I am reading Vision of Natural farming by Bharat Mansata about Bhaskar Save's way of farming. Mulching method followed by Bhaskar Save..
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Weeds cut from a plot of 100 sq.ft will never provide a thick enough layer to fully cover entire 100 sq. ft. It may be adequate for 40 sq. ft or for 25 sq ft or perhaps just 10 sq.ft, depending on density of weed growth.If sunlight penetrates through a layer of mulch that is too thin (less than 3 inches), weeds may grow back vigorously again.More over, with light mulching, cut weeds will not come in close, direct contact with the soil, to enable the soil organisms to do their work of decomposition.In such condition weeds will just dry up in air,without getting integrated in the soil as humus (My opinion about this statement is that it will happen, but may take more time??)
Thus, if 25 sqft is the area that can be adequately mulched, at least 3 to 4 inches thick, with the weeds from 100 sqft that is what the farmer should stick to, unless additional biomass can be obtained from an external source.The fresh weed growth from balance 75 sqft would again need to be mulched on a quarter of that area.....
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This made sense to me, since in my paddy field the mulching was not sufficient and weeds growth were more. If I had focussed on a smaller area from grass from other areas and slowly convert the whole area, it would have been much better.
Recently I made some raised beds and kept on mulching them with weeds from nearby places, walkways and they are building up nicely. If everything goes well, I may plant paddy on these raised beds.
**** Begin ****
Weeds cut from a plot of 100 sq.ft will never provide a thick enough layer to fully cover entire 100 sq. ft. It may be adequate for 40 sq. ft or for 25 sq ft or perhaps just 10 sq.ft, depending on density of weed growth.If sunlight penetrates through a layer of mulch that is too thin (less than 3 inches), weeds may grow back vigorously again.More over, with light mulching, cut weeds will not come in close, direct contact with the soil, to enable the soil organisms to do their work of decomposition.In such condition weeds will just dry up in air,without getting integrated in the soil as humus (My opinion about this statement is that it will happen, but may take more time??)
Thus, if 25 sqft is the area that can be adequately mulched, at least 3 to 4 inches thick, with the weeds from 100 sqft that is what the farmer should stick to, unless additional biomass can be obtained from an external source.The fresh weed growth from balance 75 sqft would again need to be mulched on a quarter of that area.....
********* end **********
This made sense to me, since in my paddy field the mulching was not sufficient and weeds growth were more. If I had focussed on a smaller area from grass from other areas and slowly convert the whole area, it would have been much better.
Recently I made some raised beds and kept on mulching them with weeds from nearby places, walkways and they are building up nicely. If everything goes well, I may plant paddy on these raised beds.
5 comments:
I am planning to buy the book "The Vision of Natural Farming" by Bharat Mansata. I want to know whether the book covers the implementation details like farm design, spacing between crops etc.
Do you think its worth it?
It gives some implementation details, not very exhaustive details....It is a good reading...
Farm design details are there in Subash Palekar's books
Regards,
Nandan
I did buy the book "The Vision of Natural Farming" but read you comment only now. Anyway, just want to know whether the book "The Way to Health, Wealth & Happiness" by Ashok Sanghavi explains the implementation details related to Baskar Save.
I am trying to get hold of this book but unfortunately not able to get it.
Do you follow Bhaskar Save's method? I have read the book "The Way to Health, Wealth & Happiness" by Ashok Sanghavi but I have few queries related to it.
Following is the essence of the practice http://agricultureforeverybody.blogspot.in/2017/07/an-introduction-to-baskar-saves.html
Hi Padmanabhan,
I follow a mix of methods. Fukuoka, Subash Palekar, Bhaskar Save, basically takes best and feasible methods for me from all.
Just had a look at your blog, good work, keep it up.
Let me know what are your questions, will try to answer it to best of my knowledge.
Regards,
Nandan
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