexist with one another to ensure its favorable establishment and interaction in the soil. Therefore, it is anticipated that introducing Natural Farming in black pepper cultivation can enhance the predominance of effective microorganisms in the soil, which in turn could lead to promising growth and yield of the crop.
Highlights
Current trends in pepper cultivation, fertilizers, and widescale applications of broad-spectrum organophosphate pesticides could result in a degrading ecological environment besides shortening the lifespan of pepper vines [1]
As the approach is closely related to soil fertility, introducing Natural Farming to enhance the predominance of beneficial and effective microorganisms can help to improve and maintain soil biological, chemical, and physical properties (Fukuoka, 2009) [5]
Further studies done by Van Bruggen and Finckh [15] reported the beneficial effects of Effective Microorganism (EM) which include suppression of soil-borne pathogens, increased decomposition rate of organic waste, increased availability of mineralized nutrients to plants, enhancement of microbial activities, increased nitrogen fixation, and reduced requirement of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides
Summary
Current trends in pepper cultivation, fertilizers, and widescale applications of broad-spectrum organophosphate pesticides could result in a degrading ecological environment besides shortening the lifespan of pepper vines [1]. A single application may be enough to International Journal of Agronomy produce the expected results, whereas for other soils, repeated applications may be ineffective [6] The reason for this is that, in some soils, it takes longer time for the introduced microorganisms to adapt to a new set of ecological and environmental conditions and to become well established as a stable, effective, and predominant part of the indigenous soil microflora. The proper and regular addition of organic amendments is often an important part of any strategy to ensure the survival of newly introduced microorganisms [5] To this end, there is strong belief that Natural Farming can ensure very productive pepper farming, clean environment, increase profits of pepper growers, and at the same time make healthy and fresh organic produces affordable for everyone. This paper discusses the essential role of effective microorganisms in Natural Farming and their potential in pepper cultivation
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