Participatory Farmers’ Field
Research for Enhancing Wheat Yield with Organic Farming in Punjab
An
initiative of Kheti Virasat Mission
Under the aegis of
Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA)
Alliance for Sustainable &
Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) &
Organic Farming Association of India (OFAI)
Punjab has been a leading state
in India for high crop productivity for the past over 3 decades. Its
farmers adopted all the components of the Green Revolution (GR) technology
which is based on external inputs of synthetic fertilizers and synthetic
pesticides. Government policies have played and are still playing a major role
in taking Punjab farmers into the GR path. Negative aspect of the external
input based GR technologies became apparent after about 30 years of their introduction
during late 1960’s to early 1970s. The negative effects have been noted in
terms of depleting aquifer, high nitrates in ground water, pesticide residue in
blood of practicing farmers and the food they produce, and most recently
reported uranium in people of some districts of Punjab and its indicated link
with rock-phosphate based fertilizers, as per newspaper reports. Most of the
negative effects of GR are well known in the world for long and have been noted
in India for at least one decade. Well meaning NGOs, across the world,
including in India, however, continue to criticize Governments for their
approach towards such aspects. It is really sad that Agricultural Universities
and Agricultural Research Institutes both at central and state levels have
positioned themselves to underplay or ignore these negative aspects of the Green
Revolution.
It is a fact that the
different components of Green Revolution greatly helped India in the
1970’s to come out of a begging bowl stage to a food self sufficient
stage. And all relevant stakeholders including farmers need to feel proud. But
the warning signals of human and environmental health call for a mid-course
correction in policies on agricultural research for development.
Kheti Virasat Mission
(KVM) has been long sensitizing farmers and rural communities towards the
negative aspects of GR-based modern agriculture and has been suggesting
different aspects of Nanak Kheti (=Kudarti Kheti = Organic Farming) to address
these issues. For the past about a decade KVM has been inviting experts on
organic farming and arranging awareness lectures and training workshops to
capacity build interested farmers in the region on the different practices and
products of organic farming. The experts are generally successful farmers –
those whose net incomes are better than their neighbor farmers practicing
agro-chemical based modern agriculture) for education and training of local
farmers in the different farming practices and products needed for high yield
without agro-chemicals. It has been noted that most of the practices and
products used by the successful farmers are scientifically sound and are also
recommended by agricultural universities even though these are not pro-actively
promoted by them. These include contour faming to catch the rain drops where
they fall in cropped fields, intercrops and polycrops to enhance biodiversity,
strong inclusion of legumes in cropping systems to harness/access atmospheric
nitrogen so that fertilizer dependence of crops is reduced and enhanced use of
biofertilzers and biopesticides. Still it has been noted that the voice of such
movements and groups are not heard and their efforts are not supported by
Punjab Agricultural University and the state Department of Agriculture in the
state.
From Kharif season 2012, KVM,
in collaboration with other partners, is planning to initiate efforts to
enhance wheat yield without agrochemicals. It is interesting to note that a
good number of farmers associate with KVM for the past about five years are
already harvesting high yield compared to their neighbor chemical farmers for
several crops except wheat. But net profits of all these farmers are already
higher than their neighbor chemical farmers due to premium price these farmers
receive for their produce. KVM and its stakeholders are sure that unless
wheat yield is also comparable to those harvested by chemical farmers, they
will continue to face problems in scaling up the “organic farming” which they
fondly call “Nanak Kheti”. Two field experiments have been planned aimed at
learning improvements in the crop production protocols needed for the purpose.
One is focused on wet areas where rice is a major crop during Kharif and the
other is for dry areas where cotton is a major crop in Kharif. Major features
of both the field experiments were discussed in Consultative meeting at the Organic
farm of Shri Indrjit Singh ( State Vice President KVM) in village Soholi near
Nabha on 3 April 2012. About 50 farmers participated
in the meeting and when asked at the end of the meeting, famers offered
themselves to conduct one of the two expedients at their farmers. Under this
research work we are going to take-up field experiments with two different manuals.
One is about Cotton-Wheat System and another is about Paddy-Wheat System. Following highlights of the two experiments
are shared for information of all stakeholders (including partner farmers who
have joined or have intention to join the experiments).
Kheti
Virasat Mission took this initiative under the guidance of Centre for Sustainable
Agriculture, Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) and Organic
Farming Association of India (OFAI).
The
Experiment Protocol is developed and guided by Dr Om Prakash Rupela, Former
Principal Scientist ICRISAT, Hyderabad and Former National Consultant to World
Bank on Sustainable Agriculture Dr. G V Ramanjaneyulu , Executive Director, Centre
for Sustainable Agriculture, Hyderabad has also played an important role in
evolving this experiment.
What CSA, ASHA, OFAI ,KVM and
other civil society organizations and individuals are doing with their limited
resources that should had been done by the Agriculture Universities of this
country. But unfortunately! This is not
in happening. The research priorities of Agriculture Universities are quite
away from the real needs of farmers and fundamental challenges emerged out of
contemporary ecological-agricultural and health crisis. So with its limited resources
and with the help of the revolutionary scientists like Dr. O P Rupela and Dr G
V Ramanjaneyulu Kheti Virasat Mission has taken this unique participatory
research work.
We request participant
farmers to take up these experiments as a challenge with the spirit of freedom struggle
and must assume a freedom fighter within them. Because making organic farming successful
is as significant as any move to defend our Independence and Self-Reliance. As Organic
Farming is the only way to save our planet and our farmers.
Ecologically in service of
Mother Nature
Umendra Dutt
Evaluation of Crop
Husbandry Practices for High Yield of
Wheat without
Agro-Chemicals within the rice-wheat
system In Punjab,
India
An Experiment Manual
The manual
This experiment will have three treatment plots as three different
cropping systems.
Treatment I: Control
(Rice and Wheat – the ongoing Modern system - RCM) – the present practices of farmers – growing all crops using
agro-chemicals. Note: Ideally all the three treatments should be
in same field. But if full area of a farmer is already under Kudrati Kheti,
he/she can use neighbours’ field as control. Treatment II: Rice and Wheat Sustainable system (RCS) – Rice will
not be flooded and all possible features of the SRI rice and/or direct-seeded
rice will be practiced. Wheat, in Rabi season will be inter-cropped with
chickpea (Desi Chana) or Linseed (Alsi). Treatment
III: Guar and Wheat System (GWS) –In Kharif: Guar will be intercropped with
millet (Bajra). In Rabi: wheat will be intercropped with linseed and/or
chickpea. All the three treatments will occupy one acre. Two samples of the
Generic Layout of the experiment were discussed with Mr Gurpreet Dabrikhana and
their copies have been given to him. We will, however, need a separate layout
of the experiment at the farm of every farmer
Important: Excessive irrigation
and too much wet soil was noted as one of the
reasons of reduced wheat yield during the Feb 2012 visit to several
farmers’ fields. Therefore keeping the Treatment II and Treatment III area well
drained is very important. If needed, we should consider digging a trench on
lowest part of the field.
Note: The experiment was
initiated in April 2012, but desired number of farmers could not join. It is
now suggested that interested farmers can join the idea of comparative studies
at any time convenient to them. We are looking for only 5 to 10 farmers for
this experiment. As shared in the accompanying document, purpose of this study is
to understand whether high yield of wheat without agro-chemicals is possible in
Punjab or not.
Khrif Season:
Treatment I: Control (Rice
and Wheat Modern system—RCM) – Growing transplanted/puddle
rice and wheat as is being done widely by farmers i.e. using modern varieties,
bag fertilizers and pesticides, all possible modern machinery for field operations
– as indicated below, let’s call it ‘Modern Agriculture Practice’.
i)
Nursery should be
prepared well in advance of so that right age (20-25 days) of saplings are
available for transplanting at normal time in June.
ii)
The wheat straw
available in the plot should be managed the way neighbour chemical farmers do.
iii)
Puddle the field
before rice is transplanted as done normally and apply all the kinds of inputs
of fertilizers and pesticides normally done by the chemical farmers.
iv)
Variety of rice
should be same as recommended by PAU, both in control and for the other two treatments.
v)
Fertilizer rates and
time of application should be same as recommended for rice by the PAU.
vi)
When the crop is
almost ready for harvest, identify three representative spots, cut the plants
from one meter square area, using sickle at ground level. Sun-dry the bundle
for one week. Thresh the bundle manually to separate grains from rest of the
material. Add the grains in a strong paper bag and the other plant parts in a
gunny bag. Take their weights separately and record the yield data in the ‘Field
Book’ with the farmer.
vii)
Harvest the crop when
ready, by using combine. Record the number of gunny bags harvested from the
whole plot. Also, take weight of each bag, if possible, and record data in the
‘Field Book’.
Important: Send three random samples of grains
of rice for analyses of a) Protein %, b) pesticide residues.
Treatment II: Rice and
Wheat Sustainable system (RCS) - The rice in
this case will be ‘Direct-seeded’ and therefore should be sown at the same time
as the rice is sown in the nursery plots (ie. around 15 May) for the Treatment I (above). Also, action in
this part of the field will start while the previous wheat is still standing.
i)
Broadcast the
ash-treated Aurogreen seeds in the standing wheat crop with the last
irrigation, say in March. Appendix I has the details on what
seeds to be taken and how to prepare them for sowing. Wheat is expected to be
harvested in April and the next crop will be sown in mid May. We will thus get
about one month of green manuring with this new method. Note: In 2012 Kharif, because
we have already missed the opportunity to broadcast – do the same after harvest
of wheat but in the standing stubble.
Important: Apply 50L of urine per acre with
the irrigation (see method in Appendix
II)
ii)
Harvest wheat by
combine.
iii)
Remove the loose
straw from the field so that the Aurogreen crops could grow well even at these
spots. Standing stubble should be allowed to stand as such.
iv)
Let the weeds and the
Aurogreen crops grow as long as feasible such that direct sowing of rice is
undertaken by about 15 May every year.
v)
Obtain one tractor
trolley of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and convert it to Living Manure (see method
in Appendix
III). It may be noted that conversion of FYM to Living Manure (LM)
takes about one month. Therefore the process of conversion should start in
March/April for Kharif crop and in September for Rabi crops. Ideally, it should
be a continuous process on every farm, such that any available quantity FYM be
converted to LM soonest possible, and store the LM for about two months, if
needed.
vi)
Obtain seeds of the
rice variety where we are sure its yield will be similar to what the chemical
farmers are harvesting these days. But most important is that rice variety
should be same in all the three treatments. And ideally it should be same at
all the farms taking up this experiment.
vii)
Prime the seeds of
the selected rice variety. Method of seed priming is given in Appendix
IV. It may be noted that priming should be done about 2-days in advance
of sowing to avoid last-minute tension. Note:
Rice variety HRK47 was agreed in the 3
April 2012 meeting.
viii)
Test germination
percent of the seeds using the method described in the Appendix V. Important: Always test germination % of seeds of the main crops every season and
record data in the ‘Field Book’.
ix)
Purchase one quintal
of oil-cake (of any oil-seed crop but preferably of Caster) for every acre.
Convert the oil-cake into ‘Living Oil-cake’ (LOC, see method in Appendix
VII) before sowing rice. Apply LOC to the treatment plots before reaper
is used.
x)
Apply reaper to cut
the standing stubble and the green biomass.
xi)
Let the biomass dry
for proper operation by the sowing machine. It may take about 3-4 days in
summer and about one week in winter.
xii)
Sow the primed seeds
of rice using ‘No-till Drill’ or ‘Happy Seeder’ as available. Distance between
rows should be 25 to 30cm as the sowing machines may allow. Within a
row plants should be about 10 to 20 cm apart. Take guidance from Mr Jarnail
Singh Maazi, if you have any difficulty.
Important: Sowing should be done when soil
has enough moisture for emergence. But irrigate, if needed, taking care that we
need excellent germination.
Important: Do not forget to add 50L urine
per acre at the time of irrigation, if irrigation is a must.
xiii)
Apply Bio-Herbicide
(see Appendix
VI for making/using Bio-herbicide), on the day of sowing or next day,
as feasible - to kill weeds and Aurogreen crops.
xiv)
Sow (in Kharif) one
row of mixture of sorghum + maize + Jantar on all four sides of the treatment
plot, as tall border to obstruct passage of some insects and as bird perches.
And in Rabi, in the same row, sow mustard in-between sorghum-maize-Jantar
without removing dead plants of sorghum-maize-Janter. Dead plants can continue
to serve as bird perches.
xv)
Apply about 5 quintal
of ‘Living FYM’ (having about 70% moisture) to Treatment plots when the crop is
about 6 to 8 inches high.
xvi)
Apply ‘Paata’ at day
25, 35, 50, before the crop commits to flowering (noted by swollen base of stem
of the plants). Pata must not be done when base of the stem of the rice plants
has swollen (see details in Appendix VIII).
xvii)
Water
management: There should be no standing water in the rice at any stage,
except at the time of Paata. Water should drain out after Paata is complete.
xviii)
Only need based irrigation should be applied.
For example, we cannot apply Paata without flooding the plot with water. After
last Paata apply water only if soil is dry and has started cracking. Note: Cracking damages rice roots and causes yield reduction. We should
therefore provide a very light irrigation. It means drain out water soon after
irrigation.
xix)
Sprays
to boost plant growth: Apply ‘Gur-Jal Amrit’ (see Appendix IX for the
method of its preparation) at about 30 days age of rice and apply ‘Extract of
Dry Dung’ - - or Paathi–Da-Paani (see Appendix X for the method of its
preparation) at about 55 days age of rice (just before flowering).
xx)
Spray to protect plants from
pests: Apply diluted buttermilk (see Appendix
XI for the method of its preparation) at about 40 days age and apply herbal
extract (see Appendix XII for the method of its preparation) at about 65
days age. Note: Repeat application of buttermilk at 75 days age and herbal
extract at 90 days age, if you feel there is a threat from pests. There may not
be any further threat from pests, when the crop is about 100 days age.
Important: Contact Mr Gurpreet (mobile:
9915195062), as soon as you have seen any threat to the crops from pests.
xxi)
When the crop is
almost ready for harvest, identify three representative spots, cut the plants
from one meter square area, using sickle at ground level. Sun-dry the bundle
for one week. Thresh the bundle manually to separate grains from rest of the
material. Add the grains in a strong paper bag and the other plant parts in a
gunny bag. Take their weights separately and record the yield data in the
‘Field Book’ with the farmer.
xxii)
Harvest the crop when
ready (hopefully by first week of October), by using combine. Record the number
of gunny bags harvested from the whole plot. Also, take weight of each bag separately
and record the yield data (both for grains and for biomass) in the ‘Field Book’
with the farmer.
Important: Send the three grain samples of
rice for analyses of a) Protein %, b) pesticide residues.
Treatment III: Guar
and Wheat System (GWS) –In Kharif: Guar will
be intercropped with Millet (Bajra) and in Rabi: wheat will be intercropped
with chickpea. Other crops can be considered in place of Guar and Bajra, in due
course, if participants feel strong about it. Mungbean and maize can be other
choice.
i)
Broadcast the
ash-treated Aurogreen seeds in the standing wheat crop with the last
irrigation, say in March. Appendix I has the details on what
seeds to be taken and how to prepare them for sowing. Wheat is expected to be
harvested in April and the next crop will be sown in mid May. We will thus get
about one month of green manuring with this new method. Note: In 2012 Kharif, because
we have already missed the opportunity to broadcast in March – do the same
after harvest of wheat, soonest in April, but in the standing stubble.
Important: Apply 50L of urine per acre with
the irrigation (see method in Appendix
II)
ii)
Harvest wheat by
combine.
iii)
Remove the loose
straw from the field so that the Aurogreen crops could grow well even at these
spots. Standing stubble should be allowed to stand as such.
iv)
Let the weeds and the
Aurogreen crops grow as long as feasible such that direct sowing of rice is
undertaken by about 15 May every year.
v)
Obtain one tractor
trolley of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and convert it to Living Manure (see method
in Appendix
III). It may be noted that conversion of FYM to Living Manure (LM)
takes about one month. Therefore the process of conversion should start in
March/April for Kharif crop and in September for Rabi crops. Ideally, it should
be a continuous process on every farm, such that any available quantity FYM be
converted to LM soonest possible, and store the LM for about two months, if
needed.
vi)
Obtain seeds of the
Guar and Bajra.
vii)
Prime the seeds of
Bajra only and not of Guar. Method of seed priming is given in Appendix
IV. It may be noted that priming should be done about 2-days in advance
of sowing to avoid last-minute tension.
viii)
Test germination
percent of seeds of Guar and Bajra using the method described in the Appendix
V. Important: Always test germination % of seeds of the
main crops every season.
ix)
Purchase one quintal
of oil-cake (of any oil-seed crop but preferably of Caster) for every acre.
Convert the oil-cake into ‘Living Oil-cake’ (LOC, see method in Appendix
VII) before sowing rice. Apply LOC to the treatment plots before reaper
is used.
x)
Cut the standing
stubble of wheat and green materials by using reaper to mow it down. Uniformly
spread the biomass.
xi)
Let the biomass dry
for proper operation by the sowing machine. It may take about 3-4 days in
summer and about one week in winter.
xii)
Sow the primed seeds
of Bajra and Guar using ‘No-till Drill’ or ‘Happy Seeder’ as available. Sow six
rows of Guar and two rows of Bajra. Note:
Mix 50g seeds of Sonf with every kilo of Bajra
seed. Sonf will serve as repellent.
xiii)
Distance between rows
should be 60cm. Within a row plant to plant distance should at least be 30 cm.
Take guidance from Mr Jarnail Singh Maazi, if you have any difficulty. Important: Sowing should be done when soil has enough moisture for emergence. But
irrigate, if needed, taking care that we need excellent germination. Important: Do not forget to add 50L urine per acre at the time of irrigation, if
irrigation is a must.
xiv)
Apply Bio-Herbicide
(see Appendix
VI for making/using Bio-herbicide), on the day of sowing or next day,
as feasible - to kill weeds and Aurogreen crops.
xv)
Sow (in Kharif) one
row of mixture of sorghum + maize + Jantar on all four sides of the treatment
plot, as tall border to obstruct passage of some insects and as bird perches.
And in Rabi, in the same row, sow mustard in-between sorghum-maize-Jantar
without removing dead plants of sorghum-maize-Janter. Dead plants can continue
to serve as bird perches.
xvi)
Water management: There should be no
standing water at any stage of plant growth. Irrigation should be given only
when there is no moisture at 4 inches depth.
xvii)
Sprays to boost plant growth: Apply ‘Gur-Jal Amrit’ (see Appendix IX for the method of its
preparation) at about 30 days age of crops and apply ‘Extract of Dry Dung’ --
or Paathi –Da-Paani (see Appendix X for the method of its
preparation) at about 55 days age of crops (just before flowering or at flowering).
xviii)
Spray to protect plants from pests: Apply diluted buttermilk (see Appendix XI for the method of its
preparation) at about 40 days age and apply herbal extract (see Appendix
XII for the method of its preparation) at about 65 days age. Note: Repeat application of buttermilk at 75 days age and herbal extract at
90 days age, if you feel there is a threat from pests. There may not be any
further threat from pests, when the crop is about 100 days age.
Important: Contact Mr Gurpreet (mobile:
9915195062), as soon as you have seen any threat to the crops from pests.
xix)
Broadcast primed
seeds of the “Aurogreen” crop (see names of seeds/crops and method in Appendix
I) just before last irrigation, say in September.
xx)
When the crop is
almost ready for harvest, identify three representative spots each for Guar and
Bajra. Cut the plants from one meter long three rows of Guar and 2meter long two
rows of Bajra, using sickle at ground level. Sun-dry the bundles for one week.
Thresh the bundles manually/separately to separate grains from rest of the
material. Add the 2-types of grains in separate strong paper bags and the other
plant parts in separate gunny bags. Take their weights separately and record
the yield data (both for grains and for biomass) in the ‘Field Book’ with the
farmer.
xxi)
Whenever ready, harvest
the Bajra manually. But harvest Guar by combine, hopefully by first week of
October. Record the number of gunny bags of grains of the two crops harvested from
the whole plot. Also, take weight of each bag, if possible, and record data in
the ‘Field Book’.
iii)
There will be about
6-weeks time between harvest of Guar/Bajra and sowing of wheat (by 15
November). Let the Aurogreen crops continue to grow at least up to 10 November.
Important: Send the three samples each of
Guar and Bajra for analyses of a) Protein %, b) pesticide residues.
Rabi Season:
Treatment I: Control
(Rice and Wheat Modern system—RWM) – Wheat will
be sown after the transplanted/puddle rice as per the method widely used by
farmers i.e. using modern varieties, bag fertilizers, herbicides and
pesticides, all possible modern machinery for field operations – as indicated
below, let’s call it ‘Farmers Practice’.
i)
Manage the standing
stubble of rice as done commonly by the neighbour farmers. If they burn the
straw, we should also burn straw in this treatment.
ii)
Prepare the field
before wheat as done normally, apply fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, by
the chemical farmers.
iii)
Variety of wheat
should be same as recommended by PAU, both in control and for the other two
treatments.
iv)
Fertilizer rates and
time of application should be same as recommended for wheat by the PAU.
v)
When the crop is
almost ready for harvest, identify three representative spots, cut the plants
from one meter square area, using sickle at ground level. Sun-dry the bundle
for one week. Thresh the bundle manually to separate grains from rest of the
material. Add the grains in a strong paper bag and the other plant parts in a
gunny bag. Take their weights separately and record the yield data in the
‘Field Book’ with the farmer.
vi)
Harvest the crop when
ready, by using combine. Record the number of gunny bags harvested from the
whole plot. Also, take weight of each bag, if possible, and record data in the
‘Field Book’.
Important: Send the three grain samples of
wheat for analyses of a) Protein %, b) pesticide residues.
Treatment II: Rice
and Wheat Sustainable system (RWS) - The wheat
after rice will be sown on ridges and as intercrop with chickpea (Chana) or
Alsi as per details given below.
i)
It is hoped that rice
will be harvested by early to mid October. Let the field remain as such for up
to at least 10 November so that the Aurogreen crops and weeds can grow in the
standing stubble of rice.
ii)
Obtain seeds of the
wheat variety where we are sure its yield will be similar to what the chemical
farmers are harvesting these days. But most important is that wheat variety
should be same in all the three treatment plots. And ideally it should be same
at all the farms taking up this experiment. Wheat variety PBW621 and Chana
variety PBG5 was agreed in the 3 April 2012 meeting. Linseed varieties
recommended by PAU are LC2023 and LC2063.
iii)
Test germination
percent of the seeds using the method described in the Appendix V. Important: Always test germination % of seeds of the main crops every season.
iv)
Prime the seeds of
the selected Wheat and Chana variety. Method of priming is given in Appendix
IV. It may be noted that priming should be done about two days in
advance of sowing to avoid last-minute tension.
v)
Obtain one tractor
trolley of Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and convert it to Living Manure as described
above.
vi)
Purchase one quintal
of oil-cake (of any oil-seed crop that is readily available) for every acre
area. Convert the oil-cake into ‘Living Oil-cake’ as described above.
vii)
Cut the standing
stubble of rice and green materials by using reaper to mow it down and uniformly
spread the biomass.
viii)
Remove the loose
plant biomass from the treatment plot by using a ‘Rake’. The field is now ready
for application of about 5 quintal of ‘Living FYM’ (having about 70% moisture),
20kg of ‘Ash’ and one quintal of ‘Living LOC’ (having about 70% moisture).
Application should be done on soil surface, the way a farmer spreads fertilizer
urea. Care: Plow the land soon after application. This is needed to protect the
beneficial microorganisms in these materials.
ix)
Prepare the field as
normally done for sowing Wheat/Chana. Note:
the field has to be ready for sowing by
or before 15 November. Apply 50L
urine, if and when the field is irrigated.
x)
Sow the prepared
field using a seed drill having row arrangement at 7” and widely used for
sowing wheat – generally having 11 row system. We need spacing in
wheat/chickpea as 12” from row to row, and two rows of Chana or Alsi after
every four rows of Wheat. Within a row – ideally about 20 cm or 8” from plant
to plant. Do following modifications at the time of sowing.
a.
Adjust all pora at
12” (or one foot) distance. Remove extra ‘tines’ where needed.
b.
Reduce seed rate such
that we do not sow more than 20kg wheat seed per acre and not more than 8kg
seed of Chana per acre.
c.
Make changes in the
seed box such that last holes on both ends receives Chana seed.
d.
Attach a heavy duty
metal chain (SANGAL–widely use for tying Buffalo) between every two tines. This
will result in a light furrow between every row.
xi)
Sow 6-rows of wheat
followed by 2-rows of Chana or Alsi. Mix some seeds of Dhania with Chana –
about 50g with every kilo of Chana seed. Dhania will serve as repellent.
xii)
Sow one row each of Sarson
and linseed on all four sides of the treatment plot. These will serve as ‘Trap
Crops’ for some insect-pests.
xiii)
Soon after sowing, apply
all the loose plant biomass back to the whole field manually.
xiv)
Irrigate the field,
if needed, for best germination. Important:
Do not forget to add 50L urine per acre
at the time of irrigation, if irrigation is a must.
xv)
Sprays to boost plant growth: Apply ‘Gur-Jal Amrit’ (see Appendix IX for the method of its
preparation) at about 30 days age of crops and apply ‘Extract of Dry Dung’ --
or Paathi–Da-Paani (see Appendix X for the method of its
preparation) at about 55 days age of crops (just before flowering or at
flowering).
xvi)
Spray to protect plants from pests: Apply diluted buttermilk (see Appendix XI for the method of its
preparation) at about 40 days age and apply herbal extract (see Appendix
XII for the method of its preparation) at about 65 days age. Note: Repeat application of buttermilk at 75 days age and herbal extract at
90 days age, if you feel there is a threat from pests. There may not be any
further threat from pests, when the crop is about 100 days age.
Important: Contact Mr Gurpreet (mobile:
9915195062), as soon as you have seen any threat to the crops from pests.
xvii)
Water management: We must not
irrigate, if the field is moist from surface. Irrigation should be considered
only if top soil is dry but has some moisture at 4” depth. And whenever
irrigation is must, do not irrigate Chana – it can be achieved by making small
bunds around Chana rows. It is hoped that wheat will need about 2 and maximum 3
irrigations.
xviii)
Broadcast 4 kg seed
(ie. 10kg per acre) of the “Aurogreen” crop (see names of seeds/crops and
method in Appendix I) just before last irrigation of wheat, say in March.
xix)
When the crop is
almost ready for harvest, identify three representative spots each for Wheat
and Chana. Cut the plants from one meter long three rows of Wheat and one meter
long two rows of Chana, using sickle at ground level. Sun-dry the bundles for
one week. Thresh the bundles manually/separately to separate grains from rest
of the material. Add the 2-types of grains in separate strong paper bags and
the other plant parts in separate gunny bags. Take their weights separately and
record the yield data (both for grains and for biomass) in the ‘Field Book’
with the farmer.
xx)
Harvest Chana
manually before harvesting wheat by combine (hopefully by mid April). Record
the number of gunny bags of grains of the two crops harvested from the whole
plot. Also, take weight of each bag, if possible, and record data in the ‘Field
Book’. There will be about 30 days time between harvest of Wheat/Chana and
sowing of next crop (by 15 May). Let the Aurogreen crops continue to grow at
least up to 10 May.
Important: Send the three samples each of Wheat
and Chana for analyses of a) Protein %, b) pesticide residues.
Treatment III: Guar
and Wheat System (GWS) - The wheat after
Guar/Bajra will be sown as intercrop with chickpea (Chana) or Alsi.
i)
It is hoped that
Guar/Bajra will be harvested, using combine, by early to mid October. Let the
field remain as such, with standing stubble for up to at least 10 November so
that the Aurogreen crops and weeds can grow in the standing stubble.
ii)
Cut the standing
stubble of Guar and green materials by using reaper to mow it down, and
uniformly spread the biomass.
iii)
Remove the loose
plant biomass from the treatment plot by using a ‘Rake’. The field is now ready
for application of about 5 quintal of ‘Living FYM’ (having about 70% moisture),
20kg of ‘Ash’ and one quital of ‘Living LOC’ (having about 70% moisture).
Application should be done on soil surface, the way a farmer spreads fertilizer
urea. Care: Plow the land soon after application. This is needed to protect the
beneficial microorganisms in these materials.
Important: For the Rabi season, the other
details for this plot of Treatment III
are exactly same as for the plot of Treatment
II (above).
Appendix
I
Special
Aurogreen for Broadcast in Standing Rice, Guar or Wheat
1.
Take total of only six kg seed of the following legume
crops – Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum, Gahat in Punjabi), Mungbean, Urd,
Cowpea, Moth, Masar. Note: one can take about 1 kg of each type.
2.
Mix all the seeds and add about 200g each of Saunf,
Ajwain and Dill (Soi Aku in Telugu, Sava in Hindi, Anethum graveolens).
3.
Soak the seeds in water, for about four hours.
4.
Drain excess water and spread the seeds on a gunny sheet
in shade.
5.
Sprinkle about 500g dry ash on it and mix well. The seeds
are now ready for broadcasting.
Important: Sowing/broadcasting should be done about one month before harvesting
rice, Guar or wheat. Braodcasting can be done just before last irrigation to
these crops, -- say in September for Rice and Guar, and in March for Wheat.
Appendix
II
Using Animal
Urine as Source of Nitrogen
Urine of animals can have up to 4% N, 1% P and 2% K. Its pH is generally
7 (neutral). It is a highly underutilized natural source of crop nutrients.
Following method is suggested to harness it.
1.
Collect as much urine as feasible. Note: A good farmer should
store at least 50L urine for every acre land, at any given time, ie. if a
farmer has 5 acre land, he/she should store at least 250L urine.
2.
Take 50L urine to field to be irrigated.
3.
Take a 20L plastic jerry can having a tap at the base.
Fill the jerry can with urine.
4.
Put the jerry can at the irrigation channel where water
is entering the plot/field to be irrigated. Open the tap such that whole of 50
L urine gets used up as the field gets fully irrigated.
Note: Up to 50L urine can be applied with every irrigation.
Caution: The method suggested above is for soil application. It can be sprayed
on crops but after dilution (5L urine added to sprayer and make the volume to
15L). Concentrated spray burns leaves.
…………….
Appendix III
Converting Farm Yard
Manure (FYM) into Living Manure
This is a method of adding value to the FYM. Most modern agricultural
scientists and agricultural research institutions measure value of FYM in terms
of quantity of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potash (K) in it. Cattle dung
and FYM has been noted to contains microorganisms of all the six types of
functional groups of microorganisms – nitrogen fixers, phosphate solubilizers,
cellulose degraders, plant-growth promoters, antagonists of disease-causing
fungi and entomopathogens. Therefore the real value of FYM is in the population
and diversity of agriculturally beneficial microorganisms it contains and not
in the concentration of NPK. Its biological value can be further enhanced by
the following method.
1.
Take a trolley load
of FYM and spread it on side of a field.
2.
Break the clods.
3.
Mix the heap well
with equal quantity (by dry weight basis and not volume) of local soil (surface
soil from the same field is fine). Note: great if we can use cement mixer for
the purpose. But it is realized that it can be difficult.
4.
Sprinkle water so
that whole heap is most but friable and not dripping wet.
5.
Set the mixed heap
into a bed about one feet high, 3-feet wide and up to any length so that the whole
heap FYM plus soil mixture is finished.
6.
Take about 2kg seeds
of Aurogreen crops (1kg seeds of legumes--Mungbean, Urad, Masar, Desi-Chana,
Horse Gram; 400g seeds of cereals- -Bajra, Jawar, Wheat, Raagi; 400g of
oil-seeds—Sarson, Til, Alsi, Sunflower; 50g seeds each of Sonf, Dhania, Mirch
and Methe). Mix all the seeds and soak in water for 2 to 4 hours. Discard water
and spread the seeds on a dry Gunny-bag. Sprinkle about 200g dry Ash. Note: all
the different seeds should be from farmers own crops. If a farmer does not have
these seeds, he/she can borrow/purchase seeds from neighbour farmers or can
purchase from Grocery shop. The total cost may generally be within Rs. 50/-.
7.
The hydrated seeds of
the Aurogreen crops are now ready for sowing on top the FYM bed mixed with
soil. Sprinkle water over top and cover the bed with about 3 inches thick
Paraali or any other plant biomass.
8.
Keep a watch on
germination of the seeds. Remove the cover when majority seeds have germinated
and use the same cover on all sides of the bed, to reduce water loss.
9.
Let the crops grow
for about 25 days. Remove the plants with roots, cut then into small pieces,
mix the bed thoroughly, reset the bed, and cover with a new lot of Paraali or
plant biomass. Use the compost after
about 10 days. Note: covered and moist heap can stay active for
over one month without reduction in its quality.
10.
The resultant
quantity is enough for two fields of one acre each. Note: the population of the
different agriculturally beneficial microorganisms has been noted to increase
by 10-times to 100-times compared to what it was in the FYM. Thus we have
increased the value of compost by 10 to 100 times.
11.
Apply the Living FYM (at least two quintals per
acre per crop) just before irrigation.
It should be broad-casted in a standing crop, the way one would apply
fertilizer urea. But this product should be used when the crop is already at
least 6 inches tall so that the beneficial microorganisms are able to survive
well. It can also be applied just before land preparation.
Appendix IV
Seed Priming*
1.
Take about 100L of
concentrated ‘Jeevamrit’ after sieving through coarse cloth.
2.
Purchase about 5kg of
‘Lime’ or ‘Chuna’, widely used for whitewash of houses. Put it in a thick cloth
sheet and make ‘Potli’. Suspend the Potli in the container having Jeevamrit for
about an hour. Then smudge squeeze its contents in the Jeevamrit, until only
sand/stones are left in the potli. Discard the sand/stones.
3.
Take required
quantity of seeds and soak them in the ‘Jeevamrit plus lime’ mixture. Number of
hours of soaking is very important and it varies from seed to seed and is given
below for some seeds for which experiments have been done. For others, farmers
are encouraged to develop their own experience.
4.
Drain the excess
‘Jeevamrit’.
5.
Dry the seeds in
shade. They are now ready for sowing.
Soaking Time for
different crop seeds
Rice-14 hours, Wheat-6 hours, Channa-4 hours, Jawar-5 hours, Bajra-5
Hours, Moong & Urad-3 hours each
Note: Sowing be completed
soonest possible. The primed seeds should not be stored for more than two days.
Appendix V
Testing Germination
of Seeds
1.
Take approximately
1000 seeds.
2.
Soak them in water
for about four hours (20hours in the case of rice).
3.
Drain the excess
water and line-up the seeds on short side (width) of twin sheet of a newspaper.
Wrap the seeds in the newspaper, in the form of a tube.
4.
Fold the newspaper
tube and put in a polythene bag.
5.
Add excess water in
the bag and drain it after few minutes.
6.
Drain the excess
water again after about 30 minutes.
7.
Keep the polythene
bag in a room for four days, if it is summer/rainy days, and for seven days, if
it is winter.
8.
Take out and
straighten the folded newspaper tube, unfold the paper so that the seeds are
visible.
9.
Count the total
number of seeds and record in the ‘Field Book’
10.
Count the germinated
seeds and record in the ‘Field Book’. Calculated the percent germination.
***
Appendix
VI
Urine
and Khaadi Soap Mix as a Bioherbicide*
1.
Take 40L urine which
is less than one month old and is free of excessive dung and soil.
2.
Take 200g of Khaadi
Soap. Make into small shreds by using Grater (KADDU-KAS KARNA HAI), widely used
in kitchens.
3.
Add the grated soap
into 2L of warm water to suspend it fully. Add the suspended soap to the urine
just before using, mix well, filter and spray on one acre area.
* It is a new idea. It can greatly help manage
weeds without poisonous chemicals and with least labor.
Bioherbicide
(modification by Mr Inderjeet Singh Soholi)
1.
Take 15L urine in a
sprayer.
2.
Add 2 eggs and shake
well.
3.
Add 10g of surf
powder and shake well.
4.
Spray on to weeds on
an empty field. Most weeds should die in about 2 to 4 days.
5.
With the use of
Chhatri, the herbicide can be sprayed between rows of a standing crop, if they
are sown at least 30cm apart. The sprayer must be kept low i.e. just above the
weeds so that spray does not fall on the crop plants.
***
Appendix
VII
Method
of Converting Oil-cake to Living Oil-Cake
1.
Take about 100L of Amritpaani (concentrated and 3 to 7
days old) in a 200L drum.
2.
Add about one quintal of any oil-seed cake in the
Amritpaani and let it soak for overnight.
3.
Take out the soaked oil-cake on a big plastic sheet or
Gunny-sheet and cover the heap with Paraali or any available plant biomass.
4.
Smudge the contents by hands or any convenient tool so
that it turns into friable material.
5.
Spread the powdered material into one acre field.
***
Appendix
VIII
Method
of Paata for Rice
This is an innovative approach for managing weeds in rice and enhance
its tillers. Its innovator Mr Harpal Singh
Grewal of village Theri Baba Savan Singh, Sirsa (mobile: 9050101355) has been
using it for over 3-years.
1.
Prepare a suitable
Paata, using a 12 feet (length can be smaller) x 4” x 2” rectangular hollow
pipe. The pipe should have two hooks at equidistance from centre, welded on the
2” side so that rope could be tied for pulling.
2.
Paata needs to be
pulled manually by two persons. Two persons have been noted to 4 acres per day.
3.
Irrigate a field, say
in the morning. Apply Paata when about 1” water is standing. Water should be drained out when Paata is
done.
Note: Rice after Paata stands up within
24 hours while weeds get damaged. This activity also enhances more tillers in
rice.
4.
Pata should be done
at least three times (say at day 20, 35, 50) before the crop commits to
flowering (noted by swollen base of stem of the plants). Important: Pata must not be
done when base of the stem of the rice plants has swollen.
***
Append IX
Method
of Making Gur-Jal-Amrit*
1. Add about 60kg cowdung in a 200L drum.
2. Suspend 3 kg gud in about 5L water in a bucket. Mix well.
Add this into the drum having cowdund.
3. Suspend 1 kg flour of any pulse in about 5L water in a bucket. Mix well and add this into the drum having
cowdund.
4. Add 200ml mustard oil in the drum.
5. Go on adding water and mixing until the total volume is
about 150L.
6. Mix every day for at least 3-times a day for about
10minutes each time.
7. Contents are ready for use on day 3. It has been noted to
enhance crop growth.
Appendix
X
Extract
of Dry Cowdung (Paathi-Da-Paani)*
1.
Take a wide mouth
container – 100 or 200L barrel, open from top.
2.
Add about 50L of
water in the barrel.
3.
Add about 15 kg of
one year old cow dung cakes. Let them soaked fully in water for four days. Note: It may need some weight on top of the Dung Cakes, so that they remain
submerged in water.
4.
The resultant liquid
when sprayed on crops has been noted to improve crop growth by several farmers
in Punjab.
5.
Take about 2L liquid
in a 15 L capacity sprayer. Fill it with water. Mix well and spray.
Note: the dung cakes can be dried and used as a fuel.
***
* The method was told to farmers by Mr Suresh Desai of Belgaum Karnataka
(mobile: 9480448256) during his Punjab travel in 2009.
Appendix
XI
Method
of Making Butter Milk as Pest Manager*
1.
Take one L milk (not toned milk), boil and cool to room temperature.
2.
Make curd from this milk when temperature is about 35°C,
by adding about 20 g good quality curd. Note:
Cover the container with woolen cloth
during winter. Otherwise, curd will not
set.
3.
Make about 10L Lassi from the Curd. Put the Lassi in a plastic
drum. Keep the content for one week.
4.
After one week, add about one foot long copper strip or
about one meter long copper wire (after making a spiral). Keep the content for
at least 5-days (can be kept even for 7 days).
5.
Lassi will become greenish-blue, and is ready for use.
6.
Dilute the 10L Lassi to about 100L by adding water. Spray
the diluted Lassi on crop in one acre area.
***
* It is a widely known recipe among organic farmers and listed on the
website www.sristi.org, and they upload
such pieces of traditional knowledge after some validation.
Appendix
XII
Method
of Making Herbal Extract*
1.
Collect about 10 kg wet foliage (leaves and tender twigs)
of following botanicals.
a.
Aak (Calotropis),
b.
Datura (Datura metel)
c.
Caster (Ricinus communis)
d.
Neem (Azadirachta
indica)
e.
Gaajar-ghaas (Parthenium
hysterophorus),
f.
Barahmaasi (Tridax
procumbens) or any other weed known to farmers as manager of insect pests.
2.
Dry the foliage of every botanical, separately. Take dry
material of one type at a time and grind it in a blender (Mixy) - a kitchen
equipment.
3.
Grind all the materials one by one. Store the powdered
botanicals in a dry place, for use when needed in future. It can be stored for
about a year. Note: There is no need to grind Caster cake and
Neem cake.
4.
Another item to be stored is at least 40L of urine –
preferably stored in 20L plastic barrels (blue color or black color that can
tolerate sun) having airtight caps.
Important: Every farmer should collect, process and
store sufficient quantity of the above listed botanicals/materials during March
to June for use during the following one year. At least 4 kg each of the
botanicals and 4 kg each of the two types of cakes (Neem and Caster) will be
needed to protect crops for one full year on one acre area. It will provide two
sprays to a Kharif crop and another two sprays for a Rabi crop.
A day
before spray:
5.
Take 20L urine in a 200L barrel. Add 20L hot water in the
barrel. Add one kg powder each of five or six botanicals that were collected
during last summer.
6.
Take 2kg Neem Cake or Caster cake (only one type of cake
is enough). Soak in about 4L of hot water and leave it for four hours. It will
swell. Smudge with hands so that it becomes a friable material. Add this to the
barrel having the other botanicals.
7.
Shake the contents in the barrel and make the total
volume to 100L by adding hot water.
8.
Leave the contents in the barrel for overnight. It is now
ready for application to crops as a prophylactic. It may protect against
several insect pests.
9.
Sieve the contents before adding to the sprayer.
Most important: This is a prophylactic and every organic farmer should practice it. If
some insect-pests are still an issue, please immediately contact Mr Gurpreet Dabrikhana.
***
* Botanicals and oil-cakes suggested here are well known among organic
farmers as insect managers. Traditional method suggests taking hot water
extracts that is time consuming and farmers were noted to shun the practice
over the simpler options. During ICRISAT tenure, OPR noted powders as a convenient
option and farmers accepted it readily.
Appendix
XIII
List of
Inputs or Activities in Treatment-II and Treatment-III
(starting
with standing crop of wheat)
Timely action for sowing, irrigation, crop protection etc. is very
important for high yield of any crop. This table has been made as a
ready-reckoner to help farmers so that they take up required activity in a
timely manner.
S. No.
|
Input/Activity
|
Approx. month
|
Remarks
|
Year 1--Kharif
|
|||
1
|
Broadcasting special Aurogreens in standing wheat, with last
irrigation or about one month before harvest
|
Feb/March
|
|
2
|
Combine harvest of wheat
|
April/May
|
|
3
|
Procuring seeds of Rice and Guar and testing their germination before
seed priming
|
April/May
|
Use varieties reported best by agricultural institutes in your region
|
4
|
Preparation of living FYM
|
May
|
|
5
|
Reaper to cut the standing stubble of wheat and Aurogreens
|
Early June
|
|
6
|
Raking of loose plant biomass, for Guar plot
|
Early June
|
|
7
|
Spray of Bio-Herbicide after
reaper, for rice plot
|
10 June
|
|
8
|
Application of Living Oil Cake (1quintal/acre) as friable material at
land preparation in Guar plot and before Happy Seeder in Rice plot.
|
10-14 June
|
|
9
|
Seed priming for rice seeds and Guar seeds
|
||
10
|
Sowing of rice by Happy Seeder, where relevant, in the presence of
loose plant biomass as surface mulch. Note: Remove loose plant biomass, if
Happy Seeder does not accept it, and relay the biomass after sowing by Happy Seeder.
|
Mid June
|
|
11
|
Plowing, making ridges/furrows and sowing of Guar where relevant, and
spreading of plant biomass as surface mulch, soon after sowing
|
Mid June
|
|
12
|
Preparation of Living Oilseed Cake
|
July
|
|
13
|
Application of Living FYM (2quintal/acre) as friable material, in
standing crop
|
July
|
Just before first irrigation or rains
|
15
|
Apply Gur-Jal-Amrit
|
Jul
|
At 20, 30 days age of crop
|
16
|
Apply extract of dry cow-dung cakes
|
Jul/Aug
|
At 40, 50 days age of crop
|
17
|
Paata in standing rice at day 22, 35 and 50
|
Jul/Aug
|
|
18
|
Apply buttermilk
|
Aug/Sept
|
Just before flowering (60 days age) and grain filling stage (90 days
age)*
|
19
|
Manual weeding where relevant, at least once
|
||
Year 1-Rabi
|
|||
1
|
Broadcasting special Aurogreens in standing rice, with last irrigation
or about one month before harvest
|
October
|
|
2
|
Procuring seeds of Wheat/Chana testing its germination before seed
priming
|
October
|
Use varieties reported best by agricultural institutes in your region
|
3
|
Combine harvest of rice
|
Oct/Nov.
|
|
4
|
Reaper to cut the standing stubble of rice and Aurogreens
|
12 Nov
|
|
5
|
Raking of loose plant biomass
|
by 15 Nov
|
|
6
|
Application of Living Oil Cake (1quintal/acre) as friable material at
land preparation
|
16 Nov
|
|
7
|
Application of ‘Ash’ of dung or plant biomass as a source of crop
nutrients
|
16 Nov
|
Can be mixed with the Living Oil Cake.
|
8
|
Seed priming for wheat and Chana seeds
|
16 Nov
|
|
9
|
Plowing, making ridges/furrows and sowing of Wheat/Chana, and
spreading of plant biomass as surface mulch, soon after sowing
|
17 Nov
|
|
10
|
Application of Living FYM (2quintal/acre) as friable material, in
standing crop
|
end Dec
|
Just before first irrigation
|
11
|
Apply Gur-Jal-Amrit
|
Dec
|
At 20, 30 days age of crop
|
12
|
Apply extract of dry cow-dung cakes
|
Jan
|
At 40, 50 days age of crop
|
13
|
Apply buttermilk
|
Feb/March
|
Just before flowering (60 days age) and grain filling stage (90 days
age)*
|
14
|
Manual weeding where relevant, at least once
|
||
* 1. Avoid spraying whenever any crop is flowering.
2. Date/month to be
fine-tuned by each farmer for their fields.
3. A similar detailed list of
activities will be prepared for ‘Year II’ in due course.
|
|||
Appendix
XIV
Application
of Ash
Ash contains all the about 30
elements a plant needs for balanced growth. But much of their concentration is
in bound form. In the organic farming methods, the bound form of the elements
gets converted to available form due organic acids and enzymes excreted by
plant roots and microorganisms on plant root surface, in soil. Method is given
below.
1.
Collect all available ‘Ash’ from kitchen. Note: Ash from any plant biomass is also good and should be collected in
plastic gunny bags and stored for use.
2.
At least 20 kg ‘Ash’ should be applied at land
preparation. It can be spread on soil suface as one will do urea. Note: If the volume is less, it can be mixed with dry soil (preferably of
same field) and used.
3.
Another round of 20kg ‘Ash’ should be applied at about 50
days after sowing or before flowering. It can be sprinkled on plants. Note: If the volume is less, it can be mixed with dry soil (preferably of
same field) and used.
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