The One-Straw Revolution - Multiworld India

This yield is approximately the same as is produced by either thechemical or the traditional method in his area. The yield of his wintergrain crop is often higher than that of either the traditional farmer or thechemical farmer who both use the ridge and furrow method ofcultivation.All three methods (natural, traditional, and chemical) yieldcomparable harvests, but differ markedly in their effect on the soil. Thesoil in Mr. Fukuoka's fields improves with each season. Over the pasttwenty-five years, since he stopped plowing, his fields have improved infertility, structure, and in their ability to retain water. By the traditionalmethod the condition of the soil over the years remains about the same.The farmer takes yields in direct proportion to the amount of compostand manure he puts in. The soil in the fields of the chemical farmerbecomes lifeless and depleted of .its native fertility in a short time.One of the greatest advantages of Mr. Fukuoka's method is that ricecan be grown without flooding the field throughout the growing season.Few people have ever thought this possible. It is possible, and Mr.Fukuoka maintains that rice grows better this way. His rice plants arestrong-stemmed and deeply rooted. The old variety of glutinous rice thathe grows has between 250 and 300 grains per head.The use of mulch increases the soil's ability to retain water. In manyplaces natural farming can completely eliminate the need for irrigation.Rice and other high-yielding crops can therefore be grown in areas notpreviously thought suitable. Steep and otherwise marginal land can bebrought into production without danger of erosion. By means of naturalfarming, soils already damaged by careless agricultural practices or bychemicals can be effectively rehabilitated.Plant diseases and insects are present in the fieldsxxviii