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.