Raised beds made of a mixture of sand and soil are laid on a plastic film. All the soil related limiting factors (wrong pH, soil compaction, salinity, nutrient deficiency, poor aeration, weeds, pathogens etc.) are eliminated in this system, so that plants respond well to fertilizers. Using three times the recommended dose of fertilisers, along with the necessary micronutrients, we get three times the yield in most crop species. Capital cost of the system is Rs.100 per sq.m and the annual running cost is Rs.5 per sq.m. Net annual profit ranges from Rs. 100 to Rs.250 per sq.m. depending upon the species under cultivation.

The sand bed technology can also be used for a number of other uses, as described below:

Using sea water for irrigation: If sea water is used regularly for irrigation, even salt tolerant plants are eventually killed, because the salinity level of the soil gradually increases as the water evaporates. In our method, special care is taken to ensure good drainage of the water, so that with each irrigation, the salts that have accumulated in the root zone are flushed out and the root zone salinity is restored back to the level of sea water. Many species can tolerate this much salinity (e.g.coconut, casuriana, Prosopis juliflora, Thespesia populnea, Salvadora persica, most of the mangrove species etc.).

Growing root drugs in a nutrient flow system: Plants are grown in sand filled channels, through which nutrient solution flows. The roots grow horizontally in the sand filled channel. Almost 100% of the total root biomass can be harvested in this system.

High intensity cultivation of cattle fodder: African tall maize, planted on artificial raised beds made out of sand-soil mixture, and provided with all the necessary mineral nutrients, yields 20 kg green fodder per sq.m., once every 80 days. In a raised bed system, having an area of 80 sq.m., of which one sq.m. is harvested and planted every day, can give daily 20 kg green fodder, which is enough to feed a hybrid cow giving 10 litres milk per day. The cowdung and the solid organic waste produced by the household can serve as manure for the plants. This system can give a family a monthly income of Rs.2500 to 3000.

Production of root mats: Monocotyledonous plants generally have a fibrous root system. Monocots, especially grasses, form dense stands, in which the roots of adjacent plants intertwine to produce a thick subterranian mat. If such plants are grown in sand beds laid on a plastic film, one can easily harvest the root mats. Depending on the species, the mats vary in their texture. The coarse ones can be made into door mats, while the soft ones can be used as carpets, blankets etc.