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PMDS –Rebuilding Soil Health

Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming -RySS

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APCNF 9 Principles – Crop production under NF System

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PMDS Seed Mix—Functional Groups/ Crops/ Families

Sl No

Functional Groups

Crops

1

Cereal and Millet Crops

Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Foxtail millet, Finger Millet

2

Pulse Crops

Green gram, Black gram, Pigeon pea, Chick pea, Cluster bean, Lentils

3

Oilseed Crops

Sunflower (Asteraceae), Groundnut(Fabaceae), Sesame(Pedaliaceae), Safflower(Asteraceae) etc.,

4

Green manure crops

Sun Hemp Sesbania Dhaincha , Pillipesara etc

​

5

Spices and condiment Crops

Coriander (Apiaceae), Fenugreek (Fabaceae),, Mustard (Brassicaceae) etc.,

​

6

Tuber crops

Radish (Brassicaceae) , Carrot (Apiaceae), , Beetroot (Amaranthaceae) etc.,

7

Leafy vegetables

Roselle leaves (Malvaceae), Amaranthus (Amaranthaceae, Spinach (Amaranthaceae etc.,

​

8

Vegetables

Brinjal (Solanaceae), Tomato (Solanaceae), , Okra (Malvaceae) etc.,

9

Creepers

Cucumber, Ridge gourd, Bottle gourd, Melons (Cucurbitaceae )etc.,

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PMDS –Seed Mix

Sl No

Crop Species

No of Crop Seeds

% of Seed Mix

Quantity (Kgs Per Acre )

1.

Pulses

5

40

4.80

2.

Green Manures

3

30

3.60

3.

Cereals & Millets

6

15

1.80

4.

Oil seeds

4

8

0.96

5.

Spices & Condiments

3

3

0.36

6.

Vegetables

7

2

0.24

7.

Tubers

1

1

0.12

8

Creeper Vegeatables

1

1

0.12

​

Total

30

100%

12.0

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PMDS Navadhanya-Diverse Cover Crops

​

Soil Cover

Reduced Soil Erosion

Increased Water Infiltration

Increased Soil Organic Matter

Improved Soil Structure

Increased Soil Porosity

Reduced Soil Compaction

Builds Soil Aggregates

​

Feeds the Soil Food Web

Increased Bio Diversity

Suppress Weeds

Increased Earthworms

Bio-availability of Nutrients

​

Green Fodder Availability*

Additional income *

Builds Soil Health

Diverse Families /Species

Diverse Crops

Diverse Roots

Diverse Root Exudates

Diverse Soil Microbes

Diverse Nutrients

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PMDS – Advantages

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Visual Soil Health Indicators -KIT

  • Shovel
  • PH Meter
  • Plank
  • Scale/tape
  • A4 Sheets
  • Markers
  • 20x20 cm white cotton cloth
  • 20x20 cm frame for earth worms count
  • Micro lens
  • Tape
  • Scale
  • Knife
  • Soil Temperature Meter
  • Penetrometer(Local)
  • Soil tester 3 in 1

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S No

Visual indicators of soil quality

GOOD-2

MODERATE-1

POOR-0

1

Earthworms count

>8

4-8

<4

2

Soil colour

Topsoil clearly defined, darker than sub soil

Surface colour closer to subsoil colour

Top soil colour similar to subsoil

3

Soil compaction

>15 cm

15-8 cm

<8cm

4

Root Penetration

Unrestricted root -25cm wide.20-25 cm deep

root -15cm wide, vertical root development is often restricted below 12cm

Restricted root growth-Angle syndrome

5

Soil Temperature (ᵒC)

18-32

33-40

>41

6

Soil Moisture (RH)

< 9

6-7

< 5

7

Biodegradation of Cotton cloth (lux)

>70 %

71-50%

<49%

Visual soil assessment Score Card

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Sl No

GOOD-2

MODERATE-1

POOR-0

Covered soil

28(85% > UCS)

​

​

Uncovered soil

​

​

4

Earthworm Count

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Sl No

GOOD-2

MODERATE-1

POOR-0

Covered soil

2

​

​

Uncovered soil

​

​

0

Soil Colour

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Sl No

GOOD-2

MODERATE-1

POOR-0

Covered soil

22

​

​

Uncovered soil

​

​

6

Soil Compaction

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Sl No

GOOD-2

MODERATE-1

POOR-0

Covered soil

24

​

​

Uncovered soil

​

​

0

Root Penetration-Bio Drilling

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Soil Organisms around the Rhizosphere

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Soil Adherence at Rhizosphere

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Biodiversity-Above Ground Level

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Soil Temperature(ᵒC)

Sl No

GOOD-2

MODERATE-1

POOR-0

Covered soil

32(7.5 < UCS)

​

​

Uncovered soil

​

​

34.6

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Sl No

GOOD-2

MODERATE-1

POOR-0

Covered soil

8.2(9.7%>UCS)

​

​

Uncovered soil

​

7.4

​

Soil Moisture

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PMDS - Green Fodder

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Sl No

Duration of PMDS (Days)

No of CCEs Conducted

Avg Biomass Estimated Tons/Acre)

1

<35

41

6.63

2

36-45

39

7.16

3

>46

17

7.8

PMDS- Biomass Estimation

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Year of PMDS adoption

Soil OC

Chemical

0.41

1st Year PMDS

0.52

2nd Year PMDS

0.53

3rd Year PMDS

0.54

4th Year PMDS

0.56

OC

Low

Medium

High

Ranges

<0.5

0.5-0.75

<0.75

Soil Organic Carbon(OC)

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Unique breakthrough of A.P - Seed Pelletization: Critical part of Summer sowing, PMDS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N Ckeqfc2NCY&t=504s

Navdhanya seed mix, consisting of 9 pulses

and legumes

​

​

Seed pelletization: Seeds are coated with a mixture of sifted GJM, field soil, ash, with sprinkling of water.

​

The resulting pellet is 5 to 10 times the size

of the original seed.

The seed pellet protects the seed, allows for moisture retention and favorable conditions for seed germination

The image below: process of pelletization. It is a snapshot of a YouTube video which demonstrates the same.

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