Organic manure is a natural, plant-based or animal-based fertilizer used to improve soil health and enhance sustainable crop production. It's derived from natural sources, undergoing biological degradation processes, and contains essential nutrients for plant growth. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, organic manures do not contain artificial chemicals or genetically modified ingredients.
Types of Organic Manure
Several types of organic manure exist, each offering unique benefits:
- Farm Yard Manure: This is a common type composed of animal feces and bedding materials like straw.
- Green Manures: These are plants specifically grown and plowed into the soil to enrich it.
- Compost: This is created from decaying organic matter, including crop residues and other farm wastes.
- Vermicompost: Worm castings, the waste product of earthworms feeding on organic matter, create a nutrient-rich compost.
- Oil Cakes: These are the byproducts of oilseed extraction, rich in nutrients.
- Biological Wastes: This includes materials like animal bones and slaughterhouse refuse.
Benefits of Using Organic Manure
Employing organic manures offers several advantages:
- Improved Soil Structure: Organic matter enhances soil aeration, drainage, and water retention.
- Nutrient Supply: Provides essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for plant growth.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Promotes environmentally friendly farming practices.
- Reduced Need for Pesticides: Healthy soil fostered by organic manure often leads to increased plant resistance to pests and diseases.
Note: While organic fertilizers, including manures, offer numerous advantages, they can be more expensive than synthetic alternatives and may require larger application amounts to achieve the same nutrient levels.
Sources and References
The information above is based on the following sources:
- Organic manures are natural products used by farmers to enhanced sustainable crop production. There are a number of organic manures like farm yard manure, green manures, compost prepared from crop residues and other farm wastes, vermicompost, oil cakes, and biological wastes - animal bones, slaughter house refuse.
- https://bu.edu.eg/portal/uploads/Agriculture/Soils%20and%20water/1179/crs-15144/Files/Organic_Manure.pdf (Snippet: There are a number of organic manures like farm yard manure, green manures, compost prepared from crop residues and other farm wastes,...)
- https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/heres-scoop-chemical-organic-fertilizers (Snippet: Organic fertilizers such as manures, compost or bone meal are derived directly from plant or animal sources.)
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/organic-fertilizer (Snippet: Organic fertilizer means a fertilizer derived from organic material subject to the completion cycle of biological degradation processes.)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_fertilizer (Snippet: Typical organic fertilizers include all animal waste including meat processing waste, manure, slurry, and guano; plus plant based fertilizers such as compost;…)
