Now-a-days, if conventional farming continues, then the top soil will vanish in coming 60 years. To save top soil of earth worldwide, now a new concept of farming has arrived is called as Regenerative Agriculture or Regenerative Natural Farming (RNF). By adopting such practices the soil health can be restored with minimal soil loss. This book is an account of introduction, principles, different practices, recent advances related to natural farming. A comprehensive reviews on benefits and limitations of natural farming as carried out by various research workers have been discussed in detail. Soil organic matter is an important factor in restoring soil fertility. An increase in the soil fertility has a direct relationship with socio-economic conditions of farmers, vegetable growers and orchardists. A healthy soil is always responsible for production of quality grains and fruits, hence there is an urgent need to maintain optimum soil health. Organic produce are healthier and tasty than inorganic foods. However, the decline in yield has been noticed and recorded various research workers. The book “Natural Farming: A Rising Concept” has been written in concise form. This book will deliver a message among grower, orchardist, farmers, dairy worker and social reformers about well-being of animal and ecosystem to fight against miseries of climate change and decreasing top soils. Pure natural farming is possible only when organic resources are available in required quantity in time. However, if the organic resources/inputs demand is not meeting than an option of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) is available for farmers in which judicious use of organic and inorganic sources are applied for better yield and sustainable soil health. Authors hope that the book shall be extremely useful for the practitionerin agriculture, farmers, growers, orchardist, students, teachers, policy-makers, colleges and universities.
Dr. Subhash Chand born on 25th July 1972 in a small village viz. Nagala Kalyan, Bharatpur, Rajasthan in a farmer family. Presently working as a Professor-cum Chief Scientist of Soil Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Campus-Shalimar, Srinagar190025, UT of Jammu and Kashmir. He is lifetime member of six Scientific Societies viz. Indian Science Congress Association-Kolkata, Indian Association of Soil and Water Conservationist-Dehradun, Indian Society of Soil Science-New Delhi, Soil Conservation Society of IndiaNew Delhi, Indian Society of Remote Sensing–Dehradun, Indian Society of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning-Nagpur. Dr. Subhash did his B.Sc. Ag. (Honours) and M.Sc. Ag. (Honours) in Soil Science from Rajasthan Agriculture University, Bikaner in 1995 & 1997 respectively. He earned his Ph.D. Ag in Soil Science form Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur in 2001. He received Best PG Course Work Seminar Award & Somani Book Award (essay competition) by ISSS Udaipur Chapter during 1995-1997 and PG University Merit Scholarship during his PG Dr Subhash is a elected member of Association of Soil and Water Conservationist-Dehradun for 2022 -23. He was also a Councillor– North zone of ISSS & LUP-Nagpur for 2014-15. Dr Subhash has 20 years experience of Teaching of UG, PG and Ph.D., Research and Extension in SAU System. He is member of editorial board of several national and international journal of repute. He has presented his work at Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany in 2010. He has Co-chaired Technical and Parallel sessions at GBPUAT-Pantnagar and RARI-Gurgapura. He has authored five books. His area of research interest is soil fertility and plant nutrition, integrated nutrient management, potassium management, soil, water, air pollution, etc. In total he has published 143 publications including popular articles, research papers, conference seminar papers, etc. in soil sciences. He was also awarded Bhoominirman Award and Prashasti Patra in 2011 by Bhoominirman Group at Indore for his work.
Dr. Javaid Ahmad Wani did his graduation and post graduation from Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K. Timiryazev. He joined the SKUAST-K services in the year 1998 in the capacity of Assistant Professor in the division of Soil Science, Shalimar campus. In the year 2005, he was appointed as an Associate Professor and served as Head, Soil Science FOA, SKUAST-K Wadura campus till 2007. Dr. Javaid Wani was promoted to Professor-cum-Chief Scientist in the year 2011 and is presently heading Division of Soil Science FOH SKUAST-K, Shalimar. Dr. Javaid Wani has been involved forthe last 24 years in teaching,research. extension and administrative activities. He has taught courses both at UG and PG level. As a major Advisor, he has guided 8 Ph.D. and 4 M.Sc. students. He has been the member of advisory committee of more than 80 M.Sc. and 25 Ph.D. students of various disciplines. Dr. Javaid Wani is involved in both in university as well as externally funded projects. Acted as PI and CoPI of two and 04 externally funded projects. He has more than 100 publications in different journals. Dr. Javaid Wani has provided technical guidance to almost 4000 farmers in respect of soil-plant testing and nutrient management. He has delivered more than 80 lectures in different events organised by the university. He has been consultant at Royal Spring Golf Course from the year 2004 and is providing technical guidance on the application of fertilizers under turf grasses.
Dr. Sumati Narayan is a Professor-cum-Chief Scientist in the Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST-Kashmir, Srinagar (J&K). Professor Narayan has acquired his B.Sc. (Ag.) degree from Kanpur University, Kanpur; M.Sc. (Ag.) in Agronomy from Meerut University, Meerut and Ph.D. from SKUAST-Kashmir. He is a renowned scientist and fellow of the Indian Society of Vegetable Science. He has been involved in promotion of natural farming system through his vast experience and expertise in the field for more than 30 years and has been successful in organic cultivation of vegetable crops. He is actively involved in teaching, research, extension work and various externally funded research projects as PI/Co-PI. He has guided more than 50 postgraduate students in various disciplines of agriculture. He has about 250 publications in his credit including research papers of national and international repute, 5 books, 12 manuals, 8 National awards.
Prof. Raj Narayan did his Ph.D. (Hort.) in Vegetable Science in 1997 from Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan (HP); M. Sc. (Ag.) Vegetable Science in 1992 from N D University of Agriculture & Technology, Faizabad (UP). He has more than 25 years’ experience in teaching, research & extension, including 12 years in administration, management, monitoring and coordination. He has taught 10 UG, PG, Ph.D. courses of Vegetable Science and guided more than 10 M.Sc. and Ph.D. scholars in Vegetable Science as a Major and Co-Advisor. He started his career as Research Fellow in the Department of Vegetable Crops, Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry Solan (HP) in 1996, then joined as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Olericulture in SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar (J&K) in June, 1999. Thereafter he has joined in the ICAR and joined as Sr. Scientist-Head, KVK, ICAR-CCARI, Goa. Dr. Narayan has also joined as Professor and Head, Department of Vegetable & Floriculture, BAU, Sabour, Bhagalpur (Bihar). Apart from this, he headed the ICAR-CITH, Regional Station, Mukteshwar, Nainital (UK) for more than 4½ years as a Principal Scientist (Hort.-Veg.) and Scientist In-charge. Dr Raj has completed more than 10 years as a Principal Scientist in ICAR and presently posted in ICAR-ATARI, Zone-II, Jodhpur, CAZRI Campus (Raj.). He has more than 300 publications on various aspects of which he published about 73 research papers, 50 popular articles, 03 books, 15 books chapters, 7 extension/technical bulletins, 75 abstracts/ review articles/lectures, 17 extension folders/leaflets besides compiled and edited 30 bulletins/compendiums of various schools’/training courses as well as Newsletter and Annual Reports. He has developed/ standardized more than 50 technologies/hybrids/lines in vegetable crops, assessed and transferred more than 100 technologies to the farmers’ fields through various extension approaches and also organized more than 500 various trainings, seminars, workshops, other extension programmes to impart knowledge and skill among the stakeholders. He has also handled 17 research and developmental projects as a Principal Investigator in AgriHorti Fields. Apart from it, he participated in about 45 national/ international seminars/training, etc. and made about 65 presentations at various platforms. He got Best KVK National ICAR Award, Best Field Work Award, Best KVK Professional Award, Young Scientist Award and ISNS fellowship, Outstanding Achievement Award. He is a member of various state and National Committees.
Born on May 14, 1976, Dr. Amit Kumar had his B.Sc. (Agri.) from CCS University, Meerut in 1998, M.Sc. (Hort.) from Dr YSP UHF, Solan in 2000 and Ph.D. (Hort.) specialization in fruit breeding from Dr YSP UHF, Solan in 2004. Dr. Kumar has started his career as a Training Associate/ Subject Matter Specialist in Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pulwama (SKUASTKashmir) in 2007 and served for five years and then transferred to Main campus, Division of Fruit Science, SKUAST-Kashmir and presently serving as an Associate Professor (Fruit Breeder). At present he is associated with the research group working on crop improvement, standardization of production and post-harvest technologies for high density plantation of newly introduced varieties of apple, pear, nectarine, cherry. He is also associated with the raising of quality nursery planting material of high density apple, pear, cherry, etc. He is associated with the establishment of ‘Field Genebank’ of different temperate fruits and nut crops. He has been associated with researches which led to the development of technologies for temperate fruits which has been included in the package of practices of fruit crops of SKUASTKashmir, Srinagar. He taught different courses to the undergraduate and post-graduate (both M.Sc. and Ph.D.) students from the last four years. Till date he has guided more than fifteen M.Sc. and Ph.D. students. He has edited four books entitled “Temperate Fruits: Theory to Practical (Two parts), Cultivate Minor Temperate Fruits Scientifically (Two parts), Plant Growth Regulators in Temperate and Underutilized Fruit Crops and Advance in Improvement of Horticulture Crops”. He has published four books more than 122 research papers in National and International Journals, 45 book chapters, 24 popular articles. He has delivered more than 50 lectures in various International and National Conference/Congress/Symposia/ Seminars and Trainings. He has been associated with three externally funded projects. Till date he has received many awards from different National Societies.
1. An Introduction to Natural Farming ............................................ 1
1.1 Stages of plant life cycle .......................................................... 8
1.2 Milestone in natural farming ............................................... 10
1.3 Scenario of natural farming ................................................. 10
2. Concept of Natural Farming ......................................................... 13
2.1 Large scale of farming or conventional farming .............. 14
2.2 Importance of cow in natural farming .............................. 17
2.3 Definitions ................................................................................ 21
2.3.1 Other option of natural farming............................... 22
2.3.2 Components of natural farming ............................... 23
3. Benefits of Natural Farming .......................................................... 35
3.1 Current scenario ..................................................................... 41
3.2 Ecological perspective ........................................................... 42
3.3 Economic sustainability ........................................................ 43
3.4 Social sustainability................................................................ 43
3.5 Cost-benefit issues .................................................................. 50
3.6 Soil fertility .............................................................................. 53
4. Principles of Natural Farming ...................................................... 55
4.1 Principle of health .................................................................. 55
4.2 Principle of ecology ................................................................ 55
4.3 Principle of fairness................................................................ 56
4.4 Principle of care ...................................................................... 56
4.5 Nourishing the soil ................................................................. 57
4.6 Farm yard manure ................................................................. 58
4.7 Method of composting .......................................................... 60
5. Different Sources/Practices Used in Natural Farming............ 63
5.1 Composting ............................................................................. 63
5.2 Vermi-composting .................................................................. 64
5.3 Enriched city compost ........................................................... 66
5.4 Bio-fertiliser ............................................................................. 67
5.5 Mulching, green manure and cover cropping.................. 79
5.6 Crop rotation and polyculture ............................................ 81
5.7 Effective microorganism ....................................................... 86
5.8 Integration of systems ........................................................... 87
5.9 Bio-pesticides ........................................................................... 87
5.10 Bio-gas slurry as manure ...................................................... 95
5.11 Permanent grass ..................................................................... 96
5.12 Use of agro-industry wastes ................................................. 98
5.13 Oil cakes and other organic manure .................................. 98
5.14 Naturally occurring mineral amendments ........................ 98
6. Organic Crop Production Technique ........................................105
6.1 Responce to some vegetable to natural farming ............105
6.2 Sunlight ..................................................................................106
6.3 Photosynthesis ......................................................................107
6.4 Plant ........................................................................................108
6.5 Seed .........................................................................................109
7. Nutrient Management and Fruit Quality .................................123
8. Role of Soil Organic Matter.........................................................127
8.1 Organic matter as soil structure builders ........................128
8.2 Mulching ................................................................................129
8.3 Role of organic nutrient sources ........................................132
9. Certification and Legislation of Organic Food ........................135
9.1 Purpose of certification .......................................................138
9.2 The certification process .....................................................138
9.3 Conversion to organic production system ......................140
9.4 Conversion requirement .....................................................141
10. Market Opportunities of Natural Farming ..............................143
11. Scope of Natural Farming in Jammu Kashmir........................151
11.1 Limitations of natural farming ..........................................152
12. Conclusions ....................................................................................157
13. Epilogue...........................................................................................161
14. Physiological Aspects of Natural Farming ...............................163
14.1 Natural farming and soil organic carbon ........................164
14.2 Natural farming system and soil porosity .......................165
14.3 Natural farming system and soil water holding capacity ..................................................................................166
14.4 Natural farming system and soil biological properties ...............................................................................167
14.5 Natural farming system and nutrient availability .........167
14.6 6 Natural farming system and seed germination ..........168
14.7 Natural farming system on vegetative growth ..............169
14.8 Naturalfarming system versus photosynthesisand transport of photoassimilates .............................................170
14.9 Natural farming system versus yield and quality ..........170
15. Literature Cited .............................................................................173
16. Appendices (i-xxxvii) ...................................................................185
17. Glossary ...........................................................................................259
