| Jiwamrita |
- It is a mixture of fresh cow dung and aged cow urine, jaggery, pulse flour, water and soil.
- This is a fermented microbial culture that adds nutrients to the soil and acts as a catalytic agent to promote the activity of microorganisms and earthworms in the soil.
- About 200 litres of jivamrita should be sprayed twice a month per acre of land; after three years, the system is supposed to become self-sustaining.
- Only one cow is needed for 30 acres of land, according to Mr. Palekar, with the condition that it must be a local Indian breed — not an imported Jersey or Holstein.
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| Bijamrita |
- It is a mix of desi cow dung and urine, water, bund soil and lime that is used as a seed treatment solution prior to sowing.
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| Mulching |
- It is covering the plants with a layer of dried straw or fallen leaves, is meant to conserve soil moisture and keep the temperature around the roots at 25-32 degrees Celsius, which allows the microorganisms to do their job.
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| Waaphasa |
- It is providing water to maintain the required moisture-air balance, also achieves the same objective.
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- Mr. Palekar is against vermicomposting, which is the mainstay of typical organic farming, as it introduces the most common composting worm, the European red wiggler (Eisenia fetida) to Indian soils. He claims these worms absorb toxic metals and poison groundwater and soil.
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