Dr. Hannah Krujia
To understand natural farming we need to know the cycle of life and matter. Natural farming as we think about is learning nature’s laws, and using them with care. Natural farming is a culture where plants are grown in 100% natural environment with the least human interference and no harmful chemicals or synthetic products used. It is practically leaving the crops grow and produce in their natural environment and man enhances the natural conditions to improve productivity. Ways for natural farming
• Practice clean culture by keeping the field clean this will prevent the growth and multiplication of pest and diseases. All plant waste and droppings should be gathered in one place to be composted and converted into organic fertilizer. Weed control helps not only in soil aeration and softening of soil mass but will also reduce or disturb the breeding place of insect pests and fungal diseases.
• The soil is kept fertile with the leaves, branches and other plant parts that mature and drop to the soil surface are decomposed with the aid of bacteria, fungi and other minute organisms that eat and digest them up with moisture. This results to the build up of humus and organic fertilizer, which break down into simple chemical form rich in readily available plant nutrients for roots to absorb.
• Beneficial microorganisms flourish in the fertile organic rich soil that help both in the decomposition of organic materials and suppress or control the spread and multiplication of pests and diseases. Beneficial microorganisms help suppress and control the growth of disease causing microbes (bacteria, fungus and virus) and even soil borne pests like nematodes and insects.
• Insect pests are kept as both destructive and friendly insects balancing their population in their natural habitat. This control the build up of insect infestation is a continued process when left to their natural state. Many parasites are valuable as biological control of pests. The use of living plant and animals or living organisms to control pest and diseases are called biological control.
• Big and tall trees protect the soil and other living organisms beneath from too much heat and bad weather conditions. Soil erosion and depletion is minimized or totally prevented. Trees serve as umbrella in forest and natural habitat. Tree planting in certain sections of the farm is advisable and encouraged.
• Use of organic fertilizer coming from fermented and decomposed organic materials are very nutritious and safe fertilizer materials. They enrich the soil plant food nutrients, improve the texture for easier root growth and preserve the soil fertility status.
• Zero tillage is propagating plants without the artificial means of cultivation. Plants and seeds are spread by growth of rhizomes, vines, carried by wind, water and birds. Modern natural farming systems can learn much from nature’s way of propagating and preserving its species even without the usual land clearing and land preparation involving digging, plowing and harrowing.
• Fallowing is a farming practice by ancient farmers where the land is made to rest for a year or two or more to allow nature to rejuvenate it and enrich the soil fertility and productive capacity.
• Integrated cropping pattern to prevent growth of toxic weeds. Certain weeds are difficult to remove or control, like grasses. Planting vines and crawling crops like sweet potato and cover crops will help suppress weeds.
• Growing the right crop on the right soil, climate and at the right time. There are suitable crops that are ideal for certain season of the year and suitable soils for their healthy and productive growth. Let us discover the advantages we have by growing the right crops best suited to our land with good market demand.
To adopt natural farming system, we have to understand how the ecosystem responds to man’s interventions. The moment we clear the land, remove the protective trees and cultivate the soil, we have destroyed the natural environment and the existing ecosystem and bio-diversity. The lesser we destroy or remove the natural environment, the closer we get into natural farming.
(Dr. Hannah Krujia is an
SMS in agronomy at Krishi Vigyan
Kendra, Phek)
