gardening
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The farm looks peaceful at sunrise, but beneath the leaves, a silent war rages. Some wear red spots. Ladybirds and wasps are out there, hunting pests with an efficiency no chemical can match. Why Not All Insects Are the Enemy One random day in our Entomology practical class, we went for insect collection in the Read more
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Ever noticed how rainwater seems calmer when it follows the natural curves of the land instead of rushing straight downhill? It’s almost like the earth knows how to guide water gently if we let it. That’s the quiet wisdom behind contour farming a practice that not only protects soil and water but also gives us Read more
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Vermicomposting explained: how earthworms recycle waste, reduce methane, and turn soil into a powerful climate ally. Ever noticed how a tiny earthworm wriggling in the soil might be doing more for the climate than most machines? Hidden beneath our feet, these quiet creatures are recycling waste, building soil, and even helping us fight global warming. Read more
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Ever noticed how a simple mud ridge at the edge of a field can decide whether crops thrive or wither? At first glance, these soil bunds look ordinary just low earthen walls drawn across slopes. But in reality, they are quiet climate warriors. Across India, bunding has been shown to reduce runoff by 40–60% and Read more
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Ever noticed how a cup of tea tastes different when you squeeze in too much lemon? That sharp sourness isn’t just in your mug it’s quietly creeping into our soils too. And the culprit? Climate change. Why Soil Turns Acidic When we talk about climate change, we usually picture melting ice caps or rising seas. Read more
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Ever noticed how a field can look drenched, yet the plants still thirst? Sunlight pulls water into the air, streams carry it away, and only a fraction reaches the roots. Imagine if every drop could travel straight to the spot where life begins the root itself. The Origins of Drip Irrigation The story begins in Read more
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What Are Mycorrhizal Fungi? Let’s break it down simply. Mycorrhizal fungi are microscopic soil organisms that form a symbiotic relationship with plant roots. They basically extend the plant’s root system using fungal filaments called hyphae, which act like nutrient highways running through the soil. In return for sugar from the plant, these fungi help deliver: Read more
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Somewhere between tradition and timing, there’s a quiet logic that’s been guiding farmers for centuries. It’s not in a textbook or a soil lab report. It’s written in the sky. In villages across Indiaand across continents, from the Andes to Africa farmers look to the moon before they look to the seed bag. They wait Read more
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I was deep into mid-exam prep, flipping through my Crop Production notes the usual stuff on cereals, pulses, cropping systems. Then I came across a section titled “Ratooning in Sugarcane.” I stopped. Hold on. Farmers can grow a second sugarcane crop without even replanting? That line hit me. Not just because it was part of Read more
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A few days ago, I was watching a startup pitch show where a young student presented a climate-resilient agri-startup. It wasn’t some high-tech, buzzword-heavy thin it was simple, smart, and rooted in solving real problems for farmers. That moment made me pause. Since then, I’ve seen YouTube videos of students composting on balconies, growing food Read more
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This week we went on an educational visit to CRIDA – the Central Research Institute for Dry-land Agriculture as a part of our course work from Seed Technology and Crop Production. It was about 2-hours drive from our college and we traveled together in our college bus. As soon as we arrived and stepped off Read more
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Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention acid rain and how it’s quietly weakening the very soil we depend on. As an agriculture student, this isn’t just theory for me. Healthy soil is farming’s backbone, and without it, food security becomes a guessing game. What’s the Deal with Acid Rain? Think of acid Read more
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Let’s face it manure isn’t the most glamorous topic. But as someone studying agriculture, I’ve come to see it differently. Manure isn’t just waste it’s a powerful resource for soil and climate. If managed right, it can enrich fields, cut fertilizer costs, and even generate clean energy. If managed poorly, it becomes a climate hazard. Read more
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Yesterday I was still thinking about how cow burps and farts warm our planet. Then this morning, scrolling through a Bill Gates blog, something clicked: why do we talk so much about coal and cows but not about the soil beneath our feet? As an agriculture student, I spend a lot of time thinking about Read more
