Natural farming, also known as “organic farming”, “organic agroforestry” or “farming the soil” and “organic farming systems”, is an agricultural system based on natural farming principles. The underlying philosophy of natural farming is that agricultural production should be based on the life-cycle patterns of natural ecosystems. Organic farmers, organic food producers and advocates all over the world believe that traditional farming methods, which involve the use of synthetic chemicals and pesticides, deplete the soil of nutrients essential for healthy plant growth. They argue that traditional farming systems also cause environmental pollution by polluting water and air with pesticides and fertilizers, thereby contributing to air and water pollution. These arguments have been largely dismissed by prominent agricultural experts and researchers.
According to the philosophy of natural farming, the soil and its micro-organisms must be given the right care and nourishment in order to grow crops in a sustainable manner. Organic farmers promote conservation of natural resources such as air and water. They advocate crop rotation, soil cultivation using natural compost and manure, use of no-till methods, and crop supplementation with organic compounds. On the other hand, conventional farmers, which include commercial farmers, argue that there is insufficient evidence to prove the benefits of organic agriculture.
According to proponents of natural farming, organic fertilizers are necessary for the growth of healthy plants. These organic fertilizers are made from natural organic compounds that are able to stimulate the plants’ metabolism. Organic fertilizers also help prevent soil erosion, reduce the risk of surface water and mud contamination, increase the fertility of the soil, control pests, and add essential trace minerals to the soils. Some critics argue that natural fertilizers may not be as effective as the synthetic compounds available in the market. Nevertheless, they argue that the effects of synthetic fertilizers on the environment cannot be entirely ruled out.
A lot of attention these days is being paid to organic farming. There are many factors that contribute to the increasing popularity of this agricultural practice. One of them is that there is abundant supply of nitrogen-rich soil due to the increased utilization of nitrogen-based animal products for livestock feed, fertilizer, and compost. Another important fact that contributes to the increasing popularity of zero-budget natural farming (zbnf) is the shift towards using natural fertilizers for growing crops and encouraging organic farming practices. Yet another factor helping farmers to shift towards organic farming is the increasing prices of non-organic pesticides and fertilizers.
The key to implementing natural farming techniques is the proper application of fertilizers and pesticides. Fertilizer application is a very critical step in the natural farming cycle because it determines the amount and quality of the resulting crop. Thus, farmers should know how to use pesticides effectively to control pests and increase the productivity of their crops.
However, many farmers are reluctant to use chemicals-based fertilizers because they are afraid of the harmful side effects that these chemicals can have on their plants. In reality, these fears are not really justified because there have been numerous studies aimed at exposing the negative effects of conventional farming methods. According to these studies, chemical-based fertilizers do not really contribute to the environmental pollution as much as say, natural farming techniques. Also, farmers need to know about soil fertility and its characteristics if they want to fully utilize natural farming techniques. If the farmers are not aware of these things, then they will be greatly disappointed because they might end up with low-quality and low-fertility soil.
Another thing to consider is how these chemicals affect the health of the plants. This is one of the most common concerns raised by conventional farmers against organic farmers who use natural fertilizers. Since organic gardening relies on the natural environment, there is no scope for polluting the environment through the application of chemicals. Thus, you will never run out of nutrients in your garden when you choose natural farming methods.
Organic farming does not only help improve the quality of the soil and the crops grown on it but it also gives back something to nature. Farmers do not need to invest in additional vehicles for carrying their seeds and fertilizers; instead they can simply hire a motorized tiller to do the job for them. The land will not be depleted and the air and water will remain pure and clean. In fact, farming helps in protecting nature since nature is able to rejuvenate fields with natural nutrients without the help of man-made products.
