Integrated Farming System - An Ecofriendly Approach for Sustainable Agricultural Environment – A Review

Sustainable development in agriculture must include integrated farming system (IFS) with efficient soil, water crop and pest management practices, which are environmentally friendly and cost effective. In IFS, the waste of one enterprise becomes the input of another for making better use of resources. In integrated crop livestock farming system, crop residues can be used for animal feed, while manure from livestock can enhance agricultural productivity. IFS also play an important role in improving the soil health by increasing the nitrogen, phosphorous, organic carbon and microbial count of soil and thus, reduces the use of chemical fertilizers. Moreover, IFS components are known to control the weed and regarded as an important element of integrated pest management and thus minimizes the use of weed killers as well as pesticides and thus protects the environment. The water use efficiency and water quality of IFS was better than conventional system.