The following experiments with Agnihotra and Homa Therapy were conducted at University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
Published in Karnataka J. Agric. Sci., 23 (5) : 2010 pp. 841-2
Preamble
A field experiment laid out in completely randomly block design with eight treatments exposed to Homa atmosphere replicated thrice was conducted during Kharif (monsoon) season 2009 to study the Biochemical efficacy of Homa Organic Farming in soybean crop (JS 335).
The conventional control (CC) and control without Homa (CWH) were maintained 1 km away. Basal treatment to all the Homa treatment (HT) seeds was fresh cow dung and cow urine. Agnihotra Homa (AH) at sunrise and sunset and Om Tryambakam Homa (OTH) performed for 3-4 h daily yielded smoke and ash. Homa ash was used for seed treatment and for furrow application. Biosol prepared, contained AH ash and was used for soil and foliar application.
Treatment Details
Discussion
Table 1. Effect of Homa Organic Farming on Soybean Crop
The OTH ash as seed treatment and foliar application of Biosol was superior in plant height, dry matter accumulation (DMA) in leaves, grain and straw yield and 100 seed weight. The AH ash as seed treatment with Biosol as soil application was significantly superior over control in DMA in stem, total biomass per plant, number of pods per plant, nodule count and nodule dry weight wherein Homa ashes and Biosol as furrow application increased nodule count by 55-105 per cent over CC and 106-180 per cent over CWH. The macro and micro nutrients increased in soil with furrow application of both the Homa ashes and Biosol. Soil Zn content and dehydrogenase activity increased (151% and 233%, respectively) over control with soil application of AH ash and Biosol. Rust incidence and insect attack was significantly low (10-30 %) with foliar application of Biosol. Total protein and oil content increased on HT and activities of -amylase and invertase in soy seeds on soil application of Biosol were superior.
Photos l to r: root nodule formation without Homa; root nodule formation with Homa
Summary and Conclusion
- Morphological characters like plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, number of pods, number of nodules etc. were enhanced as compared to control and
conventional practices. - Yield parameters like total biomass per plant (g), grain yield (kg/ha), total biomass (kg/ha), nodules dry weight, 100-seed weight, dry weight of stem and dry weight of
leaves revealed higher quantity as compared to control and conventional practices. - Characteristics like soil macro nutrients showed increase in the content of organic C (7-15 %), P (25-47 %), but N and K did not register any change in their soil status.
- Micronutrients also showed increase in their soil status, Cu (32-35 %), Zn (67-84%), Mn (33-40%) and Fe (10-13%) as compared to organic control.
- Except registering increase in the bacterial count, Biosol, a special bio-digester prepared for the study did not register any change in the population of fungi,
actinomycetes, N-fixing bacteria and P-solubilising bacteria. - Soil dehydrogenase exhibited tremendous increase (182-342 %) in activity as compared with control and conventional practices.
- Total protein and oil content registered only 3-5 per cent increase in yield as compared to control without Homa treatment.
- Specific activities of hydrolytic enzymes, b-amylase and invertase showed an increase in the activity up to 72 h of germination as compared to control without Homa and conventional practices.
- Decrease in the incidence of rust (16-29%) and insect attack (18-43%) were observed due to different Homa treatments.
- Foliar application of Biosol was found to be effective in the control of rust, pod borer and the control of caterpillar.
- Soil application of Biosol was effective in improving nodule count and weight, number of pods, straw yield and grain yield, macro and micro nutrients and micro flora.
- Furrow application Homa ash was effective in increasing organic carbon and available P.
It may be concluded from the present study that Homa organic farming not only heals the atmosphere but also takes care of health of the soil, plants and its produce.
Homa smoke, ashes and Biosol thus show promise to the farming community to produce disease-free, healthy crops with good returns.
Thesis details
KUMARI NAMRATA (Author)
M.Sc (Agri) (Degree)
Plant Biochemistry (Department)
University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (Institute)
AC, Dharwad-580005 Karnataka State, India (Place)
2010 (Year of submitted)
Th10019 (Accession No)
University Library, UAS, Dharwad
Dr. P.W. BASARKAR (Major Advisor)
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