Alley cropping using Mexican Sunflower

Trying out alley cropping using mexican sunflower in one part of the farm which was not used at all. Recently a big tree was cut from here and hence has good sunlight in this area. Has to have a clear plan of when to cut and mulch the mexican sunflower and when to grow the crops. Ideally with rain, we should be able to plant and before that cut mulch should be decomposed to some state so that land is fertile, timing has to be worked out.

Ash Gourd

Ash gourd is a crop which climbs easily to terrace from ground and produce lots of vegetables.

Applied home made compost couple of times and cowdung slurry once and watered it regularly in the summer

Rice farming monsoon season

This year, got good summer rains but monsoon got delayed badly. Some good rains are coming as of June 28th, but only drizzling and one or two good rains before this.

29th May

29th May, field was tilled with rotovator, it took usual 2 hours and 2500/ charged for that, but he comes promptly. 

June 28th

On June 28th started sowing seeds in line using the new row marker tool. It has been a month since the field was tilled, but no single grass was there in the field because of lack of rain. When the irrigation water was coming and there were signs of monsoon starting, thought of sowing seeds. Even if the rain is delayed, irrigation water will make the field wet enough for the seeds to germinate. 

Had 2 para (16Kg) of seeds which was presoaked in cowdung water for 12 hours and used for sowing. The seed type if kunjukunju and it was from last monsoon season harvest.

It took 3 ladies and 1 man two days to complete the sowing. On the 1st day around 75% was done and hence probably 4 ladies and 1 man on a single day can complete the sowing. Initially all the ladies were sowing seeds and covering it with soil, this looked to be inefficient and hence asked two of them to put seeds and one to keep covering it with soil. Covering seeds with soil was done using Fokin's hoe. Row marker accumulate the dried grass and hence gets clogged and does not move. One suggestion is to raise the height of the marker and also pointed edge has to become more horizontal.

07-July-2022

germination was good, in some places gaps are there, it has to be filled.

16-July-22

Rain have picked up speed and continuous rains now. First time seeing the field getting full with rain water. First weeding was done, 4 ladies on first day and 5 ladies on 2nd day.

Weeds were small so it is not pulling, they just puddle with their hand and legs so that it will be uprooted and then they will push it to mud. Also applied compost made in the farm.

26-July-22

There was no rain for 10 days, got irrigation water today

02-Aug-22

Rain started again and floods in some areas

24-August-22

07-Sept-22

Could see one or two plants flowered

11-Sept-22

Did a quick weeding, using 2 ladies on first day and 3 ladies on 2nd day. It looks to be more efficient than using 5 ladies on a single day

08-October-2022

Getting ready for harvest...at this stage, peacock is a major threat...to be controlled using some glitter paper scare or some such

14-October-22

Harvest is in progress..First day with two ladies and male farm helper. Harvest was completed on next day, total labor was 5 ladies and 1 man, may be with 4 ladies it can be completed. Total harvest is 15 para (around 150Kgs) of paddy. This time, since there was water shortage at the flowering stage, lots of grain didn't form. 

Taro planted in summer

This time taro seeds were planted at the time of harvest itself and mulched with leaves. Even though it took some time to germinate after the rains, all came up nicely. It is always safe to put 2 seeds in one place, so that at least one will come up. Thick mulch of leaves help, and coconut leaves avoid chicken scratching that area.

12-July-22

with rain, they are growing well..coconut leaves as a mulch after planting the seeds do well, since it covers the soil well and chickens won't be able to scratch the soil underneath and taro would make space and come out nicely

Trial of Attapadi upland rice varieties

I had collected two upland varieties from tribal area Attapadi. These are being tried in small areas near home. Seeds were soaked in water for 12 hours and sown in soil by 1st week of may, when there was enough rain.

4 month old variety

Left side is Chettadi and right side is 4 months old

6 months old variety

on the extream right is the 6 months old variety

Mexican sunflower for more mulch

I have been growing mexican sunflower from last year. It is easy to grow, just put the sticks in rainy season, it will start growing in a week's time. Number of plants which I loose is also minimal. It grows quite fast, especially after cutting, it has to be frequently cut since other wise it will snap and fall down.

I also plant them around newly planted saplings so that saplings can be easily identified even after grass takes over

 22-Sept-22

Mexican sunflower is growing very well, mulch gets decomposed very fast. Earlier I used to cut very often, but it looks like, should give it some time to grow really well, and then cut and mulch. Cutting schedule has to be worked out, may be twice in an year. One thing I learnt, frequent cutting disturbs them, may be first allow them to grow really well and establish then cut only twice an year or so, may be this has to be tuned further.

03-December-2022

The above was planted at the starting of the rainy season, it grew very well and is cut for mulching. One had flowered, just retained it since flowers are beautiful to see.

Cut and mulched around coconut trees..

Happy hill rice from USDA GRIN

While searching for Happy Hill rice, I had come across United States Department of Agriculture Germplasm Resources Information Network (USDA GRIN) and there I could see that, they keep Happy Hill rice seeds and distribute to people who are interested. They keep germ plasm from different parts of world. I think, it was suggested by some one in permies.com. I ordered it and they said, it would be sent, but in the middle of Corona pandemic, nothing happened. I made request for a second time and they asked me to send seed import license to send seeds. Then I asked them if they can send it to my friend in California and they readily agreed for it.

They sent 10gm seeds of Happy Hill 1 and Happy Hill 2 and my friend in California gave it to my brother-in-law in Boston and they carried it to India when they travelled, there was no issues in bringing it. I kept it in refrigerator so that it could be sown in rainy season. I will be sowing it in a week's time.