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<p>Natural farming (NF) is emerging as a sustainable alternative to conventional and organic systems. This study evaluated the performance of a maize-wheat cropping system under complete NF, incorporating its four core principles: <i>beejamrit</i>,<i> ghanjeevamrit/jeevamrit</i>, crop residue mulching, intercropping and <i>whapasa</i>. A randomized complete block design compared NF with chemical management, integrated nutrient management (INM) and organic farming, focusing on crop yield, plant height, 1000-grain weight, grain and spike characteristics and soil physicochemical properties (pH, EC, nutrient composition). Chemical management resulted in significantly higher yields, plant height and grain quality for both crops across 2020 and 2021. In contrast, NF recorded 60–63% lower maize yields and 71–73% lower wheat yields, performing only slightly better than the unfertilized control. While NF may fetch premium prices in niche markets due to its chemical-free produce, economic viability remains uncertain, influenced by consumer awareness, certification and market access. Minimal changes were observed in soil physicochemical properties over the two-year period, reflecting the soil’s buffering capacity and the short study duration. These findings highlight the need for further research to enhance NF’s productivity while retaining its ecological benefits. Long-term studies, innovative agronomic interventions and comprehensive economic analyses are essential for optimizing NF practices for wider adoption.</p>

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Evaluating the sustainability of natural, organic and conventional farming practices: a comparative study in maize-wheat cropping system in North-west India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月30日

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  • Amandeep Singh Sidhu,
  • Dharamveer Shard,
  • Charanjit Singh Aulakh,
  • Sukhveer Singh Bhullar,
  • Surinder Singh

摘要

Natural farming (NF) is emerging as a sustainable alternative to conventional and organic systems. This study evaluated the performance of a maize-wheat cropping system under complete NF, incorporating its four core principles: beejamrit, ghanjeevamrit/jeevamrit, crop residue mulching, intercropping and whapasa. A randomized complete block design compared NF with chemical management, integrated nutrient management (INM) and organic farming, focusing on crop yield, plant height, 1000-grain weight, grain and spike characteristics and soil physicochemical properties (pH, EC, nutrient composition). Chemical management resulted in significantly higher yields, plant height and grain quality for both crops across 2020 and 2021. In contrast, NF recorded 60–63% lower maize yields and 71–73% lower wheat yields, performing only slightly better than the unfertilized control. While NF may fetch premium prices in niche markets due to its chemical-free produce, economic viability remains uncertain, influenced by consumer awareness, certification and market access. Minimal changes were observed in soil physicochemical properties over the two-year period, reflecting the soil’s buffering capacity and the short study duration. These findings highlight the need for further research to enhance NF’s productivity while retaining its ecological benefits. Long-term studies, innovative agronomic interventions and comprehensive economic analyses are essential for optimizing NF practices for wider adoption.