🌿 Natural Farming Components: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction:
Natural farming Components is an organic farming technique that believes in living harmoniously with nature, reduces external utilization, and enhances soil health by natural processes. Unlike traditional farming, based primarily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, natural farming Components to nurture healthy crops with local resources.
1. Bijamrut (Seed Treatment)
Bijamrut is a natural seed treatment that saves seeds from diseases and insects in the soil and encourages healthy germination.
Cow manure and cow urine bring in good microbes that move on to seed surfaces, defending seedlings against soil pathogens and insects.
Composition:
Mix 5 litres of cow urine, 5 kg of fresh dung, 50 grams of lime and 1 kg of soil from the bottom of local trees in 20 litres of water in a 200 litre drum. Cover the drum with a cloth and use it after 24 hours. If 100 kg of seeds are mixed with this solution, no problem will ensue.
Application:
Sprinkle Jivamrut over the seeds 30 minutes prior to sowing and dry in the shade and after drying, the seeds are ready for sowing.
This prevents the surface of the seeds from coming in contact with soil, thereby coating it with a microbial film that improves germination percentage and seed vigour.
Benefits:
- Increases seed germination.
- It protects from fungal and bacterial infections
2. Jivamrut (Soil Enrichment)
Jivamrut is a fermented microbial culture that enriches the soil with beneficial microorganisms.
Another key ingredient in natural farming is Jivamrut , a fermented microbial culture used to revive soil health. The name literally means “life-giving liquid” and is designed to increase microbial activity in the soil.
Composition:
10 kg cow dung, 10 liters of cow urine, 1 kg jaggery, 1 kg of legume flour (e.g., gram flour), add a handful of tree soil to introduce native microbes and mix with 180 liters of water in a drum, cover the drum with a lid and keep in the shade. Shake it clockwise with a stick for 5 minutes two times a day, morning and evening. Ferment for 48 hours, stirring daily.
Note: This mixture takes two to three days to prepare if it is summer and one week if it is winter and can be used for 15 days after the preparation of Jivamrut
Purpose: After application to the soil, Jivamrut multiplies beneficial bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes, which break down organic matter into plant-available nutrients. It also increases nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilization.
Benefits:
- Improves soil fertility.
- Increases microbial activity in the soil.
3. Mulching (Acchadana)
Mulching involves overlaying soil with natural materials together with straw, leaves or crop residues.
This is the exercise of overlaying the soil surface with biological or biodegradable material – any other fundamental herbal farming issue.
Materials:
crop residues, fallen leaves, straw, grass clipping, or any localized biological materials.
Functions:
Moisture Conservation: Reduces evaporation and maintains consistent soil moisture (“whapasa,” another key concept among natural farming components).
Weed Suppression: Blocks sunlight from reaching weed seeds.
Temperature regulation: The temperature insulating the soil from the peak.
Organic Matter Addition: As mulch decomposes, it feeds soil organisms and improves soil structure.
Benefits:
- Retains soil moisture.
- Suppresses weed growth.
- Add organic matter to the soil during bridging.
4. Whapasa (Soil Aeration)
Whapasa refers to maintaining the right balance of air and water in the soil.
Wapasa is a natural agriculture term for describing the ideal balance between air and water in the soil.
Among all natural farming components, maintaining whapasa is critical for plant health.
Concept:
The soil should be moist for touch but the waterfall should not be done. Over-irrigation disrupts soil aeration, inhibits the foundation respiratory, and leacks nutrients. The under-synthetic causes the stress of the plant and reduces nutrients.
Practice:
- Minimal Irrigation: Instead of flooding fields, apply small amounts of water at intervals that keep the topsoil moist but allow oxygen to remain in the lower layers.
- Monitoring Soil Moisture: Farmers use simple finger tests—insert a finger 2–3 inches into the soil; if it feels damp but crumbly, whapasa is maintained.
Prioritizing whapasa as a natural farming component helps create an optimal root environment for nutrient uptake and microbial activity.
Benefits:
- Encourages healthy root development.
- Reduces water usage
5. Agnistra (natural insecticide)
Agnistra is a powerful, conventional organic insecticide commonly applied in natural and organic agriculture. It shields crops from pestilent insects without damaging the ecosystem or useful insects. Firewood is favored by farmers because it is inexpensive, simple to prepare and consists of locally found materials.
Contents:
20 liters of cow urine (preferably indigenous cow)
2 kg neem leaves
500 grams of green chillies,
500 grams of garlic, 500 grams of tobacco (loose or in leaf shape)
Preparation Method:
weigh down neem leaves, inexperienced chillies, garlic and tobacco one at a time.
Mix all the ingredients in gomutra.
Heat the mixture on low heat until it rises a couple of times and let it cool. Then stir for 5 minutes each morning and evening for 2 days.
And store this solution in an earthen or plastic container after swallowing it with a cloth.
For spraying, mix 1 liter of fire retardant in 10 liters of water and spray.
Advantages:
This powerful remedy can be sprayed onto crops every week during infestation of pests. It efficiently keeps pests like aphids, caterpillars, whiteflies and borers at bay, promoting chemical-free, green farming.
Storage Capacity:
can be used up to three months.
6. Brahmastra (broad-spectrum pest control)
Brahmastra makes use of natural chemicals to efficiently repel one of a kind kinds of pests.
This is a long-used natural Pesticide that works well against all kinds of pests. Because it is used in natural and organic farming, it harms neither the environment nor people and protects crops from damage by pests. It prevents the growth of whiteflies, aphids, caterpillars, stem borers and fruit borers.
Contents:
20 liters of cow urine (preferably from a native cow)
2 kg of neem leaves , 2 kg guava leaves , 2 kg of cilantro leaves , 2 kg of papaya leaves , 2 kg of pomegranate leaves
Preparation Method:
Chop all the leaves properly.
In a large bowl, mix cow’s urine and pan chutney together.
Heat the mixture on low heat until it boils once or twice and allow to cool.
Stir the solution clockwise for 5 minutes morning-evening for 2 days and .
Filter and store in a clean, closed container.
Before spraying, mix 1 liter of Brahmastra with 10 liters of water. Spray the crop once a week or as needed.
Advantages:
Provides comprehensive pest control.
Safe for beneficial insects and the environment.
Storage Capacity:
can be used up to six months.
This natural pesticide is cheap, easy to make and highly effective in maintaining crop health while promoting chemical-free farming.
7. Neemastra (Neem Based Insecticide)
Neemastra is a powerful, neem-based natural pesticides that are widely used in biological and natural farming. As the name suggests, neemastra is mainly made up of neem leaves and neem pulp, which contains natural compounds such as Azadirchin that prevents and prevent the development of different types of insects. It is particularly effective against sucking insects such as Aphids, Melebugs , Whiteflis, Thrips and Mites.
Unlike chemical pesticides, it is safe for beneficial insects like bees and butterflies. This natural pesticide is also non-toxic to humans and does not harm the soil. It not only controls pests but also makes the plant strong and immune with regular use.
Contents:
200 liters of water
10 liters of cow urine
2 kg cow dung
10 kg fresh neem leaves (or neem pulp)
Preparation Method:
Crush the neem leaves and make a paste.
Mix neem paste with cow urine, cow dung and water in a vessel.
Stir this aggregate clockwise for 5 minutes within the morning and night twice a day and allow it ferment for forty eight hours.
After fermentation, filter the solution.
Spray Spray Neemastra directly on the plant. Use once weekly for best results.
Advantages:
- Effective against sucking mites.
- Biodegradable and non-toxic.
Storage Capacity:
can be used up to six months.
Neemastra is cost-effective, easy to prepare and an essential part of sustainable farming practices.
8.Dashparni Ark (Ten-Leaf Extract)
Dashparni Ark is a important, natural germicide and fungicide made from excerpts of the leaves of ten different plants.Organic and natural farmers commonly use neem oil to stop different types of insect and fungus from damaging their crops. The name Dashparni is given to it since the leaves from ten different plant species are used in its preparation. It is completely environmentally friendly, non-toxic and safe for beneficial organisms.
Contents:
2 kg of neem leaves
2 kg of cilantro leaves
2kg papaya leaves
2 kg guava leaves
2 kilos of coriander leaves
2kg of belipatra leaves
2 kg white dhatura leaves
2kg castor leaves
2 kg of karanj leaves
2 kg of fig leaves
20 liters of cow urine
2 kg cow dung
2 kg green chillies
500 grams of garlic
Preparation Method:
Chop all the leaves and other ingredients. combination a few urine, some dung and water in a container.
Keep this mix away from rain and sun heat and stir it for 5-5 minutes every day and let it ferment for 30-40 days. After fermentation, strain and store the liquid.
Before scattering, dilute 1 liter of Dashparni Ark in 10 liters of water. Spray weekly to naturally control insects and fungal diseases.
Advantages:
- Controls various pests and diseases.
- Increases plant immunity.
9. Crop Rotation and Diversity
Rotating distinct crops inside the identical area to help soil nutrient reduction and manage pests.
Benefits:
- Enhances yield sustainability over time
- Maintains soil fertility.
- Enhances biodiversity.
10. Use of Indigenous Cow Breeds
Importance:
Indigenous cows’ dung and urine contain a lot of valuable microorganisms.
Their through-products are critical for preparing various herbal farming inputs.
Advantages of Natural Farming
1.Environmental Sustainability: Decreases the problem of chemicals flowing into water and the decline of soil.
2.Economic Viability: Assists farmers by cutting down input expenses.
3.Health Benefits: It provides food that is free from chemicals, which is good for your health.
4.Soil Health: Makes the soil better for proper growth.
Implementation Strategies
1.Training and Education: Come up with teaching strategies such as workshops and field presentations.
2.Policy Support: Support from the government for farming that cares for the environment.
3.Community Engagement: Create groups of farmers so they can support and guide each other.
Conclusion:
This approach to farming is kinder to the surroundings than most current-day farming methods. Taking advantage of local sources and what is known by local people, farmers can do their jobs well and care for the environment.
