Agnihotra Timing

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by

Sandhya Bhat, KK Misra and Vikas Kumar Sharma

commercially, socially and environmentally. While there is a continuum of thought from earlier days to the present, the modern organic movement is radically different from its original form. It now has environmental sustainability at its core in addition to the founder’s concerns for healthy soil, food, and people. In recent years, the market for organic farming has significantly increased in response to concerns over food quality and environmental matters. Organic food is quite attractive for consumers and is often associated with quality, healthy and natural products in opposition to the more processed and artificial conventional food.

Keywords: biofertilizer, Fruits, Mulching, Organic farming, Panchgavya

Introduction

Organic farming is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity and this is accomplished by using on-farm agronomic, biological and mechanical methods in exclusion of all synthetic off-farm inputs (Codex, 2007 ^[5]; FAO, 2012 ^[8]). It emphasizes the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account that regional conditions require locally adapted systems. Organic farming refers to the way of agricultural products (food and fiber) are grown and processed. It excludes the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, plant growth regulators, and livestock feed additives. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not allowed in organic farming. As far as possible, organic farmers depend on crop rotation, green manures, compost, mulching, biological pest control, and mechanical cultivation to maintain productive soil and control pests (Diver, 2000 ^[7]). In the case of livestock, antibiotics are forbidden and instead preventative measures for keeping animals healthy and productive are used.

Management Principles

Organic farming management is an integrated approach, where all aspects of farming systems are interlinked with each other and work for each other. A healthy biologically active soil is the source of crop nutrition, on-farm biodiversity, controls pests, crop rotation and multiple cropping maintains the system’s health and on-farm resource management with integration of cattle to ensure productivity and sustainability. Organic management stresses on optimization of resource use and productivity, rather than maximization of productivity and over-exploitation of resources on the cost of resources meant for future generations. Living soil is the basis of organic farming. A live, healthy soil with proper cropping patterns, crop residue management, and effective crop rotation can sustain optimum productivity over the years, without any loss in fertility. Organic farming envisages a comprehensive management approach to improve soil health, the ecosystem of the region and the quality of produce. It includes all agricultural systems that promote environmentally sound production of food and fibers. These systems take local soil fertility as a key to successful production by respecting the natural capacity of plants, animals and the landscape; they aim to optimize quality in all aspects of agriculture and the environment. A living soil can be maintained by continuous incorporation of crop and weed biomass, use of animal dung, urine-based manures (FYM, NADEP, vermicompost), biofertilizers and bio-enhancers, special liquid formulations (like vermiwash, compost tea, etc.) during a crop’s duration.

Strategies 1. Soil Management

A. Crop rotation: Crop rotation involves planting different crop species at different times and locations on the same field. Rotating crops improve the tilth or structure of the soil. This practice reduces soil erosion and pest build up, promotes soil fertility and spreads out financial risk in case a crop fails. Crop rotations result in an increase in soil microbial activity which may increase nutrient availability and including phosphorus. Yields are usually 10 to 15% higher with the practice of crop rotation than monoculture (Frick and Johnson, 2006)^[9]

B. Cover Cropping: A cover crop is any crop grown to provide a cover for the soil. They can be annual, biennial or perennial herbaceous plants grown in a pure or mixed stand during all or part of the year. This practice helps loosen compacted soil through root growth, improves water filtration and prevents soil erosion by wind and water. Cover crops also help suppress weeds by keeping the sun from reaching weed seeds and reduce insect pests and diseases (VanTine and Verlinder, 2003) ^[19].

D. Green leaf manuring: Application of green leaves and twigs of trees, shrubs, and herbs collected from elsewhere. The important plant species are – Neem, Mahua, Wild indigo, Glyricidia, Karanji (Pongamia glabra) calotropis, avise (Sesbania grandiflora), subabul and other shrubs. It improves soil structure, increases water holding capacity and decreases soil loss by erosion, reduces weed proliferation and weed growth, helps in the reclamation of alkaline soils and root-knot nematodes can be controlled.  

E. Animal manures: Manure can be applied to the field in either a raw or composted form. Raw manure contributes nutrients to the soil, adds organic matter and encourages biological processes in the soil. Composting of manure is best, since the heat created during composting may kill most of the contaminants, thus the risk of pathogens related to food safety is minimized or eliminated. Farmers should have the soil tested before adding either raw or composted manures (VanTine and Verlinder, 2003) ^[19]. Composting reduces biomass volume thus facilitating ease of transportation. For organic certification, manure from factory animal production units will not be permitted. USDA standards require a 90120 day period from the time manure is applied to the time of harvest (Biernbaum, 2003) ^[4]. 

F. Mulching: Covering the ground with a layer of loose material such as compost, manure, straw, dry grass, leaves or crop residues. It reduces moisture loss and conserves water, improves soil structure, reduces soil temperature, reduces or stops weed growth, reduces soil compaction, provides essential nutrients needed for good plant growth, protects plants from the cold when applied in the fall, provides a clean and pleasant surface for caring for plants and harvesting fruits. Mulching can be done at almost any time of the year (Best in June – July, for winter protection – November). Straw, hay, wood chips, ground bark, sawdust, leaves, grass clippings, and pine needles are common mulching materials. These should be applied to a depth of 5 to 15 cm and cover the ground around a plant out to the drip line. Rehman et al. (2015) ^[15] studied the effect of different mulching materials on fruit size and yield of Strawberry and found that straw dust gave maximum fruit size and yield. The response of soil covers on guava cv. Sardar was studied by Das et al., (2010) ^[6] and the results showed that among organic and inorganic mulches used, paddy straw was found to be effective to improve the fruit quality of guava.

by

Agnihotra Ash and Water Soluble Phosphates
Dr. Tung Ming Lai, Denver, Colorado, USA

by

Abhang Pranay,  D. Pathade Girish
Teaching Associate, Institute of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune 411007, Maharashtra, India1
Principal, H. V. Desai College, Pune 411002, Maharashtra, India 2
Email – pranayabhang@yahoo.co.in, Email – girishpathade@yahoo.co.in

INTRODUCTION 

Agnihotra Yadnya, Shrisukta Yadnya, Somyag Yadnya are rituals of offerings of ghee, dried twigs of various plants that are religiously mentioned in the Vedic literature and have medicinal potential, as well accompanied by chanting of Vedic mantras derived from the practice in Vedic times. These Yadnyas are performed by using the method mentioned in the Vedic literature.

In the air as a part of pollution, various pollutants are found especially Sox and NOx. There are claims that Yadnya fumes and procedures reduce air pollutions. Hence attempts were made to test scientifically the effect of Yadnya fumes and procedure on the levels of Sox and NOx.

METHOD

Air samples were collected by using respective absorbing reagents for SOx and NOx with the help of Handy sampler. (Spectralab, HDS -8)

A. Estimation of SOx 

SO_x was estimated by improved West and Gaeke method (1956), in short, SO₂ from the surrounding airstream was absorbed in a sodium tetra-chloromercurate solution, it forms a stable dichloro sulpho mercurate (HgCl₂SO₃)^2-  complex, which then behaves effectively as fixed SO₃^-2 in solution. The amount of SO₂ was then estimated by the color produced when p-rosailine-hydrochloride and formaldehyde were added in solution, which can be measured on a spectrophotometer at 560 nm. Calibration curve of standard sodium meta-bi sulphate was used for SOx estimation by using the following formula

B.  Estimation of NOx 

NO_x was estimated by modified Jacobs – Hochheiser method (1972), in short, NO2 in air was collected by scrubbing a known volume of air through an alkaline solution of arsenite. The nitrite ions thus formed was reacted with sulfanilamide and N-(1-naphthyl) ethylenediamine (NEDA) in phosphoric acid to form the colored azo dye, which can be measured on spectrophotometer at 540 nm. The method was standardized statistically by using NaNO₂ standards. Standardization is based upon the empirical observation that 0.74 mole of NaNO₂ produces same color as 1 mole of NO₂. SO₂ can be removed using H₂O₂. 

RESULTS 

1. Agnihotra yadnya performed at Biotechnology department of Fergusson College, Pune

Table 1 – Effect of Agnihotra yadnya (Fergusson College) on SOx and NOx levels.

SO₂ level in atmosphere reduces from 1.44 ppm to 0.56 ppm (about 43%) due to Agnihotra fumes (performed at sunset). NO₂ level in the surrounding atmosphere was increased from 0.0086 ppm to 0.0094 ppm due to Agnihotra fumes (performed at sunset).  

2. Agnihotra yadnya performed at Ramanbaug High-school, Pune

Table 2 – Effect of Agnihotra yadnya (Ramanbaug High-school) on SOx and NOx levels.

SO_x in the surrounding environment reduces up to 10 times (4.4729 ppm to 0.4758 ppm) due to Agnihotra fumes. The effect of fumes remains after Agnihotra also, SO_x shows 10 times reduction (Performed at sunrise). NO_x in the surrounding environment increases up to 0.001 ppm due to Agnihotra fumes. But at the end of the Agnihotra NO_x level become normal as before Agnihotra.

3. Shree-sukta Yadnya performed at Biotechnology department of Fergusson College, Pune

Table 3 – Effect of shreesukta Yadnya on SOx and NOx levels.

As per results, SO₂ in the surrounding environment decreases 10 times (6.29 ppm to 0.65 ppm) due to the fumes of yadnya, NO₂ level in environment increases (from 0.0034 ppm to

0.0046 ppm) but there is no any drastic change in NO₂ level.

4. Somyag yadnya performed at Beed

Table 4 – Effect of somyag Yadnya (Beed) on SOx and NOx levels.

SO₂ level in atmosphere reduces from 0.175 ppm to 0.0175 ppm (10 times) due to Mahasomyag fumes. There is no significant effect of Mahasomyag fumes on NO₂ concentration. There is slight increase (0.0008 ppm) in NOx levels i.e. from 0.00094 ppm to 0.00173 ppm.

5. Somyag yadnya performed at Uruli (Devachi), Pune

Table 5 – Effect of somyag Yadnya (Pune) on SOx and NOx levels

SO_x level decreases during and after yadnya up to 10 times that of initial (Reduces from 0.43 ppm to 0.048 ppm). SO_x level remains decreased after the yadnya (at least up to 2 days) was finished. SO_x pollution in the air can be reduce up to 90% by performing yadnya.

NOx level increases during yadnya up to 0.05 ppm, but also decreases to normal level (0.01 ppm) after yadnya (on day 24 and 25).

NOx level increases up to 20% as compare to initial (day -1 and 0) NOx levels. Standard NO_x

(mostly NO₂) level provided by ‘National Ambient Air Quality Standards’ (NAAQS) as well as ‘Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’ is 0.053 ppm (annual average per hour).  Maximum value recorded was 0.052 ppm (during day 19 to 23) which is less as compare to standard levels.

REFERENCES 

19. W. West and G. C. Gaeke. “Fixation of Sulfur Dioxide as Disulfitomercurate (II) and Subsequent Colorimetric Estimation”. Anal. Chem., 1956, 28 (12), pp 1816 – 19.

J.H. Blacker and R.S. Brief. “Evaluation of the Jacobs-Hochheiser method for determining ambient nitrogen dioxide concentrations”. Chemosphere, volume 1, issue 1, January 1972, pp 43 – 6.

Pathade G. and Abhang Pranay. “Scientific study of Vedic knowledge – Agnihotra”, Bharatiya Bouddhik Sampada, quarterly Science Journal of Vijnana Bharati, Issue No. 43 – 44, Feb – June 2014, pp 18 – 27.