Manures and Fertilisers

Repeated crop production on the same stretch of land can decrease the productivity of the soil. To counter this problem, farmers add manure and fertilisers to the soil, which improves the soil's productivity. As a result, crop yields increase, making manure and fertilisers essential for efficient crop production.

What is Manure?

Dead plants and animals decompose to produce manure, which is applied to the soil to increase its quality. Human and animal excreta are also used as manure. It is rich in organic matter and humus, which contribute to the soil texture, aeration, and water retention. Additionally, the presence of macronutrients and micronutrients further helps in a good yield of healthy crops.

Manuring is the process of adding manure to the soil. It should be done regularly, depending on the crop cycle, to maintain the quality of the soil.

Manure can be obtained from various sources, like-

Cattle dung, droppings of goats and sheep, sewage waste
Waste from slaughterhouses
Waste from human habitation
Slurry from biogas plants
By-products from agricultural industries.

Types of Manure

Kind of Manure Benefits

Green Manure Increase the amount of organic matter in the soil

Compost Manure

Improves the soil structure
Improves the water and nutrient retention capacity of the soil

Farmyard Manure

Improves soil structure
Increase the capacity of the soil to hold more water and nutrients
Increases the microbial activity of the soil to improve the mineral supply

Advantages of Using Manure

Renewable resources that do not cause any pollution
Cost-effective
Provides some nutrients and enhances the availability of existing nutrients
Reduces soil erosion and leaching

Drawbacks of Using Manure

Difficult to transport
Not nutrient-specific.

Alt-text: Naturally sourced manure vs synthetically developed fertiliser

What are Fertilisers?

Inorganic chemical substances containing necessary nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus that make the soil fertile and maximise crop yield, are known as fertilisers. They are generally synthetically manufactured in factories. Although widely used in farming, they should be used as per the requirements. Urea, ammonium sulphate, and potash are some common examples of fertilisers.

Inorganic fertilisers contain a high concentration of primary macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, etc. Few chemical fertilisers are-

NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) fertilisers
Water-soluble phosphatic fertilisers
Amide fertilisers
Nitrate fertilisers
Citric acid-soluble phosphatic fertilisers

Advantages of Using Fertilisers

Easily portable
Easy for the plants to absorb
Quickly provide nutrients to the crops and restore soil fertility

Drawbacks of Using Fertilisers

Fertilisers get washed along with excess water during over-irrigation, which causes water pollution.
Fertilisers might get accumulated in the soil and thus harm the microbes and negatively affect the replenishment of organic substances in the soil.
Constant use and overuse of fertilisers can cause soil pollution and might also lead to infertility of the soil.

Due to these disadvantages, organic farming, using biofertilisers, is on trend. Here, natural compost is used to grow pollutant-free crops. Various microbes like bacteria, fungi, algae, etc. are used as biofertilisers. They enhance nutrient availability by fixing nitrogen, solubilising phosphorus, or promoting microbial activity

Summary

Manures and Fertilisers help the soil stay healthy and improve crop growth. Manures are natural, while fertilisers are chemical and give quick nutrients. Using both carefully keeps farming productive and safe for the environment.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Which chemicals are mostly used in Fertilisers?

Ammonium nitrate is a good source of nitrogen and is an important component in the production of fertilisers.

Q2. What is green manure?

Green manure refers to cover crops that are grown and plowed into the soil to decompose and enrich it with organic matter. It increases the content of organic matter in the soil.

Q3. How are fertilisers different from pesticides?

Fertilisers are inorganic compounds that promote crop production and supply the soil with necessary nutrients. On the contrary, pesticides are inorganic compounds or biological agents that destroy, repel, or prevent pests from damaging the crops.