Dr.Shivakshi Bertwal1, Dr.Meenakshi Ambwani2, Dr.Ashutosh Kumar Pandey3
Abstract:
India holds second position worldwide in terms farm outputs. Agriculture, with its allied sectors, is the largest source of livelihoods in India. After green revolution burden of income and food security has pushed the agriculture sector to use massive number of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. This use of chemical products in agriculture has contributed to soil pollution and produced adverse effect on human health. Also, due to abuse of chemical fertilizers, plants are unable to reach the optimum level of pigments during photosynthesis, which leads to further deficiency of essential vitamins, proteins etc. Argo-homoeopathy is a new emerging field in homoeopathy and many new researches have been undertaken on plants to study the germination rate, growth factors, yield along with enhancement of quantity of active principles and their photosynthetic pigments.
Keywords – Agro-homoeopathy, Agriculture, Photosynthesis, Potentised Homoeopathic medicines,
Introduction
Agriculture and its associated sectors are the largest source of income provider in India, especially in rural areas. It is also a major source of contributor in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). [1] It is the primary source of income for about 58 per cent of India’s population. Gross Value Added (GVA) by agriculture, forestry and fishing was estimated at Rs 19.48 lakh crore (US$ 276.37 billion) in FY20. Growth in GVA in agriculture and allied sectors stood at 4 per cent in FY20. During 2019-20 crop years, food grain production was estimated to reach a record 295.67 million tonnes. In 2020-21, Government of India is targeting food grain production of 298 million tonnes. [2]
It has been noted that farmers tend to overfertilize crops to minimize any risk of yield reduction and nutrient stress. There is no proper regulation for usage of fertilizers as farmers dwell on the notion of using more fertilizers for more production which is wrong, and not only it affects the present crop but also the subsequent crops. Using high amounts of Phosphorus as a chemical fertilizer can be harmful as it remains in soil and water for thousands of years and may cause kidney damage and osteoporosis. Also, due to abuse of chemical fertilizers, plants are unable to reach the optimum level of pigments during photosynthesis, which leads to further deficiency of essential vitamins, proteins etc. [3]
PHOTOSYNTHESIS & HOMOEOPATHY
Photosynthesis is one of the most important biological processes on Earth, as it produces most of the oxygen in our atmosphere, upon which nearly all life depends. Photosynthesis takes place in green plants; whereby solar energy is converted to carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and organic matter in the form of glucose. Glucose is then converted into nutrients and used by the plants themselves and animals. Chlorophyll and carotenoid are vital components that are found in the intrinsic part of the chloroplast. Their functions include light-harvesting, energy transfer, photochemical redox reaction, as well as photoprotection. [4]
Phosphorus profoundly affects the nutrition and function of every tissue, the hardest (cambium and bark) and the softest (flowers and fruits), causes an increase in growth. Reproduction is fine if Phosphorus is given at the right time. Phosphorus given shortly before flowering causes increased flowering. Also, it helps in cases of impaired photosynthesis.[5]
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY HOMOEOPATHY
Environmental or Abiotic stresses may of different kinds, i.e.- Salt stress, heat stress, cold stress, drought stress, metal (copper, nickel, lead, cadmium, arsenic etc) toxicity etc. These are caused by various environmental factors and there are many methods of eradicate these stress conditions. But these methods are either very costlier or inefficient. In most of the cases abiotic stress resistant plants are derived by genetic engineering. Agrohomeopathy is a sophisticated way to resist the plants against abiotic stresses without genetic engineering.[6]
Potentised Homoeopathic medicines has been found successful in many researches in biotic stresses mainly associated with plant diseases caused by various causative agents such as fungus, bacteria,virus,insects etc. A bunch of mulberry diseases (root knot, leaf spot, powdery mildew, mosaic disease and turka disease) can be cured by Aakashmoni 200CH and Cina 200CH used to treat root-knot disease only. High dilution of Belladonna can affect the mycelial growth of Corynespor acassiicola [7]
GROWTH & GERMINATION
Agrohomoeopathy is being increasingly implemented worldwide and it has potential to become alternative to chemical products to deal with negative effects caused by the indiscriminate use of chemical products in conventional agricultural practices.
Research studies done in Homoeopathy:
- In the study “EFFECTS OF POTENTISED HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES ON THE GERMINATION, GROWTH AND PHOTOSYNTHETIC ACTIVITY OF PISUM SATIVUM L.” [8] the effect of potentized homoeopathic medicines, Arsenicum album and Baryta carbonium were evaluated on parameters like germination rate, growth, and photosynthetic activity of pea seedlings. 8 CH, 32CH, 202 CH potencies were used for both the medicines. The result showed that with the increase in potency of each homoeopathic medicine, the morphological parameters like length of shoot and length of root of the plant increased. The photosynthetic pigments also showed the similar positive result.
- Another research study “COMPARATIVE STUDY TO ASSESS THE COMPLEMENTARY ACTION OF HOMOEOPATHIC MEDICINES PHOSPHORUS 200 CH AND PULSATILLA 200 CH AS GROWTH ENHANCERS ON PLANT ALLIUM CEPA L.” [9] has been conducted. This controlled prospective study was planned to evaluate the effects of homoeopathic potentized medicine Phosphorus and Pulsatilla on plant growth, length, diameter and fresh mass of whole plant. Phosphorus 200CH produces beneficial effects in plant germination time, mass, bulb diameter as well as in its length.
Conclusion
Potentized homoeopathic medicine will be a cost effective, environment friendly substitute that will help in increasing the productivity and nutritive value thereby eliminating the harmful effects of conventional fertilizers. Overuse of fertilizer has led to phosphorus shortage and water pollution. It causes eutrophication (a reduction of dissolved oxygen in water bodies caused by an increase of minerals, metals leading to toxicity) of rivers and lakes. This reduced level of oxygen in water affects the growth and development in plants receiving this polluted water. Homeopathic preparations do not work mechanistically, although mechanistic phenomena must result from their action. Rather, they work dynamically, whereby the mechanistic results are nothing but further proof of this dynamic action, thus leads to greater yields. Furthermore, role of homoeopathy needs to be explored more in agriculture demanding more researches. More researches and field trials are required to increase the success rate. In-vitro and field experiments are required to assess the effect of various homoeopathic drugs.
REFERENCES
- 1. Available from: https://www.india.gov.in/topics/agriculture.
- Indian Agriculture and Allied Industries Industry Report [june, 2022]. Available from: ibef.org/industry/agriculture-india.aspx.
- Bisht, N., Chauhan, P. S., Excessive and Disproportionate Use of Chemicals Cause Soil Contamination and Nutritional Stress. In: Larramendy, M. L., Soloneski, S., editors. Soil Contamination-Threats and Sustainable Solution. London: Intech Open;2020 Available: https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/74460doi:10.5772/intechopen.94593.[accessedon 2022.jan.10th]
- The Role of Photosynthesis in the Life of Animals;2019, September 13 [Internet] Available: https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-role-of-photosynthesis-in-the-life-of-animals.html. [accessed on 2022.jan.18th].
- Kaviraj V.D. Homoeopathy for Farm and Garden.4thedition, Blumenplatz 2,79400 Kandern, Germany: Narayana Verlag ;2015.
- Sen S, Chandra I, Khatun A, Chaterjee S, Das S. (2018). Agrohomeopathy: an emerging field of agriculture for higher crop productivity and protection of plants against various stress conditions. IJRAR (2018): Issue 4,Vol.5. doi: 10.1729/Journal.18583
- 7. Gupta G, V. vyas. Agrohomoeopathy- Does Homoeopathy have Role in Agriculture?[research gate].Wesleyan Journal of Research,2020.nov, Vol 13 ,No 40.
- Panda SS, Mohanty SS, Dhal NK. Effects of potentised homeopathic medicines on the germination, growth and photosynthetic activity of Pisum sativum LRRST 2013.June,27;5(4).
- Jain S, Kumar R, Gupta M. Comparative study to assess the complementary action of homoeopathic medicines Phosphorus 200CH and Pulsatilla 200CH as growth enhancers on plant allium cepa L. International journal of advanced scientific research and management; 2021. February, 27th;6 (6).
Dr.Shivakshi Bertwal1, Dr.Meenakshi Ambwani2, Dr.Ashutosh Kumar Pandey3
1Asst.Professor,Dept.of Surgery ,Madhav Homoeopathic Medical College, Madhav University,Rajasthan
2Professor, Dept. of Homoeopathic Pharmacy,Bakson Homoeopathic Medical College & Hospital, Greater Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh
3Asst. Professor, Department of Agriculture, Sharda School of Agricultural Sciences, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh
Email : shivibertwal09@gmail.com
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