Biological control

Controlling plants, diseases, and animal pests using natural enemies; or inhibiting the reproduction of pests by methods that result in the laying of infertile eggs, etc.

Biological Diversity

Richness and abundance of species, and variety of natural communities. Both the number of species and the number of individuals within each species are important in considering the extent of biological diversity in an area. Also referred to as biodiversity.

Boar

A sexually mature male hog.

Breeding Stock

Sexually mature male and female livestock that are retained to produce offspring.

Bench Terrace

Constructed to make sloppy land cultivable or stable and consists of a series of platforms or mostly level benches cut into the hill slope in a step like formation; the platforms being separated by very steep sides by rock or vegetation.

Biodynamic Forming

A holistic system of agriculture devised by Rudolph Steiner that seeks to connect nature with cosmic creative forces. An attempt is made to create a whole-farm organism in harmony with its habitat. Compost and special preparations (e.g., plant-derived sprays) are used. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are avoided.

Biofertiliser

Fertilizer containing micro-organisms, the action of which renders the minerals available to plants, e.g., rhizobia, azotobacter, PSB etc.

Biological control (pests)

The use of natural enemies to control pests, including both controlled with imported natural enemies and augmentation and conservation introduction, augmentation, and mass release of natural enemies parasites, predators and disease organisms through manipulation of the pest host, the environment and/or the enemies themselves (IASA 1990).

Blue green algae

An heterogeneous group of prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms which contain chlorophyll. They include unicellular colonial and filamentous species. They are obligate phototrophs and store cyanophcean starch. They are non-symbiotic, free living Nitrogen fixers which grow very well in water logged soils like in rice fields. Beside fixing atmospheric Nitrogen, Blue-green algae secrete vitamins and growth promoting substances which contribute to better growth of the rice plants.

Broadcasting

The process of scattering of agricultural inputs, such as seed, fertilizer and manure on the surface of the soil by, and/or by implements to provide uniform distribution of materials over the entire field.

Bund

An artificial earthen embankment made across sloping agricultural land to cut short lengthy soil slopes and reduce run-off and erosion.

Bund former

An implement used for making bunds or ridges by collecting the soil. Bunds are required to hold water in the soil thereby conserve moisture and prevent run off.