It is the theory of agriculture expounded in such a manner that the farmers would benefit by its application. This treatise includes observations on all the aspects of agriculture such as meteorological observations relating to agriculture, management of agriculture, management of cattle, agricultural tools and implements, seed collection and preservation, ploughing and all the agricultural processes involved right from preparing fields to harvesting and storage of crops.
The treatise advocates a symbiotic relationship, organic farming techniques, crop management, holistic farming, or rather sustainable use of available resources all details of which are given in KrishiParashara.
VRIKSHAYURVEDA – It deals with an ancient science of plant life. Vrikshayurveda means Ayurveda of plants and dealing with every aspect related to the life of plants. It discusses various topics connected with the science of plant life such as procuring, preserving and treating of seeds before planting, selection of soil ph, nourishments and fertilizers, plant diseases and plant protection from internal and external diseases etc.
From times from immemorial, India has grown its own food without chemicals and without fertilizers, using just the laws of nature and the products of plants and animals to aid soil fertility and crop immunity. After running these ordeals of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, we are once again venturing back to Mother Nature to support us in our farming activities using bio fertilizers and bio pesticides. Today Organic Farming is gaining momentum and Man has embarked upon this system of Agriculture to utilize Organic products to stay fit and healthy.
Agriculture –Krishi in Sanskrit terms finds extensive mention in many Vedic texts such as KrishiParashara, Kautilya’sArtha-shastra, theSangam literature of early Tamils, Manusmriti, Varāhamihira’sBrhat-Samhita, Amarakosha, Kashyapiya- Krishisukti, and Surapala’sVrikshayurveda. These texts provide information about agriculture, horticulture, and plant biodiversity.
In the puranas, especially the Agni Puraṇa, application of ‘excreta of sheep and goat and pulverized barley and sesame allowed to be soaked in water for seven nights’ is recommended to increase flowering and fruiting of trees. Panchagavya, a mixture of five cow products, is a fermented culture of cow dung, urine, milk, curd and ghee (other ingredients are sometimes added to increase fermentation). Studies have shown that panchagavya works as a bio-fertilizer, enhancing growth and productivity of crops and increasing resistance to diseases.
Parashara used the word ‘disease’ in Sanskrit (vyadhi) to differentiate from visible pests. Varāhamihira’s chapter on treatment of trees mentioned that trees are vulnerable to disease when exposed to cold weather, strong winds, and hot sun; this possibly laid the foundation of classifying tree diseases such as vata, pitta and kapha, which were formalized in later centuries in Surapala’sVrikshayurveda.
Modern science says 20 of those species contain antimicrobial properties,” explains Y.L. Nene, former Additional Director General of ICRISAT , an eminent Plant pathologist , in his book “ Descriptions of how 30 plant species can be used to control plant diseases.“
There is only one ancient copy on palm leaves of Surapala’sVrikshayurveda (c.1000 AD) in the world preserved at the Bodleian Library, Oxford University, UK. A bulletin with Sanskrit text, its English translation, and commentaries by scientists was published in 1996 by Asian Agri-History Foundation.