About
2,500 farmers all over the country are practising this concept
Vegetables have a short lifespan compared to fruit crops. By making use
of modern technologies and inputs, their lifespan can perhaps be
extended to say about a year.
But if there is a simple method of growing vegetables throughout the
year, without any costly gadgets, modern technologies, or costly
inputs, it is definitely worth a try for the farmers.
Commonly called the ‘Bread sandwich method,’ once the soil is made
ready and the suggested practices followed, one need not work on the
soil for the second time. They can go on sowing and reaping, all
through the year, according to Dr. G. Nammalvar, organic scientist.
Better yield
But why call it the sandwich method? “We are used to eating sandwich in
which vegetable or egg is inserted between two layers of bread. The
same method is applied in gardening for a better yield.”
“Here, the top soil and sub soil are kept separated by inserting
compost between the two layers of soil. Charcoal can also be inserted
for better performance,” explained Dr. Nammalvar.
According to him, soil health forms the basis for the production of
nutritious food from our garden.
“By feeding the micro (soil) organisms and maintaining soil moisture we
can harvest maximum solar energy through photosynthesis. For the
application of this principle we adopt sandwiching of soil.” The top
soil is loose and contains more micro and macro organisms than the sub
soil. The roots of plants, whether it is wheat or radish go up to a
depth of more than 60 cm into the soil.
Healthy soil
So it is important that the soil is healthy and the micro organisms
live till a depth of about 60 centimetres. At the same time farmers
must ensure that the top soil is not buried deep.
“To achieve this result, as a first step, we remove the top soil and
keep it separate. Then we split the sub soil. In the third stage, a
thick layer of well digested compost is added over the split sub soil.
Finally, the top soil is replaced over the compost, said Dr. Nammalvar.
“This is called as soil sandwiching. Radish and greens can be sown on
the edges. Vegetables with wider canopy such as tomato, brinjal, lady’s
finger and chilli have to be allowed wider spacing.
Avoid monocropping
“It is wise to avoid mono culture. Because plants of the same family
compete with each other for light, water and nutrition.” While sowing
the seeds, it is advisable for farmers to do relay cropping. Relay
cropping means sowing or planting a seed or a plant before the
withering of the previous one.
At the end of the harvest cut the vegetative parts and put back over
the soil. In order to get better quality and more quantity let apply
organic inputs.
Suitable combinations
By experience one can understand better combinations. One thumb rule is
to see that one legume crop (e.g., cowpea) is sown adjacent to every
non-legume (non-pulse) group plants.
The bed can be of any length. But it is advisable to keep the width to
about 120cm. A bed size of about 1.2mX7.5m will fulfil the vegetables
need of a single person (that is 200 gm of vegetables every day).
“The plants should be watered using sprinkler or rose cane or a hose
with shower to create a rain effect. Wastewater used for washing the
floors and utensils can also be used. It is better to water the plants
during evening,” said Nammalvar.
Minimum income
By adopting this practice a family of five persons can grow vegetables
all through the year in 25 cents, or quarter of an acre of land, to
ensure a certain minimum income throughout. At present there are about
2,500 farmers all over India who are practising it.
http://www.thehindu.com/seta/2008/06/19/stories/2008061950211600.htm
