Organic Food products now a days has increasing demand as compared with the actual supply. Usually the term used for agricultural products which is grown by ideal farm practices without using any chemical or synthetic fertilizer. Here Organic Manure or compost plays a vital role in Organic Farming.

Manure

has been used for centuries as a fertilizer for farming, as it is rich in

nitrogen and other nutrients which facilitate the growth of plants. Manure is

nitrogen rich organic material which is used to fertilize the land and common

in farming practices across the India. It is consisting of faces and urine of

domestic animals, at times rich with cow dung or animal dung and may be with or

without litter such as straw, hay etc. In India animal husbandry is quite

common along agriculture and hence the preparation of different form of manure with

advantage is known to farmers. Faecal material of Grazing animals constitutes

an enormous fertility sources as a manure while added in soil as the food they

eat constitute nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

"Organic Manure usually have a less N-P-K. It works

slowly. On application of Organic Manure, soil use the same in the same amount it

requires for growth. This means that both the soil and the plants in it get the

nutrition they need when they need it"

Read our article: Organic farming- healthy for gut, nature and farmer

Chemical

fertilisers are richer in nitrogen as compared with the Organic manure however

has several adverse impacts on soil fertility in log term. Study suggests that

1 ton of Organic manure contains 4.5 Kg of Nitrogen, 2.25 Kg of Phosphorus

pentoxide and approx. 4.5 kg of Potash. Hence organic manure in turns requires

to be added in high volume as compared with chemical fertiliser. Manure is rich

in organic matter or humus, this in turn enhance the soil capacity to absorb

and store more water and can help in reducing erosion.

There

is no specific method that needs to be applied for preparation of manure.

Animal waste as cow dung can directly be mixed with soil as a manure. However,

while producing the organic manure in volume, the animal faces along with the

daily home organic wastes, dry leaves etc can be mixed.

Read our article: Revival of Organic Farming in agriculture practices of India… Interview with a Farmer

Compost:

Composting

is a process by which organic wastes are converted into organic manures by

means of biological activity under controlled conditions. In other word

composting is defined as a method of solid waste management whereby the organic

component of the solid waste stream is biologically decomposed under controlled

conditions to a state in which it can be handled, stored and applied to the

land without adversely affecting the environment. It is an important technique

for recycling organic agricultural, industrial wastes and for improving the

quality and quantity of organic manure. The objectives in composting are to

stabilize the putrescible organic matter in raw agricultural and industrial

wastes produce a uniform, slow release organic fertilizer which stimulates soil

life, improves soil structure; helps plants to tolerate/ resist pests and

diseases reducing offensive odours, killing weed seeds and pathogenic

organisms.

Read our article: Cow dung hitting eCommerce platform

"Chemical fertilizers are composed of synthesized or

processed chemicals that tend to give a higher nitrogen (N), phosphorus (K) and

potassium (P). While application of the same to soil, tends to absorb more

quickly by plants than Organic Manure "

Understanding Difference between Organic Manure and chemical Fertilizer:

Do

you know what is the difference between Organic Manure and Chemical fertiliser?

Both is helping plants with nitrogen, phosphorus etc. Why Organic Manure is

safe as compare with Chemical fertiliser?

Organic Manure are made from animal faces (ex: cow dung), and natural plant

and animal materials. Chemical or synthetic, fertilizers are made up of organic

ingredients. On application of Organic Manure soil usage, the same in the same

amount it requires for growth. Over application of Manure or compost may or may

not harm the soil or plants. Whereas the chemical fertilizer quickly and simply

feed the plant without enriching the soil and may contribute to a toxic buildup

of salts in the soil when overapplied.

Benefit of Using Manure

or compost:

  • Safe for use as it Increases soil carbon and reduced

    atmospheric carbon levels

  • Useful in reduction of soil erosion and runoff
  • It also helps in reducing nitrate leaching
  • If used as a primary source of fertilizer, then have long

    term positive impact on soil health

  • Improve the soil and required organic materials this

    helps in storage of water, increase in microbial activity such as mycorrhiza

    that helps in nitrogen fixation in soil

  • It is safe in handling. Accidental mixing of it with runoff

    water or lake has no adverse impact on flora or fauna. Chemical fertilizer requires

    specific handling and may impact or pollute if mixes accidently or by

    overapplication to any source of water

  • Organic Manure or compost may be more expensive than

    chemical fertilizer

Government

of India Schemes providing assistance

The

Government is promoting Organic Manure by providing financial assistance under

the following schemes:

Reference: Reference from following link has been taken while writing one of the para in this post.

https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/73588/14/14_%20chapter%20-%20iv.pdf

http://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/agri-inputs/bio-inputs/support-for-promotion-of-organic-fertilizers

Compost Manure Nitrogen fixation in soil Organic farming