What Is Natueco Farming ?

Introduction

Natueco farming follows the principles of eco-system networking of nature in our farming system. It is different from organic or natural farming both in philosophy and practice. It offers an alternative to the commercial, heavily chemical's techniques of farming. It emphasizes harvesting the sun through a critical application of scientific inquiries & experiments that are rooted in the neighborhood resources. It depends on developing a thorough understanding of plant physiology, plant geometry of growth, plant fertility and plant biochemistry. This is achieved by a process called `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

Understanding Natueco Science

1. Natueco Farming is not Natural Farming or Organic farming
2. In natural farming, farming is done trusting nature through the empirical wisdom of ages.
3. In Natueco Farming on the other hand, we do farming by knowing nature more more and more and better 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.
4. It has a new vision of infinite resource potentials in Nature and sunlight and promises plenty for all through harvesting al these resources by increasing the human activity.This depends on critical understanding of greening and recycling of biomass within the neighbor hood to enrich the structure and fertility of soil in a calculated way.
5. It promises record assured yields in a mathematic precision by understanding plant's geometry and cycles of growth, canopy (leaf area) management with least external inputs and for optimum harvesting of sunlight.
6. It visualizes that in the near future the present money market system will have to give way to new energy equivalence eco-economic system of Nature i.e. energy market system.

BASIC PRINCIPALS OF NATUECO FARMING.

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 therefore objective to obtain higher photosynthesis degree. Although genetically photosynthesis efficiency is around 1 .1/2 percentage to 2.1/2%, we can increase leaf index [area of leaf for every square meter of land], use of multiple canopy utilizing direct and filtered sunrays etc.

[2] FIVE 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 proper stage only 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 seasonal short duration life span [90 to 130 days], Medium life span of 4 – 5 years and perennials or 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 15to20 days [20%.of lifespan] no amount of external inputs, thereafter will be useful/effective.
Leaves and Branches also show these stages in their life cycles. Yellow old leaves can only fall they cannot be rejuvenated. In addition, old branches become deadwood eventually.

[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 this microorganism is so very beneficial 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 are then converted to other forms of sugar, lignin, fats etc. Plants produce 3 – 4 Gms. of dry mass/ square foot of photosynthesis area / per one sun-day of 8 – 10 hrs / day.
From this: - [a] 1 gm is used in plant metabolism.
[b] 1gm is used to build plant body, roots, stem, leaves etc.
[c] 1 gm is either stored or is 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 in 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 for 10 Guntha.

A quantitative summary of the basic principles of Natueco Farming.

A quantitative summary of the basic principles of Natueco Farming.

Converting the sunlight incident per sq.ft. per day produces 3 to 4 Grams of dry weight.
Four liter nursery soil is required to support per sq. 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 liter 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.

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 root zones for efficient absorption of nutrients.
3. CANOPY
Harvesting the sun through proper canopy management for efficient photosynthesis.

Ten Guntha sustaining farming

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.
We live in a family of five members per family so 7000 Sq.ft
6 We also need shelter and water each requires 1000 Sq.ft.
7 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.

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 oil for transportation, surplus vegetable for cash,
The requirement of 5kg of fuel wood per day per family for cooking will be ensured. If we now multiply bye 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.7Kg. 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.

Natueco Principles of Soil Management.

Natueco Principles of Soil Management.
1. The first step of Natueco Farming is to develop the Nursery Soil using the neighborhood resources. Nursery Soil consists of 50% Biomass and 50% activated mineral topsoil by volume. 2. The Biomass forms the organic part and the topsoil forms the inorganic part of the Nursery Soil.
3. The Nursery soil provides support and delivers water and nutrients to the plant in the most efficient manner.
4. 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 free able material that can be broken into small fragments or crumbs. It has very good water holding capacity twice its own weight.
5. 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.
6. The well composted organic part of the nursery soil is called HUMUS which contains ligno proteins. It is a black, light, and easily free able 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.
7. We call this best grade the Grade “A” humus made from the fibrous organic part.
8. The Grade “B” material is good and can be easily broken in crumbs but it does not have the luster & lightness of “A” grade.
9. Grade “C” or average ligno protein material can absorb and hold water but it is not easy to break into crumbs.
10. 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

Plant Nutrition Theory

Plant Nutrition Theory
Here we will cover some basics of Plant Nutrition Theory and Natueco science

1. We all know that plants extract nutrients from soil by it’s white roots. We help the plants to develop the feeder roots by providing well structured nursery soil which is rich in microbes and nutrients. We increase the soil nutrients with ash which is well decomposed black biomass combination of green leaves (both tender and mature) and plants at the flowering stage. Nutrition provides life to soil, fibrous material provides structure to the soil.


2. To fulfill the need of nutrients add 25g of ash at the active feeder roots area of a plant every 100 days. The science behind this is: whatever nutrients are taken by the plant from the soil are replenished by burning wood and providing that ash to the soil. It can be studied by burning the different parts of a plant that has grown for 3 months.


3. A plant uses water for its intake of nutrients from the soil. This process takes place by ion exchange. Water becomes a medium between the roots and the soil. Plants give an atom of hydrogen to the soil and take Potash and other nutrients inside. So a thin medium of water is necessary in between the roots and the soil.


4. Cellulose and fiber get converted into compost and takes the form of humus. Thus we provide structure to roots for their development and health to the plants. Amrutjal and tender leaves can increase life (microbes) in the soil. Ash can add 100 nutrients to the soil. To fulfill the need of basic nutrients and microbes 25 gm ash is required per square foot of soil every 100 days.


5. Five kg plant dry weight can be formed with 1000 litres water. That means with 1 litre of water per square foot, 30-gram plant dry weight can be formed in 10 days. On the other hand 3 to 4 grams dry weight (glucose) per square foot per day can be developed by a matured green leaf. This dry weight is equivalent to 12 to 16 kilo calories. This means 1 gram of dry weight is equal to 4 kilo calories.


6. It takes 800 kilo calories of energy to create a single litre of rain water (accounting for evaporation of seawater, cloud formation and rain fall) and eight hundred kilo calories is equal to 1 unit of electricity. It means 1 unit of electricity can be developed by 1 kg of dry biomass.