Glyricidea and other native tree saplings

I have been planning to grow glyricidea and other native tree saplings in the farm just to bring more and more shade. I can see that without shade, grown crops find it difficult to manage in summer. Now a days, in this area summer is harsh and rain has been reduced.

I bought some glyricidea seeds from amazon and also collected some seeds from farm and from road side and has been growing them. When rain pickup it will be planted in the farm. Glyricidea saplings from seeds has been doing good so far, they are drought tolerant and fights summer nicely. I have been growing them in plastic cups which costs around 6-7/ indian rupees, and this can be used for at least 4-5 years.

I should be growing them from February onwards so that they can be transplanted at the start of rainy season.

Minimum till rice cultivation

I have kept a field which has not been ploughed for the last 5 years now. I had kept some plastic sheets on this to keep the weeds away, but it was not covering the full field and hence had to keep it moving to different areas. But it made weeds less and made the work of cleaning the grass easy. One male labor and one female labor cleaned the area which is 0.1 acre. Male person cleaned it using spade and kept the weeds at the side. Initially I thought cutting and keeping the weeds using sickle is best, but later spade showed to be a better tool.

Kayama seeds of 2Kg were put in water for 24 hours...Rain had receded, but hoping that it will rain in one or 2 days, seeds were sown. Since plastic sheet was put cleaning was easier. Using a sharp tool, lines were marked and seeds were put and cowdung slurry was poured. This makes seeds invisible to peacocks and also ants does not pick them. On a single day, complete sowing process was completed and one day clearing process was completed. 

I was happy that in 0.1 acre land, we can comfortably do all the work to sow the rice seeds in 2 days, 1 day for clearing and 1 day for sowing. Manual weed control also is possible to some extend if the seeds are sown in lines.

Few rice varieties in grow bags

 This time I am growing few rice varieties in grow bags, just to multiply seeds and to preserve them. Each seed is kept in water for 24 hours and then sown in to grow bags. I have marked their name in the grow bag, some places it is not clear, I have also written their name in the paper and kept in each grow bag and took a photo.

Here are the varieties..All these were sown on 8th June 2026.

Happy Hill

Developed by Masanobu Fukuoka, original seed received from Japan.

Kayama

Indigenous variety, 150 days duration

Raja Kayama

Kasarkod

Erumakkari - Original

Seed received from RARS Pattambi

Erumakkari - Indira

Seed received from a farmer called Indira

Chuvanna Modan

Upland rice variety received from RARS pattambi

Stylosanthes Hamata sowing

 Stylosanthes Hamata is the new covercrop which I am trying. It is low height and grows nicely and is leguminous so should be enriching soil. I am just trying to study which is the best sowing period, if there is soil moisture it germinates well, but in high rain, I am not sure if it germinates and grows well. But it is drought tollerant, it survives summer well, it won't be seen in summer, but when it rains, it will just come back.

This year pre-monsoon rains were bad, and monsoon itself started on June 3rd early morning, till that it was sunny all the time.

With first rain, I sow some seeds, wanted to see, how they come up. But since it is rainly season, there will be frequent rains, whether they like it or not is we have to find out.

In all these places I have sown seeds, will have to find out if they come up.

Sowing seeds in Aswathy Njattuvela (Nature based agriculture calendar system)

Njattuvela is nature based agriculture calendar system used in Kerala. I think similar systems exists in other parts of India also. There are 27 such Njattuvelas,each spanning 13.5 days, in this calendar and in each what agriculture activities can be done is specified. 

There is a saying in Kerala that seeds sown in Aswathy Njattuvela which spans from April 13th to April 27th, never goes bad. So in ancient time, on Vishu festival day, which happens on April 14th or April 15th, people plough and sow rice seeds, typically of long duration crops. Normally we get some rains in this period and seeds sown germinates and grows. 

I had made seed balls of lady's finger seeds this time, and I was late to sow them, and did it in May first week. I made sure that it is scattered in places so there is good soil contact and also where there are good chances of water accumulation so seeds germinate and grow fast. I could see that some of the seeds had germinated and but later rain didn't come for 3-4 weeks and some of them just died.

At home where there was some lady's finger seeds which were lying in the ground from January onwards, had germinated and growing well. They came up at first rain and there were intermediate rains, and they grew through them. My seeds missed some of the initial rains, so could not manage.

So I think, if the seeds are put in Aswathy njattuvela, those seeds will receive first rains and then can grow well.

Planting Glyricidia and Moringa cuttings in Pre-monsoon

I have been trying to grow glyricidea since it is leguminous and provide lots of mulch. Moringa also has been in the list, since it is leguminous, provode pods,leaves and cut branches are good mulch too. When I tried this lots of them won't survive, later read from Roland Bunch's one paper that in heavy rain, these cuttings rot fast and does not take roots. Also survival rate is better with cuttings from thick branches. So this time, planting lots and lots of glyricidea and moringa cuttings.

Stylosanthes Hamata and Rice - Experiment continues

Last year in one patch I had done Stylo and after growing them for some time, sow some rice seeds and cut Stylo, and rice established reasonably nicely. Stylo didn't grow back well, so it was good for rice. Wanted to experiment the same thing, this time in the same patch. Few Stylo plants were seen after summer rain, retained them and few weeds were removed by hand. Once stylo is established, would like to sow rice in the same patch.

Stylo Santhes Hamata some features

I have been trying Stylo santhes Hamata as a covercrop, it is not yet established, but saw some interesting features so thought of recording it. 

The above two pictures are Stylo recovering from summer on receiving summer rains. In peak summer, temperature here touches 40-42 degree, and all plants are effected since I do completely rainfed farming. These plants were not visible at all, but with first rain, they just came back. So it looks like they are drought tolerant, this is too early to conclude, but still.

In this patch, I had few stylo plants and at the peak summer, I had cut them since I had to work the bunds of these small fields so that water is retained. This is for growing rice samples, just to keep their seeds. At the first rain, I could see many small seedlings coming up, first I couldn't recognize them, later understood, they were stylo plants. Even they were growing bit outside where the plants were standing, they had flowers and seeds, but didn't realize, they had this much.

Good friend - Aaru

There are 3 female dogs in the opposite farm, they have only one name - Aaru. They take care of these dogs nicely. I give them biscuit pieces, since it is not very good for their health, just give them pieces. One of these follow me quite often and hang around when I do some work. Whenever she comes first, she looks at the dense part of the farm and barks..This is a routine she always find, some time she will go bit inside and hearing her barking, other dogs also follow and go around in the farm and come back. I feel quite safe then since there are many wild boars. Some time wild boars will be running after hearing their barking. Anyway they give good company when I am working alone.

I was making pits to plant turmeric and Aaru found it as a very cooling place to take rest

Bird population in the farm has increased

 When I bought the farm around 17 years ago, it was only coconut trees,few mango trees and some teak trees. At that time, few visitors used to tell that there are not much birds seen in the farm, then I also noted that.

But now the story is different, with lots more trees in between coconut trees, the bird population has increased a lot. There are more mango trees, jackfruit trees, glyricidea and many more trees around. Now birds find more nesting place and also more food. When I listen, sounds of various birds can be heard. Jungle babbler, peacocks, bulbul, sparrows,wood pecker,king fisher,doves etc...are some birds to mention, there are many more..Today morning, I just recorded some birds sound in the video.

An old method of rice sowing

Some time back a friend/x-colleague called Jayashankar from Trivandrum told me about a rice sowing method his father used. He used to mix rice seeds with cowdung and threw small pieces to paddy field, each containing few seeds of rice. Jayashankar does not remember the reason, but in one particular field it was always done in this way.

Recently a facebook video was forwarded by a person called Gopakumar in Trichur area, showed this technique. Called Gopakumar and he was doing farming earlier but because of old age, he does not go to field now a days.But some how he found the number of this person and called and gave it to me. Such a wonderful people around, took the pain of finding the number and called and gave it to me.

This farmer's name was Vivekanandan from Nemam, Trivandrum.According to Vivekanandan they mix pre-germinated rice seed and fresh cowdung together. Rice seed will be soaked in water, and allowed to germinate, so that it barely germinate. If germination is too well, seed may get destroyed. I feel may be just soak it for 24 hours and then mix it with fresh cowdung.Quantity of cowdung has to be found out from experience, may be 5 or 7 times by volume of rice seed. Also after mixing they check after taking one piece and see if there are atleast 5  seeds. If seeds are more they add more cowdung.

Please see the video in this link.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AaE9jwPE5/

Tree saplings for shade

Since summer is very harsh wanted to bring more shade for coconut trees and mango trees. For this identified few local trees, seeds of this are collected and planning to make seedlings of these. Bought 150 plastic cups from Thrissur, each one costed 8 rupees. Put first dried leaves and then soil, and then seeds were put, watering it in the morning and evening.

Currently two types of trees, one is locally called, Manja konna, this is ever green and provides good shade. Collected seeds from farm and one side is slightly cut using nail cutter so that water can enter it soak it and germinate fast.

Second one is a type of Mandaram, this is collected on the way to farm.

WWOOF Host Experience

 WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunity in Organic Farming. This is a platform where Organic farmers can register as host and people who would like to get hands on experience with organic farming can register as volunteers. After talking to the Indian co-ordinator, Harish Tiwari I registered on this platform few years ago by paying 500/ Indian Rupees. They had given a format where I had to give a description of the farm with crops grown and typical farming activities, location of the farm and how to reach there.

According to this volunteer should be given staying facility and food and in turn they will help us in farming activities for 5 hours,5 days a week. Since I was not staying in the farm, giving food was difficult, farm has water, electricity, gas connection and all cooking utensils and I bought and gave them groceries, vegetables and fruits.

In 2026 January, there were 2 enquiries, one from a Canada couple and another from two Hyderabad Boys. Since Hyderabad Boys turned up first, there were taken as volunteers. It was a quite nice experience, there was some one to share the ideas and also hear from them. Shashi and Prithvi, were their names, Prithvi had volunteered in Late Narayana Reddy farm and also Auroville. 

They had cleaned the bases of Tamarind tree for harvesting and also cut and cleared the bunds of the main paddy field.

I could take them for a local organic group meeting in Nelliyampathy and also to neighbor farmers Raghu Mathur and Gopakumar and they stayed in Gopakumar's farm for a day. When we went to meet Gopakumar, he was attending a wedding and he invited there and we had a nice wedding feast. We also visited Narayanettan's farm Thadukkaserry.

Left Prithvi,myself,Raghu Mathur,Shashi

Gopakumar,Shashi,Myself,Narayanettan,Prithvi

Support Species

There is a saying that trees grows on trees, means trees support other trees, remains of tree becomes manure for other trees. I am just listing a set of cases which I came across about growing support trees in orchard.

Fukuoka san suggests to plant 10 black wattle trees per quarter acre for soil improvement. According to him, it acts as a windbreak and also as a shade tree during summer in warm regions.

When I visited a farmer called Iyyunni (Late) in 2009, in Anthiikkad,Trichur he was suggesting to grow as many trees as possible and cut and mulch which shades your main crop.

In a syntropic farming video Byron Grows says about global planting where many support species like eucalyptus,lucern etc...These are planted before fruit trees planted so that environment is first created. In one video he says, he plants support species as close as 75cm.

In Subash Palekar's planting pattern there is a glyricidea planted in every 4.5feet.

K.V.Dayal, a veteran organic farmer from Alappuzha,Kerala says to harvest sunlight as much as possible using plants, and no sunlight should be wasted. Harvested sunlight returned to soil is fertility.

Geoff Lawton, in his video Shade as a dryland strategy says Create shade first ->then soil improves-> then water stays -> then crops grow. Cooling the land is as powerful as adding water. Use tough fast growing trees like Prosopis (Karuvelam in Tamil?), Jerusalem Thorn, Acacia. Shade is managed...more sun in winter and more shade in summer...Instead of We need irrigation to grow plants” it comes to “We need shade first so water can stay”.

Also a single support tree type is not suggested since different strata levels are the ones which cool earth more. Each strata level will shade the land and hence totally it will be more effective.

Rainfed farming is a challenge in summer, temperature reaches above 40 degree and if summer rains are delayed, plants are stressed. So plan is to plant as many different support trees, mostly leguminous so that land is completely shaded.

Seed coating

I used to make seedballs but never had a real good method to make it and didn't use it reliably. While buying some vegetable seeds, used to see a coating, not sure what kind of material is used to coat that seeds, but saw some videos in Youtube which pours a thick liquid and while mixing with seeds, you get a decent coating, that looked interesting. But it looked like they had used chemicals and some polymer for coating seeds and that was not acceptable to me.

Recently came across some youtube videos of seed coating from Tamilnadu Agriculture University (TNAU). This used a 4% solution of gum arabic powder as binder and coating material was not very clear. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnksjRjF4dU&t=139s

Gave the problem to chatGpt and they suggested gum arabic powder, neem oil,garlic paste, turmeric powder and 1 drop of soap, wet seeds with this solution and coat with ash. At first just used gum arabic powder,turmeric and 1 drop of soap. Wetted the seedes with this solution and applied ash 3,4 times each time before applying, wetting with gum arabic solution.

Since gum arabic binds the ash well, coating was easily made, but whether ash coating will remain in sunlight and outside conditions to be seen. ChatGpt suggests to add 70% ash and 30% red soil. Initially had tried with red soil, but since the particle size was bigger it was not sticking very well. ChatGpt has given a solution to mix soil with water and allowing the sediments to settle.

Wanted to use the seedball for surface seeding in the coming rainy season, last time I put the seeds on surface and then put compost on top of it, but most of the seeds were taken by ants, immediately, wanted to avoid that.

Seed coating done with just ash, doesn't stick well, after few days, it just comes off, so mixing red soil is a must, have to try with that.

Rice variety cultivated by Late Cherkady Ramachandra Rao

 The following paragraph's are from an interview of Cherkady Ramachandra Rao which came in https://www.goodnewsindia.com/index.php/Magazine/story/cherkady-natural-farmer/.

"One morning, I stopped in my tracks. A sturdy plant of rice, ripe with grains stood in my way. How had I missed it all these days? Where had it come from? Where it stood was no wetter than other parts of the farm and my land was by means abundant in water. I had certainly, not planted it. It was unlike any paddy I had known. It had buxom grains on 16 strands, all on one stem. It stood alone glistening in the morning sun. 

"I was overwhelmed. I took it home and shook it. There was close to a kilo of grains from that one plant! And so began my rice harvest year after year. I scattered the seeds on unploughed land, spread leaves and manure and watered it by hand. There was no attempt at flooding the patch. Slowly, the patch grew wider but it was never more than a tenth of an acre. All it called for was one man's labour for three days in a season. That was enough to feed our family of five continually, for forty years.

On reading above, I was fascinated by the simplicity of this rice farming. Since this paddy was cultivated in upland thought this variety may suit me also. I was also looking to be self sufficient in rice which we eat for lunch and dinner. I had phone number of Cherkady's elder son Manjinath Rao and talked to him but he was not aware of the details of the variety.

I was in touch with Shravyak Patil who had written a book called Paddy man of Karnataka, and he was also not aware of this rice variety.

Recently came in contact with a person called Sathyanarayana Beleri who conserves more than 650 rice seeds. He received Padmashree from Indian Government for his contibution in rice seed conservation. I just casually checked him if he knew Ramachandra Rao, so he says he started rice seed conservation after finding an article about Ramachandra Rao and he asked for rice seeds  from him and he sent some samples of Rajakayama variety. I was happy to hear this since I finally found the rice seed which I was looking for. He sent me also some seeds, I have kept this in refrigerator, will be trying out in next rainy season.