Impact of in-situ green manuring on soil properties and fertility under regenerative farming: A case study of Akshayakalpa farm in Tiptur, India

Abstract

Regenerative farming is a way of farming that focuses on soil health. When soil is healthy, it produces more food and nutrition, stores more carbon, and increases biodiversitythe variety of species. A teaspoon of soil contains up to 6 billion microorganisms. Healthy soil supports other water, land and air environments and ecosystems through natural processes including water drainage and pollination. This study explores the progress of soil physico-chemical and biological properties, fertility, nutrient supply to succeeding crops, checking erosion and plant protection due to green manuring under regenerative farming system. The green undecomposed material used as manure is called green manure. It is obtained in two ways: by growing green manure crops or by collecting green leaves (along with twigs) from plants grown in wastelands, field bunds and forests. The green manuring is growing in the field plants usually belonging to leguminous family and incorporating into the soil after sufficient growth. The plants that are grown for green manure are known as green manure crops. The green manure crops sowed at the farm are Sun-hemp, Dhaincha, Bajra and Horse gram and this was done for 65 acres. The soil test reports were collected before and after green manuring. The average of all the soil samples showing the improvement in the soil parameters and nutrient level is as follows, the