VKS Natural Farms

Rhodes grass ( Chloris gayana L.)  usually grows as a stoloniferous perennial weed along the ridges and borders of agricultural fields. It grows in a wide range of soils from clays to sandy loams (pH range: 5.0-8.3), withstands drought by drawing moisture from 4.25 m depth, tolerates salty water, and quickly grows in soils rich in phosphorus with enhanced nitrogen availability facilitated by the growth of legumes. The Rhodes grass is the best host of mycorrhizal fungi that promotes the growth and yield of several crops by enhancing phosphorus availability. The Rhodes grass is low in oxalate and the best food source for horses and other animals. It can be grown using stolons or seeds.  Growing Rhodes grass in agricultural fields is a natural way of promoting the growth of crops and vegetables. Realising the benefits of Rhodes grass, we have left a naturally grown patch on our farm. This grass naturally hosts mycorrhizal fungi in its rhiz...

Sustainable agriculture implies maintaining soil fertility by allowing natural processes to prevail on the farm. Artificial agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides must get withdrawn. Thus, sustainable agriculture necessitates the restoration of forests destroyed by humanity for agricultural practices. In those restored forests, we should be able to grow our fruits and vegetables. Thus, sustainable agriculture essentially requires the establishment of agroforests or food forests. The great benefit of agroforests is that all the ecosystem services are taken care of by nature. For example, cover crops retain soil moisture, and the growth of multiple plant species enhances soil microbial diversity, enhancing nutrient uptake and preventing pathogens' growth. Plant diversity hosts more insects and bees, which enhances pollination. The presence of multiple plant species promotes a healthy ecosystem whereby species int...

Our transition to natural farming is motivated by the realisation that the application of fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides has further worsened soil health. As a result, we are unable to grow plants and vegetables. The situation has worsened due to the limited quantity of available groundwater from our farm's dug well. To restore agriculture and regain income, we engaged in an amla plantation. However, a disease affected those plants that turned the leaves into a pale colour and finally shut off the plant. The disease has spread to several plants within a week time. The nursery that supplied the amla plant has advised me to spray pesticides immediately to manage the situation. At that time, I felt that the application of pesticides is an addictive practice; there shall be no end to that. Then I resorted to the foliar application of micronutrients that slowly brought back the health of the amla plants. If the plant has a sufficient n...