ZBNF - Basic Details -Work In Progress

In our Agriculture for Everybody blog series, we are going to see Subhash Palekar's SPNF/ZBNF.

Here we are going to see the basic details and not the entire models as they are well covered in his books and seminar.


Basic Information

• One Desi Cow is sufficient for 30 acres of land.
• Carbon & Nitrogen (C:N) in 10:1 ratio is required for humus creation.
• Top soil 4.5-6 inches /10-15 cms has humus. So, only the top soil of about 10 cms to be harrowed or cultivated.
• High humus can be created by cutting down the crops after seed maturation.

Cultivation

• 200 to 400 Kg Ghanjiwamitra per acre to be applied on the soil per year.
• Last cultivation to be done by shallow harrowing operation so that Ghanjiwamitra mixes well in the soil.
• Cultivate the land very well and no deep ploughing is necessary.

Trenches

• Trenches to be dug against the slope.  If there is no visible slope, the trenches can be dug in any direction.
• The size of the trenches varies according to the model implemented.
• (eg., 36 X 36 model requires 2.5-3 ft wide X 1.5-2 ft deep)
• Dig "V" shape trenches.
• Dugout soil of the trenches to be placed on either side of the trenches.
• Alternate trenches to be dug.
• Mulching to be done in the trenches as and when the harvest of the crop is completed.

Irrigation

• Irrigate in alternate trenches in alternate times.
• Pour 200-400 Litres per acre Jiwamitra in the irrigation water.
• In rainy season, one cup of Jiwamitra to be poured in between the two plants.

Mulching 

• All intercrops supply regular straw material though out the year to be placed in the trenches.
• After harvest of Drumstick pods, leaves to be used as mulching.
• Straw mulching to be placed in the trenches before monsoon starts.
• 200-400 Litres per acre to be poured on the straw mulch after 3:00 pm for better results.
• Both monocot & dicot to be used as mulching (2/3rd dicot legumes and 1/3 rd monocot)
• Not more than 6 inches of straw mulching to be applied on the soil.
• Straw mulching thickness should be 12 fingers (22 cms).
• Sugarcane trash of 6 tons per hectare can be applied.  3 tons for 2 times/year.
• Annual grasses are a necessity in fruit trees or sugarcane crops as the Mycorrhiza are available in the roots of the grasses.
• In newly planted fruit trees, cut the grass at 20 cms height and mulch.
• Perennial grasses to be removed entirely.  Straw mulching reduces the growth of perennial grasses.

Pesticides

• If there is existence of eggs of insects on the leaves, immediately spray the pesticides.
• Neem Paste to be applied on the surface of the stem of fruits trees (cashewnut, coffee, cocoa, coconut etc) three times a year.
• Before monsoon start i.e. in the last week of May.
• After South West monsoon returned back i.e. last week of Oct.
• After North East monsoon returned back i.e. in Jan.

Intercrop

1. After harvesting of pods & fruits of creeper vegetables, pull the creeper plants into the trenches as act as mulch.
2. Spread 100 kg GJ on both the bank sides of the trenches.
3. Dibble winter pulses & winter creeper vegetables.
4. Repeat Step No.1.
5. Dibble summer pulses & summer creeper vegetables.
6. Repeat Step No.1.
7. Spread 200 kg GJ on both the bank sides of the trenches.
8. Dibble rainy pulses & rainy creeper vegetables.
9. Repeat this process every year.

Weeds

• First 3 months of planting, the weeds have to be uprooted.
• After 3 months of planting, the weeds to be cut down (3 inches from the soil).
• Vacant belts to be harrowed twice a month.