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.