Soil physico-chemical properties and microbial dynamics under natural farming inputs

Abstract

Soil health is fundamental for sustaining agricultural productivity and maintaining ecological balance. The increasing environmental concerns associated with intensive agricultural practices have encouraged the exploration of alternative farming systems that promote soil health and ecological sustainability. Natural farming is one such approach which emphasizes the use of locally prepared biological inputs to enhance soil fertility while minimizing reliance on synthetic fertilizers. The present study was conducted during 2023 cropping season at the Subhash Palekar Natural Farming (SPNF) research farm of Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP), to evaluate the effect of natural farming formulations on soil physiochemical and microbial properties. The experiment consisted of twelve treatment combinations involving three levels of ghanjeevamrit (0, 1.0, 1.5 t/ha) and four concentrations of jeevamrit spray (0, 10, 15 and 20%), arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and microbial populations were also analyzed. The results indicated that G2J2 and G2J3 showed relatively better performance in improving nutrient availability and microbial counts, this showed that natural farming inputs improved soil fertility and microbial activity compared to the control.