Report No : 5

Abstract of the report by
Dr. Nandini,
Reader and Principal Investigator,
Dept. of Environmental Science, Bangalore University

Mr. Kailash Murthy is practicing zeroinput natural farming since 20 years in his 6.5 acres is successfully harvesting a variety of crops utilizing only water and sunlight which are the inexhaustible natural resources. Virtually no tillage, no chemical or organic fertilizers, no pesticides and weedcides are used in his cultivation. The ground covered with numerous herbaccous weeds which act as natural mulch to prevent soil erosion. The weeds and fallen leaves are degraded by soil organisam like bacteria, fungi, microarthopods, beetles, earthworms transforming the biomass in to rich humus.

Analysis of soil samples from his land showed that the soil is fusile having high NPK content besides many micronutrients like nickel, zinc, iron, copper, magnesium in adequate quantity.

More than 300 species of plant (crop & weeds) in adequate quantity large no. of beetles butterflies earthworms, reptiles, birs, smell, mammals are recoreded in his land. This is an indication of rich biodiversity. The farm resembles a miniature forest in the middle of a dry terrain. Interaction between plant and plants, plants and microorganisms, plants and animals making the farm of self sustaining forest secosystem due to natural farming.

More than Three thousand horticulture trees and timber trees in his farm check the rain drops directly falling in soil preventing soil erosion which is main cause for loss of fertile top soil. Root system of these trees is assisting percolation of rain water deep in the underground acquifer.

Natural farm is a very efficient carbon dioxide sinks as sequestration of carbon dioxide occur by the perennial crop plants. According to our estimate 1085 tonnes of carbon is sequested in his farm. This is a very positive factor because the major green house gas causing global warminig is utilised in the natural form converting it into valuable timber.

If every farmer changes his land into natural farm many environmental problems can be mitigated. Mainly global warming, desertification, climate change can be preventes by natural farming besides getting good healthy crops without affecting the economy of the farmers conservation soil, water biodiversity is automatically taken care under natural farming.