Let us talk soil…

Soil is the foundation of agriculture, in the sense that it supports the plants for their growth and development, by providing them with the part of the food that they need. Besides, the soil does other functions too, like filtering of water, storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, and preserving cultural heritage.

(And you might say that this we already know and .. well, it is a revision, at least for me)!

Different types of soils have different properties like texture, pH values, structure, composition, organic matter, minerals etc. Hence, the soil is one of the ingredients which decides the crops to be cultivated. Sandy soils, for example, would not hold much water, and are low in nutrients. On the other side, clay soils do not support aeration. Loamy soils have the combination of properties and hence are considered to be the best.

SOIL SUPPORT STHE EARTH ECO-SYSTEM

Well, this function of the soil tends to be forgotten, at times. Soil helps in regulating the discharge of excess rain water and hence prevents soil erosion and floods. It also protects ground water quality, to an extent. Soil can store large amount of carbon and helps mitigate climate change, to an extent, through carbon sequestering.

Soil is also a host to vast variety of organisms, that includes Algae, fungi, bacteria, worms, spiders, nematodes, etc.

However, soil has come under threat from various sources, and human is the root cause of all these; land degradation, urbanization, climate change, unsustainable agriculture practices, etc. Various factors for land quality degradation are salinization, erosion, acidification, contamination, loss of biodiversity etc.

• There are several ways we can try to increase the quality of soil, viz,
• Adding organic matter to the soil, such as compost, manure etc.
• Avoiding or reducing tillage, thus avoiding breakage of soil structure.
• Mulching the soil surface with organic material such as straw, leaves etc.
• Adjusting the soil pH so that it can absorb maximum nutrients.

Besides, soil can help preserve the cultural heritage of the society. It helps protect against the temperature fluctuations, moisture, oxygen, light. It can also protect buried artefacts against the physical disturbance, like wind, water etc.

Soil can also protect biological remains such as bones, seeds, pollen etc. This can help decode diet, health and lifestyle of the ancient people.

So, let us take care of our soil. This way, we not only care for our green planet, but also our heritage.

Gardening in January

A very Happy New Year 2024 .May this year bring lots of blessings and peace in the world.

• Backyard Gardening
• Street Gardening
• Forest Gardening
• Greenhouses
• Tactical Gardens
• Roof top Garden
• Green walls
• Vertical Farms
•  Hydroponic
•  Aquaponics or aquaculture

Let’s pledge to follow it more in this year and encourage your neighbors and friends to do so too.

We all have our flowering annuals in pots and on ground. Hope you carried on regular feeding of plants with nutrients (Bioenzyme/ humic/ biovita) and pinching of plants. Now you should stop pinching by 15th January to get blooms.

If frost still persists protect your plants by covering at night or moving them at a sheltered position.You can cover with sikri screens or plastic sheets.

Keep on feeding sweet peas.You can remove tendrils and tips for bushy growth.

Chrysanthemums must be fading now. Sort them out by colours and varieties. Select them for next year. Treat them with liquid manure to secure strong shoots.

Foliage Plants in pots will be in dormant state.Restrict watering to a minimum.Protect delicate varieties from getting affected by cold winds and frost.

Vegetables : The vegetables garden will need constant attention in the way of cultivation ,irrigation,& treatment with liquid manure.(mix of sarson khali +neem khali ).

The last sowings of seeds of lettuce, carrots, beet, turnips, radish may be made in the first fortnight.

You can start summer seed sowing in a protective environment like lauki, karela and melons.

Get some area for summer flowering annuals ready. You can also place orders for seeds of summer flowering annual and vegetables.

Bulbs of Amaryllis which you had kept in the dark can be taken out and put on prepared soil /pots with nutrients.

Fruits :

Fruit Trees need digging and filled with manure as per size of trees. Dig around 2mts of soil around away from trunk. Show roots some air for 2 days. Then fill ground with pure and well-rotted cow dung manure +bone meal + nitrogen +phosphorus +potash + micronutrients.

(Chikoos, lemon, plum, peach, karonda, guava, amla, orange, mosambi, Raspberry).

Peaches bear fruits on one year old shoots.

Banana: remove all suckers around the main trunk.

Protect citrus fruit branches from die back.

If trees are big you can trim shoots and remove all branches till one ft from ground and cut all dry branches. You must remove crossing branches between the trunks.

Grape vines will need trimming too. Keep a single trunk down at the base with no side shoot on it.Prune the shoots leaving 6-9 eyes in the lateral shoots.Defoliate the leaves before pruning.

For pots & small gardens “beauty seedless ” is recommended as it matures early. Pruning is done in the later half of January or early February. When flowering starts give them a nice drenching spray of Bioenzyme /biovita /magic grow or any seaweed solution having micronutrients to save your plant from flower /fruit fall.

If flowers are falling spray Plantofix as per recommended on bottle (2ml/1lt.).

Put pheromones strips all around to protect your fruits and vegetables from pest invasion. You can buy fruit plants also now.

Protect your strawberries with chicken wire mesh or bird nets.

Hope you are growing microgreens regularly and increasing your immunity & becoming healthy.

Finally enjoy your fruits /vegetables/ flowers of Labour. Don’t forget to share with those who have helped you like your mali ,helper, maid etc. or even friends & Neighbours.

Rama Tyagi

SPREADING THE GREEN MESSAGE

It has been the endeavor of the society to spread the green message around the world, and the movement is spearheaded by none other than Rama Ji.

She was invited to a gathering where she shared the methods of home gardening and making bio-enzymes from the peels.

Propagate From Hardwood Cuttings For Windbreaks and Hedges

If you want to create new windbreaks or hedges. It can be expensive to purchase a large number of trees and shrubs. So you can save a lot of money by propagating your own from existing plant stock. 

Of course, many of the fruiting shrubs and trees can also be great. Here are some useful species that you can propagate in winters. 

Whether you are taking hardwood cuttings for your own use, or for sale, there are plenty of different plants to propagate from hardwood cuttings. At this time of year, you may well be collecting lots of different seeds from your garden to sow and grow next year. But taking hardwood cuttings is another means of propagation that should not be overlooked. 

Propagate From Hardwood Cuttings in Your Orchard/ Fruit Garden 

One arena where you may benefit from taking hardwood cuttings is in an orchard, fruit garden or forest garden area. There are a wide range of fruit bushes/ fruiting shrubs that can be propagated in this way. For example, you can take hardwood cuttings from 

• – Ficus 
• – Pomegranate 
• – Grapes 
• – Mulberry 
• – Gooseberry 
• – Jasmine 
• – Vines 

Most deciduous shrubs can be propagated from hardwood cuttings, so you will find that there is no shortage of options when it comes to creating new ornamental shrubs. In addition to some of those mentioned above, other great options to consider taking hardwood cutting from include: 

– Hydrangea 

– Teecoma 

– Trumpet vine 

How To Take Hardwood Cuttings

● Choose healthy stems, small branches or vine sections from your shrubs, trees or climbers. 

● Cut straight across the stems, cutting across with a clean, sharp implement just above a bud. 

● Next, cut off any soft growth at the growing tip end of the cutting. Cut at a sloping angle so water will run off the top of your cutting, and so you can easily see which end goes up. 

● Cut your chosen stem/branch/vine section into pieces around 12 inches in length. (Making a straight cut at the base, and a sloping cut at the top of each section. ● Best results will often be achieved if you dip the ends of your cuttings into something to promote root formation. Hormone rooting powder is one option, though willow, honey or cinnamon, for example, can also be used to make a rooting solution to improve results. However, this is not always necessary, and many hardwood cuttings will successfully take without assistance. 

How to Make Your Own Rooting Hormone Alternative 

Make willow water. Cut fresh young willow growth in spring into 1 inch pieces. Put them in a jar, 1/3 twigs to 2/3 boiling water. Leave in a sunny spot for at least 24 hours. Strain, and use this to water your cuttings. 

Use honey water. Add 1 tbsp of organic honey to 2 cups of boiling water. Stir to combine, leave to cool, and use on your cuttings within a couple of weeks. 

How to Plant Hardwood Cuttings 

● Insert your hardwood cuttings into the soil or growing medium in containers, leaving around 1/3 of each one visible. If placing them in the ground or a bed, leave around 4-6 inches between them. (Roots will form below the surface, and new green growth should emerge from buds above the surface in spring.) 

● Firm the ground around the cuttings to ensure good contact and to make sure they are held in place firmly. Water in your cuttings. 

● In colder climates, it may be a good idea to offer some form of protection for certain cuttings. You may wish to place them in a greenhouse, high tunnel, or cold frame. Or you might use cloches to fend off the worst of the winter cold. However, many hardwood cuttings will remain dormant over the winter months and should require little protection or care during this time.

● Leave your cuttings in place until next fall. In spring, roots should be well on the way to forming, and new growth should emerge. It is always a good idea to take more cuttings than you think you need, to make up for any losses or failures. 

● Make sure your cuttings are watered over the summer months. (Remember, you will need to water more if your hardwood cuttings are growing in containers than you will if they are in the ground.) 

● Next fall, you will be able to take them and transplant them into their permanent growing positions. 

Taking hardwood cuttings is easy, and you have nothing to lose. Even if the cuttings don’t take, you have not lost out. Taking a few hardwood cuttings won’t usually do any harm at all to the parent plant. And you stand the chance of getting new plants for your garden entirely for free. 

Other Options For Plant Propagation 

Hardwood cuttings are only one type of cutting to take in your garden. If you have plants that are not usually propagated in this way, there are other types of cutting you can take: softwood cuttings, and semi-ripe cuttings. 

Softwood cuttings are usually taken in spring, during the first flush of growth. But certain semi-ripe cuttings can also be taken at this time of year. So this is something else that you may like to look into this month. 

Propagating plants by seed (collecting your own), by division, or by layering are also all interesting things to consider. These are all other ways to increase the number of plants in your garden for free. 

It can take time, and there is a lot to learn about plant propagation. But it is often much easier to achieve than you might think. And it is definitely worthwhile giving these things a go if you want a truly beautiful and productive garden.

Rama Tyagi

खेती में भी क्रांति… क्या है इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मिट्टी, जिससे 15 दिन में दोगुनी होगी फसल की पैदावार?

Electronic Soil: वैज्ञानिकों ने अब इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मिट्टी यानी eSoil को विकसित कर लिया है. दावा है कि eSoil की मदद से मात्र 15 दिन के अंदर फसल की उपज को दोगुना किया जा सकता है. जानिए क्या है eSoil और इसमें ऐसा क्या है जिससे फसल 15 दिन में दोगनी हो गई.

(Image Credit Source: Thor Balkhed/ Linkoping University)

वैज्ञानिकों ने इलेक्‍ट्रॉनिक मिट्टी का प्रयोग जौ के पौधे पर किया है.

वैज्ञानिकों ने अब इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मिट्टी यानी eSoil को विकसित कर लिया है. उनका दावा है कि यह मिट्टी खेती के क्षेत्र में बड़ा बदलाव ला सकती है. इसे विकसित करने वाली स्वीडन की लिनकोपिंग यूनिवर्सिटी के वैज्ञानिकों का दावा है कि eSoil की मदद से मात्र 15 दिन के अंदर फसल की उपज को दोगुना किया जा सकता है. PNAS जर्नल में पब्लिश रिसर्च रिपोर्ट के मुताबिक, ई-सॉइल के जरिए अब शहरों में भी खेती की जा सकेगी. खराब मौसम के बावजूद खेती संभव होगी.

लिंकोपिंग यूनिवर्सिटी की एसोसिएट प्रोफेसर एलेनी ने इस मिट्टी का प्रयोग जौ के पौधे पर किया, जिसमें चौंकाने वाले नतीजे सामने आए हैं. जानिए क्या है eSoil और इसमें ऐसा क्या है जिससे फसल 15 दिन में दोगनी हो गई.

क्या है इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मिट्टी?

वैज्ञानिकों का दावा है कि उन्होंने इस तरह की मिट्टी विकसित की है जो सामान्य मिट्टी से ज्यादा उपजाऊ है. इसमें पौधे तेजी से बढ़ते हैं. वैज्ञानिकों ने मिट्टी को ऐसे तैयार किया है जिससे उनमें बिजली प्रवाहित करके खेती के लिए इस्तेमाल किया जा सके. इसे उन्होंने इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मिट्टी का नाम दिया है.

रिसर्च से जुड़े शोधकर्ताओं का मानना है कि दुनिया की आबादी तेजी से बढ़ रही है. दुनिया जलवायु परिवर्तन से गुजर रही है. भविष्य में खेती के मौजूदा तरीकों से फसल उगाना पर्याप्त नहीं होगा. ऐसे में ये तरीके काफी कारगर साबित होंगे.

कैसे किया प्रयोग?

वैज्ञानिकों ने इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मिट्टी का प्रयोग जौ के पौधे पर किया है. जिसमें विद्युत का प्रयोग रूट सिस्टम पर किया गया है. इसका प्रयोग पानी में पौधों को उगाने की विधि पर किया गया है, जिसे हाइड्रोपोनिक्स कहते हैं.हाइड्रोपोनिक्स पौधों को उगाने का वो तरीका है जिसमें पानी की बहुत कम जरूरत होती है.

वैज्ञानिकों ने दावा किया है कि जौ, हर्ब और कुछ सब्जियों को पहले ही इस विधि से उगाया जा रहा है. रिसर्च में शोधकर्ताओं ने साबित किया है कि जौ को न सिर्फ इस विधि के जरिए उगया जा सकता है बल्कि इलेक्ट्रिकल स्ट्रिमुलेशन के जरिए उनकी बढ़त पर भी सकारात्मक असर डाला जा सकता है. यानी उनकी ग्रोथ को बढ़ाया जा सकता है.

कैसे बनाई गई इलेक्ट्रॉनिक मिट्टी?

eSoil को सेल्युलोज से बनाया गया है. यह एक बायोपॉलिमर है. जिसमें इलेक्ट्रिकल स्ट्रिमुलेशन गुजारा गया. रिसर्च में सामने आया कि यह बहुत कम एनर्जी का इस्तेमाल करती है और इससे हाई वोल्टेज का खतरा नहीं होता है.

शोधकर्ताओं का कहना है कि नई स्टडी ने हाइड्रोपोनिक तकनीक से खेती को बढ़ावा देने के लिए नए रास्ते खोले हैं. इस रिसर्च की मदद से फसल की उपज का दायरा बढ़ाया जा सकेगा. हो सकता है कि यह फूड सिक्योरटी का बहुत बड़ा हल न दे पाए, लेकिन ऐसी जगहों के लिए बड़ी राहत देने वाली तकनीक बनेगी जहां का वातावरण खेती करने लायक नहीं है या फिर खेती करने लायक प्राकृतिक मिट्टी नहीं है.

Rama Tyagi

A Note to Gardeners!

Good Morning Dear Gardeners 
Did you take a stroll in your garden? The glistening dew drops look so fresh and inviting, isn’t it? Apart from looking pretty lets discuss about the effect of #dewdrops on plants both beneficial and harmful.

Dewdrops are a great source of water in arid and semi-arid regions. During dry spells or lack of precipitation dew happens to be the only water source that helps the plant sustain the organic synthesis and metabolism in plants. In forests dew also increases the water resource and improves water cycle. Dew drops have a great impact on the forest floor and help seeds to germinate while maintaining a near perfect hydration. There are many other benefits, however is it all good with dew drops? 

Actually no, like everything else #dewdrops too have their flip side. Lets learn about them. There are two major negative impact of dew on plants. #dewdrops induce plant disease. When #dewdrops sustain for longer period they provide a favorable moist condition for pathogens of fungus and bacteria to release spores and infect the plants. The intensity of infection also differs from difference in the quantity of dew and sustaining time. The longer the dew remains it becomes harmful due to acidification of dew. Specially in our present urban polluted atmospheric condition #aciddew  leads to degradation of vegetation. Causes black spots on leaves and fruits. Smog, lack of Sunlight makes dew remain on plants for longer time. 

So how do we tackle this? One very easy method is to spray water and wash off the dew. During cold winters this really helps. Not to drench the soil but just spray enough to wash the dew drops. Make sure to spray fungicide to keep the plants safe from infections. And pray that the Sun shines brightly.

Balcony gardeners need not worry much. However, for Gardeners who have their plants on open terraces or lawns, you can spray a fine spray of water to wash the dew drops off.

There is much to discuss as to why water forms a drop and stays there, but So will talk about it some other time.

Contributed by Madhuchanda Saxena (Muddy Boots)

When the woman has the steering …

It was yet another proud moment for one of our members, Amrita Bharti from Pune, who was interviewed by DD Kisan for her tremendous work in the field of Agro-Tourism.

SOME GOOD NEWS TO CHEER ABOUT..

AND SOME NEWS, NOT TO CHEER ABOUT..

A clipping reads…

THROUGH THE LENSE OF Dr GOEL

(another perspective)

African violets

African Violets are small houseplants that grow well in average house temperatures, flowering almost continuously in clusters of white, blue, or purple blossoms over fuzzy leaves. 

About African Violets

Despite their common name, African violets are not a type of violet but produce vivid, violet-coloured flowers. They are now categorised in the genus Streptocarpus. However, as their name suggests, African violets are native to East Africa, though now found in many parts of the world.

African violets do best and produce the most blooms in bright, indirect light with regular house temperatures (no lower than 13 C at night nor above 25 C during the day). Though they are generally easy to care for, they can go through fussy spells. Don’t be discouraged.

PLANTING

How to Plant African Violets

• You can use an actual African violet potting mix or an all-purpose potting soil, as long as it is well-draining.

Here is how to create your potting mix:

• Ingredients
• 1 part coconut peat
• 1/2 part perlite
• ½ part  vermiculite
• 1/2 part compost or composted cow manure
• 2 cups fine sand
• 2 tbsp or  slow release fertiliser or N:P:K .

• Keep African violets planted in small pots and repot every few years to mix in fresh soil. Being a bit pot-bound encourages African violets to bloom more, so don’t be too quick to give them more space.
• The soil should be loose and well-drained; high organic matter content is a plus. 
• When repotting African violets, don’t plant them any deeper than they were already planted, and be careful not to bury the crown. African violets’ stems can be susceptible to rot if kept too moist.

GROWING

How to Care for African Violets

Watering

• Keep the soil lightly moist, but be careful not to overwater, as African violets’ soft stems are very susceptible to rot. 
• Use room-temperature water, as chilled water can leave marks on the leaves.
• Leaves are susceptible to rot and fungal spots if kept in high humidity, so water African violets from the bottom to avoid getting excess water on the foliage.

Lighting

• African violets prefer bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sunlight and keep them at least a few feet away from bright south- or west-facing windows. An east- or north-facing window gives them the best lighting without the risk of burning their sensitive foliage. 
• Artificial lighting works well, too. Use fluorescent or LED bulbs to supplement natural lighting.
• Thin, dark green leaves and leggy stems tell you the plant is getting too little light; light green or bleached leaves indicate too much light.

• During the active growing season (spring and summer), fertilise every 2 weeks with a high phosphorus plant food. Only start to fertilise when the plant appears to need an extra boost (slow, thin growth; pale or yellowing leaves).
• Over-fertilizing is a more common problem than under-fertilising, since most soil mixes come infused with plenty of nutrients.

General Care

• Many varieties prefer warm conditions (18°C or warmer) though some are more tolerant of cooler conditions. In any case, keep them away from draughty windows in winter.
• Plants should be shifted to larger pots as they grow, but keeping African violets slightly root-bound can encourage them to bloom. One sign that your violet needs repotting is wilted leaves.
• The fuzzy leaves have a tendency to collect dust and dirt. Brush them off gently with a small, soft-bristled paintbrush.
• Never touch the leaves ,they don’t like it.

Hundreds of varieties and hybrids exist, from miniature violets to trailing varieties! They differ mainly in the colours of their flowers, which range from white to purple, though some varieties also have variegation in their foliage and flowers. 

African violets are typically classified by size, based on how wide they grow: 

• Miniature: less than 8 inches across
• Standard: 8–16 inches across
• Large: more than 16 inches across

Common Pests and Diseases

African violets, like all plants, can be affected by common pests and diseases. Common pests include spider mites, mealy bugs, and cyclamen mites, which, once noticed, can be taken care of with neem oil or an insecticide. Diseases include fungi such as botrytis blight, crown rot and root rot.³ To help avoid these diseases, don’t overwater your plant, and provide it with the proper lighting, fertilisation, and air circulation. 

How to Get African Violets to Bloom

These plants love to show off their beautiful blooms and if cared for properly, can bloom year round. Provide it with the proper light, water, humidity, fertiliser, and soil, plus keep it free from pests and diseases, and you will have a happy, healthy plant. African violets like to feel cosy and tight in their pots, but not to the point of being root bound. This is when they start blooming and flowering for longer periods of time. When the flowers are spent, make sure to deadhead them as that will encourage the plant to flower more, and hopefully, you’ll see new blooms in about six weeks.

Happy Gardening

Rama Tyagi

tyagirama1@gmail.com

भारत में बच्चों की खाद्य सुरक्षा: बागबानी कार्यक्रमों का महत्व

परिचय

भारत में बच्चों की खाद्य सुरक्षा एक गंभीर समस्या है जिसका सामना करना अत्यंत महत्वपूर्ण है। कुछ लाखों बच्चे भूखे पेट सोते हैं, और खाद्य सुरक्षा में सुधार करने के लिए बच्चों के प्रति समर्थन बढ़ाने की आवश्यकता है। एक सर्वे के अनुसार, 1 में से 5 बच्चे यहाँ अपने अगले भोजन की चिंता करते हैं। इस चुनौती का सामना करने के लिए, बच्चों को सुरक्षित और पौष्टिक भोजन पहुंचाने के लिए बागबानी कार्यक्रमें समर्थन प्रदान करना अत्यंत आवश्यक है।

बागबानी कार्यक्रमों का महत्व

बागबानी न केवल एक तत्कालिक समाधान प्रदान करने में सहायक है, बल्कि यह भी बच्चों को पौष्टिक आहार तक पहुंचाने में मदद करता है। हमने देखा है कि हमारे कार्यक्रमों में भाग लेने वाले बच्चे न केवल खाद्य की बढ़ी हुई पहुंच से लाभान्वित होते हैं, बल्कि वे अपने परिवारों और समुदायों में खाद्य असुरक्षा के चक्र को तोड़ने के लिए आवश्यक कौशल और अनुभव प्राप्त करते हैं।

भविष्य के लिए संवेदनशील समाधान

बच्चों की खाद्य सुरक्षा के इस मुद्दे का सामना करने के लिए, हमें आगे बढ़ने के लिए समृद्धि करने के लिए और ज्यादा बच्चों को पहुंचाने के लिए आपके समर्थन की आवश्यकता है। आपका समर्थन हमारे कार्यक्रमों की विस्तार क्षमता और सामाजिक परिवर्तन में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभा सकता है, जिससे एक सस्ते और स्थायी समाधान की ओर कदम बढ़ाया जा सकता है।

Rama Tyagi