For season 2 (Sep-Oct to Dec-Jan) also, I am going for tilled organic farming since one area of the farm. Doing no-till farming for this area is not possible since there is heavy grass in the area. In my observation, if there is already grass established, there is no way you can establish another grain crop which is also a grass variety. So I am planning to use cow dung and grass grown in that area as manure and doing rice.
I tilled the land on Sept 14 after flooding the area with water. The tiller was used for around 3 hours and he charged me 700/- for this. Since there was lot of grass, it took this much time. I put Vysakh (upland rice) in one part of the field after draining water from this on 21-Sept. I had put the seeds in water and removed all the floating seeds to get the heavy seeds so that seedlings will be stronger.
Field after preparation.
Rice seedlings coming out.
I tilled the land on Sept 14 after flooding the area with water. The tiller was used for around 3 hours and he charged me 700/- for this. Since there was lot of grass, it took this much time. I put Vysakh (upland rice) in one part of the field after draining water from this on 21-Sept. I had put the seeds in water and removed all the floating seeds to get the heavy seeds so that seedlings will be stronger.
Field after preparation.
Rice seedlings coming out.
October 31,2013
Initially after transplanting seedlings were having a yellowish colour, now they are turning more green. Twice a week, field is flooded now.
November 13,2013
In some area, plants are little weak. In one area where I had dumped cowdung in the last season, plants are more taller
December 16,2013
flowering started ..it hasn't reached full height (4 feet) as earlier.
Felt extremely happy about getting a harvest - Peacocks didn't take much..and insects were less with Vysakh
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| Harvest completed on 18th Jan 2014 - Got around 40Kgs of paddy..Paddy was boiled and dried for 3 days and took to a rice mill. Got around 23Kgs of rice, it cooks well and very tasty, even children liked it much |
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| Straw was put back after broadcasting cowpea |
3 comments:
A little sad to see you giving up on no till for paddy, but I appreciate your effort on the field and on the blog as well.
I am starting my journey with no till for paddy. Didn't Alfa Alfa work well as cover crop? In my area (North konkan) in the neighboring paddy fields that aren't used for several years now, there is a low growing weed that survives flooding. It has taken over the entire fields because the fields still flood very well during monsoon. I am hoping to using it this monsoon. Will share pics later.
A little sad to see you giving up on no till for paddy, but I appreciate your effort on the field and on the blog as well.
I am starting my journey with no till for paddy. Didn't Alfa Alfa work well as cover crop? In my area (North konkan) in the neighboring paddy fields that aren't used for several years now, there is a low growing weed that survives flooding. It has taken over the entire fields because the fields still flood very well during monsoon. I am hoping to using it this monsoon. Will share pics later.
Thanks Shreesh....All the best with your no-till paddy. I haven't completely gave up no-till paddy,still looking for a suitable cover crop and experience from all the failed experiments is pushing me to try it again. Also recently discovered the blog of Eric Koperek https://agriculturesolutions.wordpress.com/, and he says no-till can easily work.
Would love to see some picture of the cover crop you are mentioning.
Regards,
Nandan
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