By Mohak Agarwal
It is fascinating how modern organic farming is essentially performing a massive reboot of systems documented thousands of years ago. Ancient India not only had Ayurveda for humans but also for plants called Vrikshayurveda, a 10th century treatise. Vrikshayurveda, meaning, "the science of plant life," has its roots in the Vedic period, particularly in the Atharv Veda, which emphasises plant care and ecological balance. This text reflects a deep ecological understanding, where farming was seen as a sacred partnership with nature rather than an extraction from it.
"Whatever I dig out from you, O Earth! May that have quick regeneration again; may we not damage thy vitals and heart." -Atharv Veda 12.1.35
This verse from the Atharv Veda written thousands of years ago encapsulates in its truest form, the concept of resource utilisation and regeneration. The Atharv Veda does not view the Earth as an object meant to be exploited and abused unlike the industrial attitude. This ancient guidance is relevant even after thousands of years and aligns closely with the sustainable approaches to agroforestry and natural regeneration. Let's explore some of these timeless techniques that modern organic farming is now embracing again.
Use of Natural Fertilisers (Jeev-Amrit and Panchagavya Concepts)
The Atharv Veda reveres the cow as a source of nourishment—not just for humans, but for the soil. Gobar (cow dung) enriches soil microbes, gomutra (cow urine) acts as natural pesticide and milk, curd, ghee mixtures (early forms of Panchagavya) have been used since Vedic times. They improve soil microbial life and enhance nutrient absorption. Organic farming movements now widely use compost, vermicompost and bio fertilisers. Kunapajala is ancient Indian fermented liquid organic manure described in Vrikshayurveda for improving agricultural productivity. It is made from animal waste, dairy products, cow urine and acts as a potent nutrient source and growth promoter that substitutes chemical fertilisers.
Crop Rotation (Fasal Chakra)
Ancient farmers practiced crop rotation to maintain soil fertility and prevent disease. The Atharva Veda emphasises balance in nature, different crops nourish the soil in different ways. Legumes (such as moong, chana) fix nitrogen into the soil, while cereals (such as wheat and rice) consume nitrogen. Rotating them restores soil nutrients naturally. Crop rotation is done now-a-days to reduce chemical fertilizer dependence, break pest cycles and improve long-term yield.
Mixed Cropping
The text mentions growing multiple crops together. Now championed as Intercropping, which provides a natural insurance policy, if one crop fails due to weather, the other survives while also providing a diverse habitat for beneficial insects.
Minimize Ecological Damage
"Do not degrade the natural systems of Earth." -Atharva Veda 12.1.28
Vrikshayurveda warns against greedy exploitation and discourages practices like deforestation which have been proven to disrupt soil ecosystems, reduce carbon storage and diminish essential ecosystem services.
Water conservation
Vrikshayurveda explains seasonal targeted irrigation and specifies the frequency of irrigation for each season. It is fascinating to note that a 13th century text, the Upavanavinoda provides methods for identifying groundwater based on plant life, soil colour and animal presence, guiding farmers on finding optimal sites to dig wells. The Atharv Veda also contains hymns honouring rain, soil and seasons, indicating farming aligned with cosmic and seasonal rhythms. Rainwater harvesting and sowing crops, according to ritu (seasonal cycles) was practiced.
Natural Pest Management
Vrikshayurveda provides specific, eco-friendly pest control methods. Instead of chemicals, farmers used mixtures of medicinal herbs like neem, turmeric, tulsi and honey to repel pests and diseases. Seeds were treated with cow dung, ghee and honey to boost germination rates and protect them from pathogens. These techniques are being revived to control pests without harmful toxic residues in food or the environment.
The same colonial powers that ridiculed us for praying to nature, now have rebranded our knowledge and propagate sustainable agriculture as a modern concept.