Generally farmers assume that weeds are the enemy. Actually is a wrong concept. The weedicides that are using in agriculture are causing very serious health damages for humans. As well as living beings.
Recently we have conducted a research seminar on the weeds which were grown in agriculture. we identified around 3700 species of weeds. Among those weeds around 400 species of weeds have the quality of fixing nitrogen to the soil. these weeds had Rhizobium nodules tn their roots.
Around 200 species of weeds have oil content on their body. Around 190 species of weeds have pungent smell. Around 250 species of weeds have medicinal properties. Consumption of this medicinal weeds is also a medicine for animals, birds and micro-organisms. Even for human beings. Ayurveda uses more than 150 weed plants as medicine. Around 300 species of weeds are monocots.
These weeds will cover the soil to protect from soil erosion, water depletion and nutrient deficiency. They will provide food for the microbes, birds and animals thought the year. They help to increase the soil immunity. They will protect the crops from pest and insects and they boost up the immunity of the crops. As their life spans ends they will provide plant nutrients for the crops.
In our Banavasi farm we have identified around 39 verities of weeds (ಮುಟ್ಟಿದರೆ ಮುನಿ,ಗರಿಕೆ,ಹುಲ್ಲು, ಪಾರ್ಥೇನಿಯಂ, ರೋಜಾ ಕಡ್ಡಿ, ಕಳ್ಳಿ ಗಿಡ, ಕೊನ್ನಾರಿ, ಹುಲಿಕಡ್ಡಿ,ಬೇಧಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ಕರಿಕಡ್ಡಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ಗುರ್ಜಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಹುಳಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಬಲಾಣಿಗೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಜಾಗಟೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ಮೆಟ್ಲೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ಹಳ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ಮಲ್ಲೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಹತ್ತಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು ಕಪಿ ಹುಡರ್ಲಾ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಆಲೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ಕಾಸಳೆ ಎಲೆ, ಉತ್ರಾಣಿ ಗಿಡ, ಪುನರ್ಪುಳಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಸೀಗೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಗಣಿಕೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ನೆಲವರಿಕೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಅಣ್ಣೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಅಪಸಣ್ಣ ಸೊಪ್ಪು ಕನ್ನೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ದೊಗಳಕೀರೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ಕಂಕಡ್ಡಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,
ಬಳ್ಳಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ಹೊನಗೊನೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಬಟಾಣಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಮುಳ್ಳುಕೀರೆ ಸೊಪ್ಪು ಒಂದೆಲಗ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ನೆಲನೆಲ್ಲಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು ಗೋಣಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪು,ನಾರು ಬಳ್ಳಿ ಸೊಪ್ಪುಗಳು) are growing in between the plants throughout the year. Out of these 30% of the weeds can us as food.
Weeds and crops helps to keep the soil alive.
Removal of weeds in agricultural land makes the soil like a barren land.
Yields are higher when we allow these weeds to grow in our agricultural land otherwise yields are reduced.
A research exhibition was conducted for 2 days in Mysore to know the importance of these weeds.
About 750 varieties of weeds grown in different regions of Karnataka were displayed in this exhibition.
In this Seminar Tribal plant experts, Researchers, Scholars, Scientists discussed and presented about the weeds.
Smt. Indiramma
Sri. AP Chandrasekhar,
Sri.Mallinath Hemadi,
Sri.Guru male,
Sri. Manu,
Kumari Ramya
Sri. Rame Gowda
Sri. Ramakrishnappa and
Sri.Avinash TGS
all these experts participated as speakers.
The experts explain the importance of the medicinal properties in the weeds and how they are helpful to reduce malnutrition in animals and birds.
It’s a highly knowledgeable experience we gained in the career of ULUME foundation.
