Water Management and Conservation in Natural Farming

Water is becoming India's most critical agricultural resource. Per capita water availability has fallen from 5,178 cubic meters per year in 1951 to just 1,544 in 2011, and is projected to drop to 1,140 by 2050. Agriculture consumes 89% of groundwater. Natural farming offers a path to dramatically reduce water requirements while maintaining productivity.

Natural Farming Reduces Water Needs

Studies from Andhra Pradesh show that natural farming requires 50-60% less water compared to conventional farming. This remarkable reduction comes from multiple factors:

• Improved soil water-holding capacity
• Reduced evaporation through mulching
• Better root development in healthy soil
• Efficient water use by well-nourished plants

Additionally, natural farming:

• Prevents over-extraction of groundwater
• Enables aquifer recharge
• Contributes to rising water table levels

The Whapasa Principle

Whapasa is a key concept in natural farming—the condition where soil contains roughly equal parts air and water vapor between particles. This balance is crucial because:

• Roots need both water AND oxygen to function
• Excess water drowns roots and causes disease
• Optimal moisture supports beneficial soil organisms

Achieving Whapasa

• Irrigate at noon when evaporation is highest
• Use alternate furrow irrigation
• Avoid flooding fields
• Maintain mulch cover
• Build soil organic matter

The result: significant reduction in irrigation needs while plants actually grow better.

Building Soil Water-Holding Capacity

Healthy soil holds more water and makes it available to plants longer.

Increase Soil Organic Matter

Every 1% increase in soil organic matter can hold an additional 20,000 liters of water per hectare. Natural farming builds organic matter through:

• Jeevamrit application
• Mulching
• Cover crops
• Minimal tillage

Improve Soil Structure

Good soil structure creates pore spaces that hold water:

• Encourage earthworm activity
• Avoid compaction from machinery
• Maintain living roots year-round
• Apply bio-formulations regularly

Mulching for Water Conservation

Mulch dramatically reduces water loss:

• Prevents direct sun on soil
• Reduces evaporation
• Keeps soil cooler
• Collects dew and atmospheric moisture

Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch throughout the growing season. Even in rainfed conditions, mulched crops can thrive while unmulched crops struggle.

Cover Crops for Moisture

Living cover crops:

• Shade the soil, reducing evaporation
• Their roots create channels for water infiltration
• At night, they harvest atmospheric humidity
• When terminated, they become mulch

Plan for 365-day crop cover—always have something growing.

Rainwater Harvesting

Capture every drop that falls on your farm:

In-Field Structures

• Grid blocks: Small earthen barriers that slow runoff
• Trenches: Contour trenches that capture water
• Dead furrows: Between crop rows to hold water

Farm Ponds

• Collect runoff during monsoon
• Store for dry season irrigation
• Provide water for cattle and bio-formulations

Contour Farming

On slopes:

• All operations along the contour
• Ridges and furrows slow water flow
• Increased infiltration, reduced runoff

Biological Measures

Vegetation-based water conservation:

• Green manuring: Adds organic matter, improves infiltration
• Cover crops: Cowpea, green gram, black gram protect soil
• Border planting: Grasses and hedges slow runoff
• Agroforestry: Trees regulate water cycle

Efficient Irrigation Practices

When irrigation is needed:

• Use drip or sprinkler systems when possible
• Apply bio-formulations through irrigation water
• Water during cooler parts of day
• Match irrigation to crop stage and weather

Micro-Irrigation with Bio-Formulations

Innovative farmers combine drip irrigation with bio-formulation application:

1. Filter Jeevamrit through percolation chambers
2. Mix with irrigation water
3. Apply through drip system
4. Reduces labor and ensures even distribution

Cropping for Water Efficiency

Match crops to water availability:

• Grow water-intensive crops only in high-rainfall zones
• Choose drought-tolerant varieties for low-rainfall areas
• Plan crop rotation to maximize use of residual moisture
• Include deep-rooted crops that access subsoil water

Getting Started

1. Start mulching immediately: This is the fastest way to conserve water
2. Build soil organic matter: Apply Jeevamrit consistently
3. Harvest rainwater: Create simple in-field structures
4. Plan crop cover: Aim for 365 days of living roots
5. Monitor soil moisture: Learn to read when irrigation is truly needed

Water scarcity is among the greatest challenges facing Indian agriculture. Natural farming offers proven solutions that work with nature to use water efficiently while building the soil's capacity to capture and hold every precious drop.