Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) is an eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture technique formulated as an alternative approach to the current conventional agriculture practices that make intensive use of chemicals. ZBNF was introduced by Indian Agriculturist Subhash Palekar. ZBNF is an agricultural technique that seeks to minimize cost of cultivation, restore soil health, preserve biodiversity, and increase farmers' income through the discontinuation of dependence on artificial fertilizers and pesticides. The process makes use of natural biological processes, indigenous knowledge systems, cow-based bio-formulations, mulching, biodiversity and water conservation. Over the past few decades, there has been an excessive use of chemicals in agriculture leading to serious environmental degradation, decreased soil fertility, pollution of ground water, high costs of cultivation and increased farmer indebtedness. ZBNF was formulated in order to address these issues and has received wide acclaim as an innovative technique for sustainable agriculture, especially in India. The present article gives a comprehensive account of ZBNF in terms of its history, philosophy, science, practice, socioeconomic importance, ecological importance, problems, policies, and future prospects.
S. Kumari, Naveen Kumar, B. K. Pandey et al.· International Journal of Lat...· 0 citations
In order to ensure that the objective of feeding the ever-growing world population is fulfilled, crop production must be efficient and sustainable. It is important that crops preserve the soil quality and protect the environment. INM (Integrated Nutrient Management) is an interesting approach, which involves the use of chemical fertilizers, organic manure, and nanotechnology. For example, the combination of chemical fertilizers with the organic fertilizers like farmyard manure, compost, and green manure leads to better soil conditions, improves microbial activities, and helps to retain water and nutrients. Also, they help to improve soil fertility and sequester carbon. The application of nano-fertilizers can be viewed as the most recent innovation in agriculture nutrient management due to its capacity to provide nutrients effectively and efficiently. Due to the smaller particle sizes, larger surface area, and higher nutrient uptake, nano-fertilizers allow plants to absorb nutrients more easily. As a result, there will be a decrease in the loss of nutrients due to leaching, volatilization, and runoff. However, their large-scale adoption is constrained by challenges such as high production costs, limited field-scale validation, regulatory uncertainties, and concerns regarding the long-term environmental and ecological impacts of nanomaterials. The integration of organic and nano-based inputs within an INM framework provides a balanced and efficient nutrient supply that addresses current crop nutritional requirements while supporting the long-term sustainability of agricultural production. Future research should focus on developing cost-effective nano-fertilizers, establishing standardized regulatory frameworks, and conducting long-term field studies to ensure their safe, practical, and sustainable adoption in modern agriculture.
Rajanikant, Naveen Kumar, Dileep Kumar Pandey et al.· Journal of Soil Future Resea...· 0 citations
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