Natural Farming: A Holistic Approach to Agriculture and Resource Management.
Back in 2021, when I started natural farming, we grew Sesbania bispinosa on our land—not to increase water-holding capacity, but to enrich the debilitated soil. Despite advice from others, I allowed the plant to fully mature. After its manual removal, we didn’t plow the land; instead, we just irrigated it. When I stepped into the field, my leg sank deep into the soil for about a foot. That’s when I realized the power of the rhizosphere. I then began growing Sesbania grandiflora, which I believed should remain permanent, regardless of the crops I grow. This is the situation with our coconut and amla farm. In another agricultural field, I allowed the growth of grasses (no cover crops here) and conducted a trial run growing turmeric. The turmeric grew well (with each plant spaced three feet apart), and our cows continue to graze on the grasses that exist between the turmeric. A surprising realization struck me about a month ago when I started to irrigate this piece of land, as the long-la...