How Natural Farming Revives Soil Life
Imagine if we could peek beneath the surface of a farm and watch the intricate dance of billions of microscopic organisms—the bacteria, fungi, and tiny creatures that form the foundation of our food system.
This hidden world holds the key to why some agricultural practices flourish while others falter. Today, we're exploring a revolutionary approach to farming that's transforming agricultural landscapes across India: Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) and its profound impact on the biological properties of soil.
When we talk about "zero budget," we refer to farming without purchased chemical inputs, relying instead on naturally available resources. As conventional agriculture grapples with rising costs, environmental degradation, and declining soil health, ZBNF offers a promising alternative that works with nature rather than against it. The health of the soil beneath our feet doesn't just affect crops—it determines the resilience of our food systems, the sustainability of our farms, and ultimately, the health of our planet 5 .
Works with natural processes, enhancing soil biology and ecosystem health.
Relies on synthetic inputs that can disrupt soil ecosystems over time.
Zero Budget Natural Farming emerged as a response to the growing crisis of farmer debt and environmental degradation in India. Pioneered by agriculturist Subhash Palekar, ZBNF is built on four core principles, often called the "four wheels":
A natural seed treatment made from local cow dung, cow urine, and other ingredients that protects seeds from soil-borne diseases 5 .
Maintaining proper soil aeration through improved soil structure and reduced irrigation, creating ideal conditions for root and microbial growth 5 .
Unlike organic farming, which often relies on purchased inputs, ZBNF utilizes materials typically available on or near the farm, making it particularly accessible to smallholder farmers. The philosophy centers on regenerating the natural biological processes that sustain plant growth rather than relying on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
To understand how ZBNF actually affects soil biology, researchers conducted a carefully designed study comparing ZBNF with conventional farming systems in a cauliflower ecosystem. The two-year experiment (2018-2020) monitored changes in soil microbial populations, enzyme activity, and micro-arthropod communities under both management approaches 3 .
In the ZBNF plots, farmers used only indigenous cow urine and dung-based formulations including beejamrit, jeevamrit, and ghanjeevamrit. Meanwhile, the conventional farming plots received recommended doses of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, representing standard agricultural practice. Researchers regularly collected soil samples and measured key biological indicators throughout the cropping season to track changes in soil life.
The results demonstrated striking differences between the two farming systems. ZBNF significantly enhanced all measured indicators of soil biological health compared to conventional farming 3 .
| Organism Type | Cropping Period | Population Increase in ZBNF (%) | Population Increase in Conventional Farming (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacteria | 2018-19 | +11.36 | +8.23 |
| 2019-20 | +23.69 | +12.87 | |
| Fungi | 2018-19 | +2.04 | +2.44 |
| 2019-20 | +12.04 | +2.13 | |
| Actinomycetes | 2018-19 | +8.72 | +3.34 |
| 2019-20 | +24.83 | +8.87 |
The population of beneficial soil microorganisms increased substantially more in ZBNF systems over the cropping period. This microbial boost is crucial because these organisms perform essential functions like nutrient cycling, decomposition, and disease suppression.
| Enzyme Type | Cropping Period | Activity Increase in ZBNF (%) | Activity Increase in Conventional Farming (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dehydrogenase | 2018-19 | +3.01 | +1.85 |
| 2019-20 | +14.73 | +3.38 | |
| Phosphatase | 2018-19 | +0.81 | +0.98 |
| 2019-20 | +1.42 | +1.37 | |
| Urease | 2018-19 | +3.84 | +2.51 |
| 2019-20 | +14.01 | +5.08 |
Enzyme activity, which indicates how efficiently soils can process nutrients, showed remarkable improvement in ZBNF systems, particularly in the second year. This suggests that the benefits of ZBNF accumulate over time, leading to increasingly healthy soil ecosystems.
Recent advances in DNA sequencing technology have allowed scientists to peer even deeper into the soil microbial world. A 2024 study using amplicon sequencing of 16S and ITS regions compared the microbial diversity in ZBNF and conventionally managed soils 4 . The findings were clear: organically managed soils exhibited significantly higher microbial diversity with 40 unique microbial elements compared to only 19 in chemically managed soils.
Unique microbial elements in ZBNF soils
Unique microbial elements in conventional soils
This diversity matters because different microorganisms perform different jobs in the soil ecosystem. Some break down organic matter, others make nutrients available to plants, and some protect plants from diseases. The richer the microbial community, the more resilient and functional the soil becomes.
But it's not just microorganisms that benefit from natural farming practices. The study also revealed dramatic differences in soil arthropod populations 3 :
| Arthropod Type | Population Change in ZBNF (%) | Population Change in Conventional Farming (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Hymenoptera | +66.6 | +50.0 |
| Hemiptera | 0 | Not reported |
| Coleoptera | +100 | Not reported |
| Isoptera | +33.3 | +50.0 |
| Isopoda | +200 | +100 |
These tiny soil animals create channels for air and water, break down organic matter, and help control pest populations. Their increased presence in ZBNF systems indicates a healthier, more balanced soil ecosystem.
The advantages of ZBNF extend far beneath the surface. Research shows that ZBNF can maintain comparable crop yields while significantly boosting farmers' profits—by an average of 123.6% compared to conventional farming—primarily through reduced input costs 1 . This economic benefit addresses one of the most pressing issues in agriculture: farmer indebtedness.
Average profit increase for ZBNF farmers compared to conventional farming
The positive impacts also extend to broader ecosystem health. A large-scale study published in Nature found that ZBNF landscapes supported higher densities of bird species involved in pest control and seed dispersal, indicating improved agricultural biodiversity 1 . This creates a virtuous cycle where healthier soils support more diverse ecosystems, which in turn provide better natural pest control and pollination services.
For those curious about the practical side of ZBNF, here's a breakdown of the key preparations and their purposes:
Solid form of microbial culture applied to soil to improve nutrient availability 3 .
These low-cost, locally available inputs replace synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, making farming more accessible and sustainable, particularly for small-scale farmers.
The evidence is clear: how we farm fundamentally changes the biological universe beneath our feet.
Zero Budget Natural Farming isn't just about replacing chemical inputs with natural ones—it's about restoring the complex web of life that sustains productive agricultural systems. By enhancing soil microbial diversity, improving enzyme activity, and supporting beneficial arthropods, ZBNF creates resilient farming systems that benefit farmers, ecosystems, and society.
Reduced farmer debt and increased food security
Enhanced biodiversity and ecosystem resilience
Lower input costs and higher profitability
As one research team concluded, ZBNF represents a promising "nature-based solution" that can simultaneously address food insecurity, social injustices, and the biodiversity crisis 1 . While more long-term studies are needed, particularly in different agricultural contexts, the revival of soil biology through approaches like ZBNF offers hope for an agricultural system that works in harmony with nature rather than against it.
The next time you see a farm, remember that the most important activity is happening out of sight—in the bustling microbial cities and intricate food webs just beneath the surface. It's here, in this hidden world, that the future of sustainable agriculture is being written.
Want to dig deeper? The studies referenced in this article are openly available in scientific journals including Nature, the International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, and various PMC publications.