What Is Natueco Farming

The Natueco farming system follows the principles of eco-system networking of nature. It is beyond the broader concepts of organic or natural farming in both philosophy and practice. It offers an alternative to the commercial and heavily chemical techniques of modern farming. Instead, the emphasis is on the simple harvest of sunlight through the critical application of scientific examination, experiments, and methods that are rooted in the neighborhood resources. It depends on developing a thorough understanding of plant physiology, geometry of growth, fertility, and biochemistry.  This can be simply achieved through:

`Demystification of Science'.

Prayog Pariwar has demonstrated that dissemination of relevant and often sophisticated science can be achieved in the local idioms of the common man. This can be very effective in bringing about a `gray matter revolution'. With a new techniracy (=technical literacy) for the management of soil, water, and canopy of leaves, it promises record assured yields with minimal external inputs and optimal harvesting of sunlight.

Understanding Natueco Farming Science

• Natueco Farming methods go beyond natural farming and organic farming.
• In natural farming, farming is done trusting nature through the empirical wisdom of ages. However, Natueco methods emphasize farming by knowing nature more and more through critical scientific inquiries and experiments. It is an ever growing, novel, unique, participatory tryst between man and nature. Moreover, Natueco Farming is no way related to the present commercial techniques of farming.
• It has a new vision of infinite resource potentials in Nature and sunlight and promises plenty for all through harvesting all these resources by increasing the human activity.
• This depends on a critical understanding of greening and recycling of biomass within the neighborhood to enrich the structure and fertility of soil in a calculated way.
• It promises record assured yields in a mathematic precision by understanding plant’s geometry, cycles of growth, and canopy (leaf area) management with little or no external inputs and for optimum harvesting of sunlight.
• It visualizes that in the near future, the present money market system will have to give way to a new eco-economic system of Nature, i.e. energy market system. 

     Natueco Farming Step by Step.

Natueco Farming emphasizes `Neighborhood Resource Enrichment' by `Additive Regeneration' rather than through dependence on external, commercial inputs. The three relevant aspects of Natueco Farming are as below.

                                              1.  SOIL

Enrichment of soil by recycling the biomass and by establishing a proper energy chain.

 2.  ROOTS

 Development and maintenance of white feeder root zones for efficient absorption of nutrients.

3.  CANOPY

             Harvesting the sun through proper canopy management for efficient photosynthesis.

BASIC PRINCIPALS OF NATUECO FARMING.

 [1]  HARVESTING THE SUN.

In all biological processes, energy input is required and solar energy is the only source available. No time and no square foot of sun energy should be lost by not harvesting it biologically. Lost sun energy is lost forever.  Photosynthesis is the main process by which Solar Energy is absorbed. It is of course the objective to obtain a higher degree of photosynthesis. Although genetically photosynthesis efficiency is around 1.5% to 2.5%, we can increase leaf index [area of leaf for every square meter of land] by caring for healthy canopies, use of multiple canopy utilizing direct and filtered sunrays, etc.

[2] 5 STAGES IN A PLANT LIFE.

Every plant goes through five stages in its life: [1] Childhood [2] Puberty [3] Youth [4] Maturity and [5] Old age. These stages are of roughly equal duration and external intervention at specific only to the proper stage is most effective. (e.g. There is no use giving fertilizer dose when the plant has become old and is dying.)  Generally, plants can be classified as having a seasonal, short duration life span [90 to 130 days], medium life span of 4 – 5 years, or perennial long life span. For short duration life span, all 5 stages become very critical. For example, if sumptuous roots are not developed in the first 15-20 days [20%.of lifespan] no amount of external inputs, thereafter will be useful or effective. Leaves and Branches also show these stages in their life cycles. Yellow, old leaves can only fall and cannot be rejuvenated. Old branches will eventually become deadwood.

[3] MEDIUM FOR ROOT ZONE.

Generally, this is soil. However, one can do without it as in the case of hydroponics.

The main purpose of the medium is

[a] To give support to the plant and anchoring it by means of shoot root and feeder roots.

[b] To supply nutrients to the feeder roots. [c] To provide moisture to the plant roots.

[d] To provide good air circulation to the roots.

It is always possible to prepare an ideal soil by human intervention. The soil also supports a whole range of microorganisms up to earthworms. The presence of these microorganisms is gives essential benefits to the plant roots in that they convert minerals found in nature into root-absorbable forms.

[4] PLANTS MANUFACTURE THEIR OWN FOOD

Unlike animals, plants manufacture their own food. By means of photosynthesis, water and carbon dioxide, plants produce sugar: glucose, which is then converted to other forms of sugar, lignin, fats, etc. Plants produce 3 – 4g. of dry mass/ square foot of photosynthesis area / per one sun-day of 8 – 10 hrs.

From this: - [a] 1g. is used in plant metabolism.

                    [b] 1g. is used to build plant body, roots, stem, leaves, etc.

                    [c] 1g. is either stored or used for producing fruits.

It is very useful and instructive to know especially about the timings and places of storage of food/ energy and how to tap them at appropriate time. Without the knowledge of this the enzymes and hormones [Gyberalic acid, Indol acetic acid,] one may end up having plants with luxurious growth but scarce fruiting.

[5] PLANT BIOCHEMISTRY.

As mentioned above hormones are the messenger and enzymes the catalysts for plant metabolism, and their study is very useful for general understanding of plant physiology.

[6] A tree is like a colony of independent branches, which have their own life cycle.

[7] It is possible to create a microclimate within 10 Guntha.

Assured supply of 1000 liters of water per day is a right of every family. With this as the only external input, prosperity can be built from within the neighborhood using the Prayog Pariwar methodology

Natueco Principles of Soil Management.

The first step of Natueco Farming is to develop the Nursery Soil using neighborhood resources. Nursery Soil consists of 50% Biomass and 50% activated mineral topsoil by volume. The Biomass forms the organic part and the topsoil forms the inorganic part of the Nursery Soil. The Nursery soil provides support and delivers water and nutrients to the plant in the most efficient manner.

To obtain high quality nursery soil, it is most important to build its organic part through biomass addition. The well composted organic part of the nursery soil is called HUMUS which contains ligno proteins. It is a black, light, and easily friable material that can be broken into small fragments or crumbs. It has very good water holding capacity twice its own weight. Generally, the weight of such material per liter of its volume in fine crumb from is about 400 grams. It has a peculiar black luster & we can see layers of dead colonies of the micro flora especially in well composted (humified) animal dung.

To prepare nursery soil once in a life time
All these seeds to be mixed together & used to provide for greening & basic nutrition. Use 10 gm of mixed seeds per sq ft. Before sowing keep seeds for 8 hrs in Amrut pani, Mulching of 4” thickness to be provided up to germination.
Grain-Rice, Jowhar, Bajra, Maiz, Wheat
Ceral-Mung, Channa, Muth, Udid
Oil seads - Groundnut, Till, Castor Mustard, Curdi
Spices - Methi, Jira, Rai, Chilly, Mustard
Vegetable, Tomatto, Bringal, Bean, Bitter Gaud
Creeper- Cucumber, Red & Green Gaud, Turi, Galka
Root plants –Turmeric, Ginger, Sweet potato, Tapioca
Fibrous plants –Cotton, Ladyfinger, Ambadi
Flowering plants –Marigold, Mogra, Jhui, Chameli,
Herbal Plants-Tulsi, Satavari, Ardusi, kadukadiatu
Long life trees-Subabul, Neem, Drumstick, Karanj, Mohua, Glericedia
          

Elements in a leaf
Tender leaves- Zinc, phosphate, Boron, Molybdenum
Green matured leaves - Nitrogen, magnesium, Potassium
Dry leaves- Calcium, Silica, Boron, Iron, and Manganese.

Fertility should be enriched by using a variety of seeds from different food groups such as Grains, Pulses, Oil, Fibers, Vegetables, Forest Trees, Roots And Spices. Many of these are available within the neighborhood. In the idiom of Ayurveda, the plant needs the nutrients of all the various six tastes such as bitter, sour, sweet, salty, astringent, spicy. For example, Mahua can provide fat, whereas Takla can provide Nitrogen fixing bacteria. Weeds of different age groups contain different nutrients. Therefore it is essential to sort them by age groups. A newly developing heap should have weeds from all age groups to provide a balanced package of nutrients once and for all.

Percentage of elements in dry weight

Dry weight is a constant weight which remains constant after drying the biomass in the sunlight, In which Carbon 44%, Hydrogen 6%, Oxygen 44%, and Nitrogen 2 to 4% and remaining 2% comes from the soil as 100 elements with miniscule but essential contents, such as Ca. Mg. P. Zn. Cu. Boron, Molybdenum, Etc.

Bacterial[TBC]: 1.1x108

Fungal: 3.2x105

Actinomycetes: 1.2x107

Rhizobial: 8x105

Azotobacteria: 1.1x107

Phospate solublisers: 6x104

Chemical Analysis after Five Month.

Prosumer Society.

In ancient Indian scriptures there is an apt illusion to this concept of Prosumer Society. We find that the scriptures mention four clear categories needed to support a flourishing society.   

1. VIBHU – One Who Possesses Knowledge Through SCIENCE, Through Intuition And Through The Insight Of The Genius.

2. PRABHU – Signifies SOVEREIGNTY In Toto.

3. PARIBHU – Denotes SHARING With The Neighborhood.

4. SWAYAMBHU – Suggests Living Within The Neighborhood Resources Such As Sun, Land, Rain.

Ten Guntha sustaining farming

What do you need to become prosperous

Symbiotically enriching and enhancing the Ecosystem?

                        Calculation of Biomass and Amrut pani for Ten Guntha farming

Ingredients of Amrut Pani

                                                Total Water in first Heaps Making

Scientific reason for Ten Guntha.

1  One man needs 2500 Kilo Cal.

2  Solar energy gives 1250 Kilo Cal per Sq. ft. Per day eight hours.

3  Matured green leaves harvest only 1% of it.

4  So 100 sq. ft. for one meal.

5  We need food as well as some firewood, cloth, oil etc. it comes to 1400 Sq.ft.

6  We live in a family of five members per family so 7000 Sq.ft

7  We also need shelter and water each requires 1000 Sq.ft.

8  Storing place and free place for play 500 Sq.ft. for each Total 10,000.

Basic requirement of Human:

Food consumption should be 2500 calories/day/person. It is expected that a person will get: -

Protein 75gms.  Carbohydrates 300gms. -Fats 75gms. Other 200gms.

(Includes vegetables basically) from diet.

Table of Calorific values & Ingredients:

What we get from 10 Guntha Natueco farming:

Ten Guntha Natueco farming system can fulfill the daily requirement of family.

In addition to above, 5kg. of fuel per day can be an assumed necessity.

Some results obtained by Prayog Pariwar’s ventures are as follows.

The requirement of 5kg of fuel wood per day per family for cooking will be ensured. If we now multiply by a factor 2 to cover other than food expenses, we get our requirement per family of five for one year as under. Cereals approx 2 tons, Oil seeds approx. 350 kg. Pulses approx. 250 kg.12 trees of banana @ 150 banana per tree per year give 1800. 1800 divided by 365 will give 5 banana. Normally for general planning a requirement on a flat basis of 600 gm. per day per person is assumed.

This works out to 0. 600 gm. X 5 x 365 = 1095 kg.  X 2 = 2.19 tones.

Our production will be 1gm.dry weight Per day so seven Guntha will produce 1gm into 7000 Sq.ft. i.e.7 Kg. Per day i.e. 7 x 300 days will produce 2100 Kg. Per annum i.e. three ton approximately per annum which include fresh weight. It shows that 900 Kg. will be surplus. In second and third year plantation will take two to four tier and production will increase to five tons and surplus will be saving.

OUR GOALS

1.      To build proper relationship between man and nature by ‘Demystification of Science.’

2.      To extend eco friendly economical farming system which can fulfill the daily dietary needs of a family.

OBJECTIVE:

1.      Enrichment and enhancement of eco system and prosperity for human beings.

2.      To eradicate malnutrition and unemployment in the society.

 Our Findings

It is Possible To Achieve These Goals By Prayog Pariwar’s New Types of

Co – Evolutionary Venture Networks.

These Networks Help In The Enrichment & Enhancement Of The Neighborhood Natural & Environmental Resources Enlightening & Empowering The Human Gray Matter (Knowledge). Then Each One Can Earn Clear Insight, In Resolving One’s Everyday Problem’s On One’s Own. These Networks Further weave together Environmental & Human Friendliness.

Thus Two Salient Features Of These Findings are:

· 

Human Resource Enlightenment & Empowerment.

Neighborhood Natural & Ecological Resource Enrichment  & Enhancement

Providing nutrition to all the family.

A detail project is explained along with Gangama Mandal. This program involved only  Rs.1000/-per family to provide full nutrition to the family. This Gangama Mandal will save Rs.10000/- per year as they will consume from this Mandal itself.

GANGAMA MANDAL.

What can I have?

ROOTS                       :-   Elephant Foot, Red potato, Onion, Garlic, Ginger, Turmeric.

JUICY                          :-  Sugarcane, Fashion Fruit.

CEREALS                   :-  Corn.

FRUITS                       :-  Banana, Papaya, Pineapple.

CREEPERS               :- Cucumber, Sweet Potato, Dudhi, Luffa, Pumpkins, Bitter Gourd.        

HERBAL                    :-   Fennel, Adhatoda, Ambadi, Abe Verdi, Coriander, Lemon Grass, Vitiver,      

   Curry leaves, Asparaguses, Mint. Red and White Gunj, All spices, Brahmi,

   Aloe Vera, Kadu Kariyatu, Ova,

VEGETABLES            :- Tomato, Brinjal, Carrot, Lady's finger, Cabbage, Chili, Spinach.

PULSES                      :- Pigeon pea, Chickpea, Green grain, Beans.

FLOWERS                 :- Hibiscus, Jasmine, Marry gold, Rose. Crystal cut Mogra

What is the concept?

Direct nutrition for children, Women and all the family by raw eating, with minimum starter cost or input and minimum watering (using as possible as waste water of shower and wash)

Gangama Mandal is composed of 7 parts: one for each day. When the family goes to the bath, they can plant seeds, watering or harvesting.

It is ten meter Diameter having three parts.

First part is of two meter diameter from the center on the radius of the circle; we can plant

1. Papaya 4, 2.Banana 4, 3.Corn 16, 4.Pinepal 8, 5.Sweet Potato, 6.Landi Paper

Second Circle, with seven equal partition will be planted with crops which consumed daily as well as produce also come in repetition by four to seven days.

Like Dhania, Methi, Palak, Cucumber, Phudina, Kadi Pata, Tulas, Gavti Cha, Tomato, Brinjal,

Chili, etc.

Outer circle will be planted with the crop which comes once and to be harvested or which take long time to yield, like Sugarcane, Red bit, All herbal plants required to maintain the health of the family, about fifteen of such, Dudhi,Turia, Galka, Caret, Chauli, Tur, Ground Nut, etc.

The aim is that the family will have all necessary nutrition and children can enjoy raw diet in absence of mother while she goes for work in the field.

A quantitative summary of the basic principles of Natueco Farming are as below.

•Converting the sunlight accumulate per sq. ft. per day produces 3 to 4 Grams of dry weight.

•Four liters nursery soil is required to support each square foot of canopy of trees that can capture the sunlight.

•The nursery soil consists 50% well recomposed biomass and 50% activated mineral topsoil by volume

•In nursery soil, one litre of water is sufficient per sq. ft. for 10 days.

•To supply the adequate minerals, 25 gms. ash has to be provided per sq.ft per 100 days.

•We can create the required microclimate for a particular crop in any area.

•One cubic meter of water can produce five kg. Of dry weight.

•One liter of rain water come from sea water through evaporation making cloud and sending back as rain water at the coast of  800 Kilo calories which is equivalent to One unit of electricity.

•For 1 kg. Of Grape 50lt. Of water is required. So One cubic meter  of water can produce 20 kg. of grape as three time of water is required and having 90% of water like watermelon can produce 50 kg.

•One kg. Of biomass can produce one unit of electricity.

•One lt. Of water can produce30gm. of dry biomass per s.q. in ten Days

•So to maintain the equality we must exchange in terms of energy to energy instead of in terms of Money.

Only 3 to 4 gms. Of dry matter (glucose) can be produced per one Sq. foot of area per day by mature green canopy of leaves, which is equivalent to only 12 to 16 k. cal. Of energy (1 gm. Of dry matter = 4 k.cal.)

To produce this optimum dry matter of 3 to 4 gms. from the sun light falling on one Sq. foot of area, the green canopy area needed by plants is to 5 to 10 times this area based on the leaf index number of the plant/crop. For instance a ground nut plant requires 2.5 Sq. ft. of total leaf area and a banana plant requires 125 Sq. ft of leaf area to produce 3 to 4 gms. Of dry matter (glucose) per Sq.ft of area of land they occupy.

IMPORTANCE OF LEAF (CANOPY) AREA.

0.

nThere should be simultaneous matching growth of storage organs of the plant at the time when the  optimum photosynthesis is taking place in the matured leaves.The storage organs vary from crop to crop.

nFurther out of 3 to 4 gms. of dry matter (sugar) produced per day per sq. foot, distribution of sugar takes place for fruits, stem, branches, leaves, wood, pith, bark etc. For instance, out of every 3 gms. of sugar produced by a grape plant, only one gram of sugar goes for fruits, one gram for stem, branches and leaves and the remaining one gram for metabolism.

Water Management.

nWater is needed by plants to take nutrients from soil. They take these nutrients by ionic exchange. Ionic exchange takes place between the roots and soil by give and take method (plants give one hydrogen ion to soil and then soil exchanges one Potash/any nutrient ion to the plant depending on the valency of the ion) For this only a very thin film of water is needed in the soil particles near the roots.

nWater is also needed to build up dry matter as it constitutes 60% of the total dry matter. Thus any crop standing on one Guntha (I.e. 1089 sq.ft.) and harvesting optimum dry matter per day (I.e. 4 gms) will need about 2.4 ltrs. of water per day.

Different grade of Biomass

We call  best grade the Grade “A” humus made from the fibrous organic part. 

The Grade “B” material is good and can be easily broken in crumbs but it does not have the luster & lightness of “A” grade.

Grade “C” or average ligno protein material can absorb and hold water but it is not easy to break into crumbs. 

Grade “D” is yellow & waxy in color. The Grade “E” is the worst type that has kept its polish intact & cannot hold water even after soaking for one night. It needs trampling and beating after wetting four or five times & only then it changes to Grade “D”. 

In summary, Nursery soil should consist of Grade “A” Biomass 50% by volume.

The cellulose and lignin parts of the plants on decomposition yields humus and ligno-proteins. So returning these parts of the plants to the soil in open pits or heaps or bundles or open trenches, aerobic decomposition in situ will go on adding these components that give our soil the form and structure needed for lush, luxuriant growth of roots with well developed root mat, on which the health of plant depends.

Therefore, if farmer understands this knowledge of canopy index and dry matter production through his own experimentation, his entire approach of farming changes from routine farming to scientific farming with mathematical precision.

Please answer the following question from your own understanding. 

1. Are you aware of dry weight? What is it? How plants are managing from the nature?

Also write percentages of elements, like Oxygen, Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and total elements from the soil in dry weight constitution of the plant.

2. In Nature plants develop every thing itself for their food chain except water then

why we provide chemicals and fertilizer even organic manure? Please explain your   view. 

3. What is main resource of storage of water on earth after the Sea?

4. What is % of carbon is necessary to hold the due from the Nature? How to measure  it?

5. If we are saying soil has life, can we do paddy farming with storing the water in the

    field, for two to three months? Is it necessary for the paddy crop?                                              

6. Please explain system of irrigation, when, where, how much to be given?

7. Explain the importance of soil’s Ph, CN ratio, with reference to the growth and yield

    and system of changing and maintain the same.

8. Is any ready compose purchase from the market will be use full to the farmer?

    Explain   the importance of the decomposing biomass at the feeder root zone?

9. Explain relationship of nursery soil, roots growth with the canopy and role of  pruning for the same.

10.  Explain difference between existing all the methodology, technology and  

    Philosophy of farming with Natueco Science. Also add your opinion on this science.

                          DECLINE OF MINERAL CONTENT IN SOME VEGETABLES, 1914-1992

                                                       (PER 100 GRAMS)

Source: The Healing Power of Minerals by Paul Bergner, Prima Publishing 1997

As one can observe from these figures we are experiencing a dramatic loss in our essential and vital nutrients which keep the population healthy.  This loss arises from the erosion and mineral loss inherent in year after year of tilling and monoculture.  It is imperative that we implement techniques to revitalize or soil and plants and thereby our own health.

Contact for more information:-

Dipak Suchade

MALPANI TRUST,

Krushi Tirth,

“SHARAN” 

Farm and Res. At. Bajwada, Post. Nemawar, Tal. Khategaon, Dist. Dewas, MP.455339

Phone;-  Mobile:- 09329570960

Farm:- 09302271797

E-mail:- deepaksuchde@gmail.com

Websites: - www.prayogpariwar.net

www.goodnewsindia.com

www.nandita-shah.net

www.sharan-india.org