For next season no till will be done with fodder grass mulch. Fodder grass has been growing in the field at around 8 feet apart rows. Also growing the same in nearby areas, so that there is enough mulch, but still it looks like more fodder grass may be required to cover the 0.1Acre area completely.
Cut the grass growing in the field and also fodder grass and mulched. Also planted some lablab beans seeds here and there and in one field cowpea seeds.
Plan is to cut and mulch the fodder grass in every month and also clear the grasses which is coming up so that next year will have a clean ground to start with and put the rice seeds in seed balls in advance so that they come with rain.
These dogs were guarding me when myself and Palani were clearing the grass. It took 3 days work to clear the complete area.
27-May-2025
This year monsoon started early, by around May 23rd, and it has been raining heavily. Grasses started growing wild, including fodder grass. Cut the complete area with two women laborers and could complete in one day labor and I also did fair amount of work. Could see the weed pressure and hence grass from two other areas was brought and mulched the middle one.
In some areas where there was sufficient amount of mulch, weeds are much less. But feels like, in summer the area should be completely cut and existing grass to be cleared and just before rain or at April 14th, take all the mulch and sow seed ball in line and mulch lightly. Ideally would prefer to make a cut in the soil and put seed balls inside soil. But what tools to use to make this cut is a question. Anyway the rice seeds should get a chance to establish before the weeds.
