Natural farming produced more than twice the fresh turmeric yield under conventional chemical farming in field trials conducted at Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University (SDAU), with the findings also showing substantial differences in soil microbial communities and farm returns.
The study, conducted jointly by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) and SDAU, found that two natural farming treatments produced more than 40 tonnes of fresh turmeric rhizomes per hectare, compared with 19.3 tonnes per hectare under the conventional farming system.
The research was published in 'BMC Plant Biology' and examined nine natural farming treatment combinations against conventional farming.
Minister's Statement on the Findings
"The study, published in BMC Plant Biology in 2026, compared conventional chemical farming with nine different natural farming treatment combinations. One of the natural farming treatments produced more than 40 tonnes of fresh turmeric rhizomes per hectare, compared with 19.3 tonnes per hectare under conventional farming," Science and Technology Minister Arjun Modhwadia said.
About Turmeric's Broader Significance
Turmeric, or Curcuma longa, is widely used as a spice and in pharmaceutical and traditional medicine applications, with curcumin being its principal bioactive compound, giving the crop significant economic value beyond its use as a common household spice.
A Comprehensive Research Approach
The researchers examined not only crop yield but also soil nutrients, enzyme activity and microbial diversity to assess the effects of natural farming, reflecting a multi-dimensional study design rather than one focused purely on output volume.
The Economic Context Behind the Research
"Turmeric, often described as the 'golden spice', plays a major role in India's food, pharmaceutical and traditional medicine sectors. Its active compound, curcumin, has also driven growing demand in domestic and international markets. However, intensive cultivation dependent on chemical fertilisers and pesticides can place increasing pressure on soil ecosystems and farm economics," Modhwadia said.
Income Gains Alongside Yield Gains
SDAU Vice-Chancellor Rajeshwar Sinh Chandel said the results had also been seen in terms of farm income. "Income doubled through the successful natural farming of turmeric. Positive results are also being obtained in all fruit crops from this successful experiment. Natural farming is the main foundation of the 'One Health Mission' initiated by the government," Chandel said.
Part of a Broader Research Programme
The research formed part of Gujarat's Network Research Programme on 'Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati' through Biotechnology Interventions, which seeks to examine traditional natural farming practices using modern biological and molecular tools.
Scope of the Broader Programme
The programme covers research areas including microbial and metagenomic analysis of natural farming inputs, soil microbial interactions, metabolomic studies and crop- and agro-climatic zone-specific natural farming practices.
Combining Tradition With Modern Science
Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani said the programme sought to combine traditional farming practices with modern scientific methods. "The findings have emerged from a Network Research Programme on Bharatiya Prakritik Krishi Paddhati through Biotechnology Interventions, which seeks to combine traditional Indian farming practices with modern scientific tools to improve crop productivity, restore soil health and promote environmentally sustainable agriculture," Vaghani said.
Scale of the Broader Programme
"The programme covers 18 crops across eight agro-climatic zones, with researchers examining how natural farming practices and biotechnology can work together to develop productive, chemical-free farming systems," he added, giving a sense of just how extensive this research initiative is across India's diverse agricultural regions.
Specific Inputs Used in the Trial
At SDAU in Banaskantha, researchers tested natural farming treatments based on cow-derived preparations traditionally used in natural farming, including Beejamrit for seed treatment, Jeevamrit as a liquid input and Ghanjeevamrit as a solid input.
Combining Traditional Inputs With Mulching
The treatments were combined with wheat-straw mulch. "Researchers found that the turmeric crop performed substantially better under natural farming than under conventional farming, with the natural farming plots recording about twice the yield of the chemical-farming system," said Digvijaysinh Jadeja, Mission Director, Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission.
A Significant Difference in Farm Returns
The research also examined the economic performance of the systems. According to the state, natural farming generated net returns of more than Rs 10.5 lakh per hectare, compared with approximately Rs 3.61 lakh per hectare under conventional farming, with the difference attributed to higher production and lower dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs.
Taking the Research Beyond the Lab
The experiment was subsequently extended beyond research plots. Farmers in Banaskantha were trained in preparing natural farming inputs and adopting the practices for turmeric cultivation, translating the study's findings into practical, on-the-ground application.
Documented Farmer Adoption
SDAU has separately documented farmers adopting preparations including Beejamrit, Jeevamrit and Ghanjeevamrit for natural turmeric cultivation, indicating growing real-world uptake of these practices beyond the original research trial.
Understanding the Science Behind Natural Farming
The biotechnology component of the programme focused on understanding the microbial and chemical composition of natural farming inputs and their interaction with soil and plants.
Detailed Analysis of Natural Inputs
"The Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) carried out an in-depth microbial and metabolomic analysis of key natural farming inputs, including Beejamrit, Jeevamrit, Ghanjeevamrit, and other natural farming bioformulations used as biocontrol agents. The analysis identified several beneficial microbes and around 300 to 500 important metabolites belonging to 11 different classes, several of which could play a role in stimulating soil health, plant growth and improving crop resilience," said Dr Snehal Bagatharia, Joint Director, GBRC.
Collaboration With Additional Research Institutions
The programme also involved researchers from the CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, who isolated plant-growth-promoting microorganisms from soils cultivated under natural farming, extending the research's scope toward identifying potential biofertiliser resources for future agricultural use.
Findings on Soil Microbial Communities
The study found that natural farming plots had greater representation of beneficial bacterial groups such as Priestia and unclassified members of Acidobacteria, along with saprophytic fungi including Humicola and Mortierella. It also reported enrichment of Trichoderma, a genus containing fungi widely studied for their role in plant health.
The Role of These Microbial Communities
The researchers said these microbial communities are associated with processes such as organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, offering a biological explanation for the improved crop performance observed under natural farming conditions.
A Biological Basis for the Yield Differences
The study also found differences in microbial communities between natural and conventional farming systems, providing a biological basis for examining how natural farming practices affect soil health and crop performance, offering scientific grounding for the substantial yield and income differences documented throughout the study.
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