Natural Agriculture Research Articles

Deciphering the micro floral population and nutrient condition of cow dung and urine in order to develop natural farming inputs (Ganajeevamurtha and Jeevamrutha)

The development of Ganajeevamrutha and Jeevamrutha, two natural farming additives, required the identification of an effective combination of cow dung and cow urine. In this study, cow dung and urine samples were taken from desi cows (Gir) and cross breeds (HF) and analysed for total bacterial, fungal, actinomycete population, and nutritional status (N, P and K). In terms of bacterial population (50 x 106 cfu/ g of sample), fungal population (29 x 104 cfu/g of sample), actinomycetes population (9.3 x 103 cfu/g of sample), and nutrients status (N (0.532 percent), P (0.173 percent), and K (0.182 percent), samples from desi cow dung had a higher number of microflora population. As a result, it is regarded as the desi cow dung and urine is ideal cultural material for preparing Ganajeevamrutha and Jeevarutha.

Comparative performance of cow based natural and conventional farming of wheat in middle Gujarat

Comparative performance of cow based natural and conventional farming of wheat in middle Gujarat

Determinants and Constraints for Adoption of Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) Practices

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) follows agroecological principles and promotes chemical-free farming. It has emerged as cost-effective farming improving soil fertility and providing chemical-free food. For determining factors for the adoption of ZBNF practices in the purposively selected Wardha district of Maharashtra, conducted during 2022-23, Logit regression and for analyzing the constraints, factor analysis was used. The study revealed significant factors like integrated soil fertility management practices, adoption of ZBNF practices and IPM practices. The scarce raw materials for input preparation, management of weeds and pests were identified as input related whereas, lack of knowledge about liquid fertilizers, insect pest and weed management practices were reported as technology constraints, in case of the constraints related to labour and machinery, non availability of the bullock, high demand of skilled labour and high labour wages were reported. In case of institutional constraints, higher conversion period, high demand of skilled labour, and high certification fee were found. The assurance of better prices, purchase agencies at distant places, and lack of proper market structure were reported as the marketing constraints. In the case of political and legal constraints, a lesser number of FPOs, the synergy of the ZBNF practices with mainstream agriculture, lack of globalized market, and the need for convergence were found significant.

Assessing smallholder farmers' perception of value creation and appropriation in sustainable production

Market opportunities and improved demands for sustainable production and consumption highlight the importance of engaging smallholder farmers. This study aims to understand the transition towards sustainability through the perception about the value created and appropriated of small poultry farmers who supply a company that practices Nature Farming, in a vertical integration system. The authors adopted a system of indicators (Ambitec-Agro, assessment of the impact of technological innovations in agriculture) and used content analysis software (ATLAS.ti) to assess farmers' perceptions. The results suggest that the transition to sustainable production creates capacities to add value, mainly from social and economic perspectives. In addition, the relational value has a strong influence on this dynamic. The study contributes by proposing an application of methodology based on mixed methods to identify the perceptions of smallholder farmers about created and appropriated value in migrating from an input-intensive production to a sustainable system, offering opportunities for improvement in traditional supply chains.

A Sustainable Approach to Agriculture and Rural Development: An Analysis of Zero Budget Natural Farming Technique

A Sustainable Approach to Agriculture and Rural Development: An Analysis of Zero Budget Natural Farming Technique

Maize Grain Quality as Influenced by Chemical, Organic and Natural Farming Systems in an Acid Hill Soil of North-Western Himalayas

Maize Grain Quality as Influenced by Chemical, Organic and Natural Farming Systems in an Acid Hill Soil of North-Western Himalayas

Agroforestry Assisted Natural Farming in India: Challenges and Implications for Diversification and Restoration of Agroecosystem

The Government of India is promoting natural farming (NF) which is evolved from our ancient heritage and traditional cultivation practices. Though NF has many advantages, it is facing several challenges like low yield in initial years, expecting high outputs from low cost of cultivation, lack of local cultivars and livestock, less availability of tree based diverse inputs, dependency on purchase or exchange inputs from other farm hold and dispute in farming type and crop composition. On these backdrops, sustainable and/or resilient agroforestry (AF) systems can be synergized by using principles and practices of AF with NF. This AF assisted NF hybrid model is helpful in diversification and restoration of agroecosystem. AF includes at least one livestock components along with perennial trees and agricultural crops. Trees and livestock based NF is the foremost nature based solution (NBS) for climate change mitigation, food security and land degradation neutrality. In NF, to prepare various plant protection formulations neem, pongamia and various perennial species byproducts are essential which can be substituted by tree components in AF. It also provides continues supply of inputs for jeevamrut and beejamrut preparations along with continuous biomass mulching through nitrogen fixing trees. In addition, AF assisted NF practices reduce methane emission from ruminating livestock by reducing heat stress and increasing the feed quality. Some studies on NF have indicated that yield levels were drastically reduced in several cropping systems. Instead of integrating tree and animal components, these studies focused solely on the multi-location evaluation of various cropping systems. Therefore, it would be premature to recommend its wide-spread adaption or adoption prior to scientific validation of this NF. This review provides detail information and implications of AF assistance in NF and recommends preferentially, climate resilient, economical, native and naturalized trees and livestock incorporation, along with amalgamation of traditional and improved AF practices.

Farmers attitude towards zero budget natural farming

India has always had an advantage and strength in natural farming. Natural products are currently in the spotlight on a local, national, and international level due to changes in global consumption patterns, consumer health awareness, and the growing importance of sustainability. The study was conducted on farmers’ attitude towards Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) practices in Anand district by selected sample size of 120 farmers based on highest number of the farmers who had gone through training on ZBNF. The data were collected through personal interview and analyzed by using appropriate statistical tools. Majority of the respondents had favourable attitude towards ZBNF, followed by a neutral attitude and a strongly favourable attitude towards ZBNF. The independent variables viz., innovativeness, training received, economic motivation and farm mass media exposure had a positive and significant relationship with farmers’ attitude towards ZBNF practices. Further, variables viz., education, risk orientation, size of landholding, social participation, farm mass media exposure, extension contact, economic motivation, innovativeness, farming experience, herd size, training received and gender had maximum positive indirect effect on farmers’ attitude towards ZBNF practices.

A scale to measure attitude of farmers towards zero budget natural farming

Attitude is defined as the degree of favourable or unfavourable feeling of the farmers towards zero budget natural farming. It is the accepted fact that an attitude of an individual plays an important role in determining ones behaviour. Keeping this in view a standardized scale has been developed to measure the attitude of farmers towards zero budget natural farming (ZBNF). A summated (likert) rating scale was been developed. The process started with identifying the dimension, collection of items followed by relevancy and item analysis and checking the reliability and validity for precision and consistency of the results. A total of thirty three (33) statements were framed in which finally twelve (12) statements were finally retained for measuring attitude of farmers towards zero budget natural farming. The scale contains total twelve statements, out of which eight statements are positive and four statements are negative. The scale developed was found highly reliable and valid.

Precision Agriculture and Its Future

Natural resources, biotic variables, agro-inputs, and management all impact agricultural production. Uncontrolled use of resources and inputs frequently occurs by farmers, which results in environmental pollution, degradation of land, and financial loss to farmers. The term "precision farming" describes the integration of GIS and GPS tools to provide extensive detailed information on crop growth, crop health, crop yield, water absorption, nutrient levels, topography, and soil variability [1]. Precision agriculture makes use of technology such as sensors, GPS, GIS, Internet of Things, drones, etc., among other things, to optimize the use of natural resources and farm inputs for a given crop production and quality. Agriculture could become more productive and consistent due to digital agriculture and more effective use of resources and time. This article presents the gist of Precision Agriculture along with its components and future implications.

Acting with the World: Doing without Science

In this paper I contrast two systematically different patterns of acting in the world via the concepts of enframing and poiesis. Enframing is the usual stance of dualistic domination that we can associate with the Anthropocene, and I focus here on the contrast class, poiesis. To bring out its key features I discuss a form of natural farming developed in Japan by Masanobu Fukuoka, emphasising the way in which Fukuoka’s poetic approach foregrounds the performative back and forth with nature that I call a dance of agency. I review Fukuoka’s critique of the usefulness of modern science and argue instead that strands of traditional eastern philosophy help us to grasp the poetic alternative.

A comparison of the yield and functional composition of various vegetables using natural and conventional farming systems over several years in northern Japan

ISHS III International Organic Fruit Symposium and I International Organic Vegetable Symposium A comparison of the yield and functional composition of various vegetables using natural and conventional farming systems over several years in northern Japan

The Multiple Influences of Natural Farming Environment on the Cultured Population Behavior of Kuruma Prawn, Penaeus japonicus.

Recent years have witnessed a tremendous development in shrimp farming around the world, which, however, has raised a variety of issues, possibly due to a lack of knowledge of shrimp behavior in farms. This study focused on the relationship between shrimp behavior and the various factors of natural farming environment through situ surveys, as distinguished from the majority of laboratory studies on shrimp behavior. In the survey, the behaviors of kuruma prawn (Penaeus japonicus) were investigated in the groups of swimming in the water, crawling on the sand, resting on the sand, and hiding in the sand, followed by the quantification of the sex ratio, water quality, density, and light intensity. The results showed the average proportions of resting, hiding, crawling, and swimming activities of 69.87%, 20.85%, 8.24%, and 1.04%, respectively, of P. japonicus. The behavior of hiding, resting, and crawling is significantly affected by the sex ratio of the shrimp (p < 0.05). The proportions of hiding behavior exhibited a negative connection with density and a positive connection with light intensity, while the proportions of resting behavior showed the opposite according to both Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. The light intensity was the only factor that significantly influenced the swimming behavior, in which the probability of the swimming behavior was reduced from 48% to 5% when light intensity varied from 0 to 10 lx, as determined by the generalized linear model. It could be speculated that P. japonicus prefers a tranquil environment. Female shrimp might exhibit less aggression and more adventure compared to male shrimp. The findings suggested light intensity, followed by density, as the most crucial element influencing the behavior of P. japonicus in the culture environment. These findings will contribute to the comprehension of the behavior of P. japonicus and provide a novel perspective for the formulation of its culture management strategy.

Damages of Tyrophagus communis to a variety of edible fungi

Tyrophagus communis and T. putrescentiae are the primary acarid mites that cause damages to edible fungi. They have similar damaging symptoms and morphological characteristics. They are difficult to distinguish, and many people often mistake T. communis for T. putrescentiae. Tyrophagus communis often infests the original culture and cultivated medium in natural farming or commercial production. From 2021 to 2022, T. communis seriously damaged the cultivated medium of Tremella fuciformis (Fig. 1). Being fed by T. communis on mycelium and primordia (Fig. 2), the medium gradually turned brown-black and decayed, resulting in fruiting bodies appearing delayed, or even without fruit coming out. It was still found to damage the fungi after the disinfestation of the houses infested with T. communis. In addition to Tremella fuciformis, T. communis also infested Hypsizygus marmoreus, Pleurotus pulmonarius, Auricularia polytricha and Pleurotus ostreatus. The infested original cultures must be discarded due to the loss of their value. The fruiting bodies of T. fuciformis on the infested medium emerge unevenly, being difficult to manage, and their yield and beneficial values are reduced. The safety production of these edible fungi was affected by T. communis. The biological characteristics, causes of infestation and prevention methods of T. communis need to be further studied to ensure the green and safe production of edible fungi. &#x0D;

IDENTIFICATION OF NATURAL FARMING PRACTICES ADOPTED BY FARMERS

Natural farming has always been India's inherent advantage and strength. The shift in the global consumption patterns, health awareness among the consumers and the increasing significance of sustainability is now putting natural products to the forefront locally, nationally and also at international level. A study was conducted in six talukas of Junagadh, Rajkot and Gir Somnath districts of Gujarat state. The number of villages were selected irrespective from each taluka on the basis of available of adopted natural farming farmers. Total 144 farmers selected as sample size. The result of the research finding revealed that majority (97.91 per cent) of the adopted natural farming farmers followed jivamrut practices with first rank followed by neemastra practices which is 95.13 per cent and bijamrut which is 93.75 per cent farmers adopted with second and third rank, respectively.

INFLUENCE OF LOW COST NATURAL FARMING, ORGANIC FARMING AND CONVENTIONAL FARMING ON PERFORMANCE OF WHEAT AND CHICKPEA

The present investigation was carried at the Instructional Farm, Department of Agronomy, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat during rabi season 2019-20. An experiment was conducted in large plot technique to investigate the performance of wheat and chickpea under the influence of low cost natural farming (LCNF), organic farming (OF), and conventional farming (CF) under medium black calcareous clayey soil. Results of the experiment indicated that significantly higher growth, yield attributes, yield and quality of wheat and chickpea under conventional farming system that included application recommended dose of fertilizers along with FYM; chemical control of weeds, insects-pests and diseases, being at par with organic farming only in case of performance of chickpea.

Organic and Natural Farming- A Critical Review of Challenges and Prospects

Agriculture was, by default, organic throughout the world before the technique of manufacturing synthetic nitrogenous fertilizer was discovered in 1903. However, availability of agro-chemicals became very common after the Second World War and the agriculture started becoming more and more chemical based. Synthetic fertilizers were introduced in India during 1965-66 and their use grew rapidly along with the high yielding varieties during the green revolution period and Indian farming, by and large, became chemical based. However, by the end of the twentieth century the ill-effects of such chemical-based farming were very well understood by the common Indian people and demand for organically produced food started growing. Different methods and procedures of growing organic food got popularity among the growers, however, a sense of confusion on package of practices on organic/natural farming kept on growing simultaneously. This review article was designed to make various concepts related to organic/natural farming crystal clear for the readers. Principals of organic farming, crop cultivation strategies in organic/natural farming, challenges in organic/ natural farming and possibilities and suggestions in organic/natural farming have been elaborately articulated in this review.

Studies on Growth, Yield and Soil Fertility Status in Cluster Bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub] cv. Pusa Navbahar under Natural Farming Practice in Comparison with Conventional Farming

Background: The cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] is a bushy annual herb having a deep rooted system and drought resilient leguminous crop grown on sandy soils of arid and semiarid regions. The production list of cluster bean is dominated by India as leading producers of the crop in the world contributing to around 75-82% of the total production. Methods: Field experiment was conducted in Block-I at The Regional Horticulture Research and Extension Center, Kumbapur, Dharwad. The authentic source of Cluster bean seeds of Pusa Navbahar were purchased from Nadakatti seeds, Dharwad. Treatments are imposed as T1 (Package of Practice: FYM @ 10 t/ha, 25:75:60 NPK Kg/ha), T2 (Farmers Practice: FYM @ 10 t/ha, 12.5:37.5:30 Kg/ha), T3 (Natural Farming: Ghanajeevamrutha @ 1000 Kg/ha and liquid jeevamrtha @ 500 l/ha every fortnightly interval, with organic mulching) and T4 (Organic Farming: FYM @ 15 t/ha). Result: Among four different farming practices, higher plant height at harvest was recorded in package of practice (80.0 cm). The higher number of pods per plant and higher dry biomass production was recorded in organic farming (102.3 and 2.14 t/ha) respectively. 26.8 per cent higher yield was recorded in organic farming (OF) over PoP. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and uptake in cluster bean was found significantly higher in PoP (2.13, 0.58 and 1.17%) and (42.20, 11.51 and 23.11 Kg ha-1) respectively. Natural farming treatment recorded significantly lower nutrients content and uptake.

A Study to Identify the Reasons for Farmers Inclination Towards Organic Farming: An Empirical Study

Food quality and wellbeing are the two significant variables that have steadily expanded consideration among everyday purchasers. Because of the presence of higher pesticide buildup, more nitrate, significant metals, chemicals, anti-infection buildup, and hereditarily altered life forms, expectedly grown food variations have huge antagonistic wellbeing repercussions. Besides, ordinarily developed food sources are less nutritious and contain lesser measures of defensive cell reinforcements. In the mission for more fast food, the interest in naturally developed food varieties has expanded over a long time because of their potential medical advantages and food handling concerns. Natural food creation is characterized as development without using substance manures and manufactured pesticides or hereditarily altered life forms, development chemicals, and anti-infection agents. The prevalence of naturally developed food sources is expanding step by step, inferable from their nourishing and medical advantages. Natural cultivating likewise secures the climate and financially affects a country. India is a country that is given native abilities and the possibility for development in natural farming. Even though India was a long way behind in the reception of natural cultivating for a few reasons, by and by, it has accomplished fast development in natural agribusiness. It has presently become one of the biggest natural makers on the planet. Subsequently, natural cultivating significantly affects the strength of a country like India by guaranteeing a good turn of events.

Zeitlichkeit des Gegenwissens in der Ökologischen Landbau-Szene der Bundesrepublik (1970–1999): aus Alt mach Neu!

ZusammenfassungDie Mitte der 1970er Jahre gegründete Stiftung Ökologischer Landbau (SÖL) trat an, den ökologischen Landbau in der Bundesrepublik zu fördern. Zu diesem Zweck führte sie Protagonisten aus Wissenschaft und Umweltbewegung zusammen, die unter Rückgriff auf die wissenschaftlich geprägten Konzepte des natürlichen und biologischen Landbaus der 1920er und 1930er Jahre eine Wissensgrundlage für den ökologischen Landbau aufbauen sollten. Anhand der Gründungsgeschichte, Struktur und Arbeit der SÖL lässt sich zeigen, dass Zeitlichkeit eine wesentliche Rolle bei der Etablierung alternativer Wissensbestände spielte. Entgegen dem etablierten Modell linearen wissenschaftlich-technologischen Fortschritts ging es um die Rückbesinnung auf Wissensbestände und Praktiken, die in vorhergegangenen Prozessen des Vergessens und der Marginalisierung aus dem wissenschaftlichen Wissenskanon, aber auch aus der landwirtschaftlichen Praxis verschwunden waren. Dies zeigt sich am Beispiel der sogenannten Spatendiagnose, einer in den 1930er Jahren von Bodenbiologen entwickelten Methode zur Beurteilung des Ackerbodens. Konzepte und Praxis des Gegenwissens liefen auf ein Modell konservativer Modernisierung im ökologischen Landbau hinaus.