Potential of natural farming-improves soil health and reduces production cost: Study of Solan District, Himachal Pradesh, India

A survey of three blocksin Solan District of Himachal Pradesh was carried out during 2020-2021 with the objective to evaluate the soil quality and plant nutrient contents under Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) and Conventional farming systems. 30 representative surface soil and plant samples (15 each of conventional and ZBNF farming systems) were collected and analyzed from farmers’ fields practicing ZBNF and conventional farming, respectively, in the same block. N, P, and K were recorded 5.21, 14.69 and 10.27% higher, respectively, under conventional farming as compared to the ZBNF farming system. Similarly, maximum Ca, Mg and S were also recorded 7.62, 12.21 and 16.64% higher, respectively, under conventional farming system as compared to ZBNF farming system. In contrast, soil under the ZBNF system recorded 22.85% higher organic carbon as compared to the conventional farming system. Viable microbial count (45.72×105 cfu g-1 bacteria, 6.73×103 cfu g-1 Fungi and 9.28×103 cfu g-1 Actinomycetes) were also recorded higher under ZBNF compared to conventional farming system. Further, conventional farming system recorded higher leaf macronutrients as well as micronutrients in leaf compared to the ZBNF farming system. Resultantly, yield of pea was significantly higher (109.67 q ha-1) under conventional farming system as compared to ZBNF (92.07 q ha-1). However, 47% higher production cultivation cost under the conventional farming system resulted in better B:C Ratio of ZBNF farming system (2.13) as compared to a conventional farming system (1.52).