Talk:Vedic Plant Experts and Botanists

By Vishal Agarwal

The Vedic civilization made remarkable contributions to agriculture and plant science. Several important crops—including sugarcane, lemons, specific varieties of rice, cotton, and cucumbers—were first cultivated during this period.

The earliest known treatises on agricultural science in the world were composed by Vedic scholars. Some of these works, such as the Kṛṣi-Parāśara, continue to be preserved and studied even today.

Sūrapāla, a renowned plant scientist of the 10th century CE, authored the Vṛkṣāyurveda, a comprehensive text on plant and agricultural science. In this work, he detailed numerous advanced agricultural techniques, including:

• Collection, selection, and preservation of high-quality seeds
• Proper methods of sowing
• Processes of germination and early plant growth
• Classification and testing of soils, along with identifying which soil suits which crop
• Control of pests harmful to plants
• Use of natural fertilizers to promote growth and yield

Another scholar, Parāśara, composed Kṛṣi-Parāśara, a foundational text that presented systematic methods to increase agricultural productivity through scientific and ecological farming practices.

Together, these works reveal that ancient India possessed a highly developed understanding of agricultural science, emphasizing harmony between human activity and nature.