उपवनविनोद (आचार्य शार्ङ्गधर - वृक्षायुर्वेद, भू-जल संधान एवं उद्यान-विज्ञान सटीक)

28 UPAVANA VINODA
XI. NOURISHMENT & XII. KUNAPA WATER
The origin of manuring the soil, a necessity for the nourishment of plants,
can be traced as early as to a verse of the Atharva Veda (II, 8.3). But a
more elaborate instruction in manuring is given in the Bṛhatsaṁhitā¹, the
Agnipurāṇa², the Kṛṣi Saṁgraha of Parāśara³ and the Śukranīti⁴.
"To promote inflorscence and fructification a mixture of one adhaka (64
palas) of sesame, two adhakas (128 palas) of excreta of goats or sheep, one
prastha (16 palas) of barley powder, one tulā (100 palas) of beef, thrown into
one droṇa (256 palas) of water, and standing over for seven nights, should
be poured round the roots of the plant. The measures given are for one
plant." This measure is for all kinds of plants (...वनस्पतेः वल्लीगुल्मलतानां च
फलपुष्पाय सर्व्वदा). 17 & 18.
The Agnipurāṇa has almost precisely the same thing :
"To increase the production of flowers and fruits one should sprinkle
ghee with cold milk, also a mixture of sesame, excreta of goats and sheep,
barley powder and beef, thrown into water, and standing over for 7
nights should be poured round the roots of the plant (गोमांसमुदकाञ्चैव सप्तरात्र'
निधापयेत् etc.) 11 & 12.
It further adds that mango is specially benefited by cold fish-washings
(मत्स्योदकेन शीतेन आम्राणां etc.), and also prescribes pouring of fish-washings as
a general measure for luxuriant growth of trees. (मत्स्याम्भसा तु सेकेन वृद्धिर्भवति
शाखिनः).
Parāśara gives the following direction :
"On an auspicious day in the month of Māgha after taking out with the
help of a spade the manure from a dung-heap, one should dry them in the
sun and grind them. In the month of Fālgoona these are then burried in the
fields and on the eve of sowing (seeds) should apply them to the soil, else
the yields of crops will not increase." 107—109.
Śukrāchāryya has the following recipes : As a general measure to cause
healthy growth, the plants should be nourished "by stools of goats, sheep,
cows, water as well meat." (94) "If trees have their fruits destroyed the
pouring of cold water after being cooked together with Kulattha, Māṣa,
Mudga (all pulses), Yava and Tila would lead to the growth of flowers and
fruits." (107—108). "Growth of trees can be helped by the application
of water with which fishes are washed and cleansed (109). The powder
of the dungs of goats and sheep, the powder of Yava, Tila, beef as well as
1 Chap. 58, Translations are Dr. Seal's.
2 Chap. 281.
3 Slokas 107, 108 and 109. Bangabasi Ed. Cal. 1322 B. S.
4 Śukra IV, iv, 94, 107—112.