International E-publication: Publish Projects, Dissertation, Theses, Books, Souvenir, Conference Proceeding with ISBN. 

Mulching in Natural Farming through Incorporating of Legumes crops

Author Affiliations

  • 1Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture (Central Agricultural University, Imphal), Kyrdemkulai– 793 105, Meghalaya, India

Res. J. Agriculture & Forestry Sci., Volume 14, Issue (1), Pages 10-18, January,8 (2026)

Abstract

The natural farming is public initiated movement towards self-reliant and sustainable agricultural production system with weight age to crops, trees and animals. Hence, the crop/ plant which are in favour of these three components will be well adopted in NF. The mulching is one important component in NF with wider impact on soil health, plant/ crop productivity and water management. Incorporating crops which provide mulching effect beside other beneficial effect such as legumes is important in NF. The cultivation of legumes has wider potential options to be investigated for their potential in NF. This article overview the potential options for incorporating the legumes in NF with their consideration, pros and cons. The legumes crops such as cowpea, green gram, cluster bean, sunhemp, delonix, sesbania and gliricidia are well known for their multiple and significant positive have effects in crop production which more highlighted as green and brown manuring. These crops will serve as mulching in NF with different options such as inter-cropping, inter-planting, economic crops with residue used as mulch material, green manuring, brown manuring, and multipurpose legumes tree species as source of vegetation for mulching. These legume crops are also compatible with other component such as acting as animal feed, valuable economic crop and source of protein to animal and human being. Therefore, it will be essential to further improve and investigate legumes for mulching and other potential benefits in NF.

References

  1. Bharucha, Z.P., Mitjans, S.B., & Pretty, J. (2020)., Towards redesign at scale through zero budget natural farming in Andhra Pradesh, India., Int. J. Agric. Sustain., 18(1), 1–20; DOI: 10.1080/14735903.2019.1694465.
  2. Anonymous (2022)., National centre for organic and natural farming, An organization under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Govt. of India), Hapur road, Sector-19, Kamala Nehru Nagar, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India – 201 002., Available online from: http://pgsindia-ncof.gov.in; Accessed on 20th June 2025.
  3. Anonymous. (2022a)., National Institute of Agriculture Extension Management (MANAGE), An organization under Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Govt. of India, Rajandranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India – 500 030. Accessed on 20th June 2025., Available online from:www.manage.gov.in. Accessed on: 10th June, 2025.
  4. Anonymous. (2022b)., National coalition of natural farming. Plot. No. 685, Road. No. 12 Narasimha Swamy Colony, Nagole Hyderabad Telangana, India – 500 068., Available online from: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0O.2010; Accessed on 20th June 2025.
  5. Bhattacharjee, U. & Uppaluri, R.V.S. (2023)., Production and optimization of Jeevamrutha bio-fertilizer formulations for soil fertility and its role in waste minimization., Sustain. Chem. Climate Action, 2, 100025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scca.2023.100025.
  6. Jordan, C.F. (2004)., Organic farming and agroforestry: Alleycropping for mulch production for organic farms of southeastern United States., Agrofor. Syst., 61(1), 79–90.
  7. Mridha, N., Ray, D.P., Saha, B., Ghosh, R.K., Das, A., Bhowmick, M., & Shakyawar, D.B. (2022)., Natural fibre based non-woven agrotextile mulch: a boon for natural farming., Indian Farming, 72(12), 15–18.
  8. Iqbal, R., Raza, M.A.S., Valipour, M., Saleem, M.F., Zaheer, M.S., Ahmad, S., Toleikiene, M., Haider, I., Aslam, M.U., & Nazar, M.A. (2020)., Potential agricultural and environmental benefits of mulches—A review., Bull. Natl. Res. Cent., 44(1), p.75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-020-00290-3.
  9. Kader, M.A., Singha, A., Begum, M.A., Jewel, A., Khan, F.H., & Khan, N.I. (2019)., Mulching as water-saving technique in dryland agriculture., Bull. Natl. Res. Cent., 43(1), 147. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-019-0186-7.
  10. Khan, B.A., Nijabat, A., Khan, M.I., Khan, I., Hashim, S., Nadeem, M.A., &Ikram, M. (2022)., Implications of Mulching on Weed Management in Crops and Vegetable., In: Akhtar, K., Arif, M., Riaz, M., & Wang, H. (eds.) Mulching in Agroecosystems. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-6410-7_13.
  11. Ravichandran, M., Samiappan, S.C., Pandiyan, R., &Velu, R.K. (2022)., Improvement of crop and soil management practices through mulching for enhancement of soil fertility and environmental sustainability: a review., J. Expt. Biol. Agric. Sci., 10(4), 697–712.
  12. Zhang, P., Zhang, Z., Xiao, M., Chao, J., Dai, Y., Liu, G., &Senge, M. (2023)., Effects of organic mulching on moisture and temperature of soil in greenhouse production of tomato under unheated greenhouse cultivation in the cold zone of China., Food Sci.Nutri., 11(8), 4829–4842. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3460.
  13. Liu, L., Zhu, Q., Wan, Y., Yang, R., Yang, L., Meng, L., Zheng, M., Xu, X., Zhu, T., Elrys, A.S. &Muller, C. (2025)., Towards a mechanistic understanding of legume functioning in natural restoration of degraded ecosystem: legume‐specific impacts on nitrogen transformation processes., Plant, Cell Environ., https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.15550.
  14. Diacono, M., Persiani, A., Castellini, M., Giglio, L., & Montemurro, F. (2021)., Intercropping and rotation with leguminous plants in organic vegetables: Crop performance, soil properties and sustainability assessment., Biolo. Agric. Horti., 37(3),141–167.
  15. Singh, A., Shivay, Y.S., Prasanna, R., & Kumar, A. (2021)., Basmati rice quality enhancement by zinc fertilization and green manuring on a sub-tropical inceptisol in indo-gangetic plains of India., J. Agricul. Sci., 13(5), 125–143.
  16. Farooq, M., Ullah, N., Nadeem, F., Nawaz, A., &Siddique, K.H. (2021)., Sesbania brown manuring improves soil health, productivity, and profitability of post-rice bread wheat and chickpea., Expt. Agric., 57(3), 145–162.
  17. Sandhya Rani, Y., Jamuna, P., Triveni, U., Patro, T.S.S.K., &Anuradha, N. (2022)., Effect of in situ incorporation of legume green manure crops on nutrient bioavailability, productivity and uptake of maize., J. Plant Nutri., 45(7), 1004–1016.
  18. Shahane, A.A. (2024)., Overview of natural faming-A new environmentally responsible production system., Acta Sci. Agric., 8(4), 25–30.
  19. Nene, Y.L. (2017)., A Critical discussion on the methods currently recommended to support organic crop farming in India., Asian Agri-History, 21(3), 267–285.
  20. Muhie, S.H. (2023)., Concepts, principles, and application of biodynamic farming: a review., Circ. Econ. Sustain., 3(1), 291–304.
  21. Wezel, A., Bellon, S., Doré, T., Francis, Charles A., Vallod, D., & David, C. (2009)., Agro-ecology as a Science, a Movement and a Practice: A Review., Agron. Sustain. Develop., 29, 503–515. DOI: 10.1051/agro/2009004.
  22. Lopez, F.G., Hernandez-Chontal, M.A., Cisneros-Sanguilan, P., & Linares-Gabriel, A. (2018)., Development of the concept of agro-ecology in Europe: A review., Sustainability, 10, 1210, DOI: 10.3390/su10041210.
  23. HPDE (2019)., Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security, Rome., Available from: https://openknowledge.fao.org/ server/api/core/bitstreams/ff385e60-0693-40fe-9a6b-79bbef 05202c/content; Access on: 30thJune, 2025.
  24. Reddy, T.Y. & Reddy, G.H.S. (2023)., Principles of Agronomy., 6th edition, Kalyani Publishers, India. (ISBN: 9789327269154).
  25. Cataldo, E., Salvi, L., Paoli, F., Fucile, M., Masciandaro, G., Manzi, D., Masini, C.M., & Mattii, G.B. (2021)., Application of zeolites in agriculture and other potential uses: A review., Agronomy, 11(8), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11081547.
  26. Sib, O., González-García, E., Assouma, M.H., Sanou, F., Douzet, J.M., Kouakou, P.K., Dabiré, D., Sanogo, S., &Vall, E. (2025)., Overall performances of Leucaenaleucocephala and Morus alba in high-density protein banks at maturity in western Burkina Faso., Agrofor. Syst., 99(1), p.11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-024-01111-6.
  27. Manaye, A., Tesfamariam, B., Tesfaye, M., Worku, A., & Gufi, Y. (2021)., Tree diversity and carbon stocks in agroforestry systems in northern Ethiopia., Carbon Balance Manag., 16(1), p.14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s130 21-021-00174-7.
  28. Shahane, A. A. (2025)., In-situ live and dead mulching of legumes: A valid substitute for brown manuring in natural farming., Indian Farmer, 12(7), 371–378.