Education Journalist | Study Abroad Lead
Plants require particular nutrients to grow and thrive. The obvious ones are water and sunlight. At the same time, they also require some specific nutrients (such as nitrate, magnesium, etc.) that they absorb from the soil. When crops are planted one after the other, the soil's productivity is reduced. Certain nutrients that the plants require for growth become deficient in the soil. These minerals and nutrients must then be supplied to the soil in order for the soil to become healthy again, thus boosting the plant's output while also restoring the soil's productivity. Manures and fertilizers are therefore essential for efficient crop production as they help to compensate for the soil's fertility. In this article, we will have a look at manure and fertilizers, their advantages, and the basic differences between the two.
| Table of Content |
Keyterms: Plant, Water, Soil, Sunlight, Nitrate, Magnesium, Nutrients, Crops, Fertilizers, Organic component, Manure
Read More: Nutrient Management
Manure
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Manure is a type of organic fertilizer. Farmers decompose plant and animal waste. This breakdown produces a material rich in organic matter, which we refer to as manure. Manure does not contain a lot of nutrients. Instead, it adds humus (an organic component) to the soil, which makes it fertile. This enhances the physical qualities of the soil, allowing for better moisture retention and increased aeration. And, because manure is formed completely of organic components, it does not pollute the environment. In reality, decomposing waste items to produce manure decreases waste on the farm.
Types of Manure
Based on the type of biological waste material used, the manure can be classified as:
- Farmyard Manure (FYM) is a type of manure that comes from the farm. It's a degraded mixture of dung and urine from cattle, as well as litter and residual organic stuff like roughage or feed. The waste products from the cattle shed are collected daily and deposited in a pit for microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) to decompose. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are all present in FYM.
- Compost is a decomposed organic matter mixture obtained from garbage, sewage, vegetable waste, and other sources. Composting is the process of breaking down the mixture into pits.
- Vermicomposting is the process of decomposing organic waste through the ingestion by earthworms. Dichogaster Bolani and Drawida Willisi are earthworms utilized for vermicomposting.
- Green Manure is made by sowing seeds before cultivating fast-growing green manure crops such as Sunhemp, Horse gramme, Guar, and Cowpea. After that, the fast-growing crop is plowed back into the earth. Green manure adds nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter to the soil while also protecting it from erosion and leaching.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Manure is useful as:
- It contributes to soil fertility by supplementing it with nutrients and organic materials.
- The majority of organic matter in manure aids in soil structure improvement. This entails enhancing the capacity of sandy soil to hold water.
- Manures feed soil organisms (bacteria, fungi, etc.) that further help in the availability of nutrients to plants.
- We employ biological waste material when we use manure, which is beneficial in protecting our ecosystem from excessive fertilizer use.
- Seed germination and plant growth are stimulated by chemicals found in manures.
However, manure also has its disadvantages such as:
- Manuring should be done on a regular basis, or the plants will get feeble.
- They're not nutrient-specific and can be tough to transport.
Also Read:
Fertilizers
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Fertilizers are organic or synthetic elements that are added to the soil to offer nutrients to the plants. They might be either organic or inorganic. Chemical fertilizers also act as insecticides, keeping pests and insects away from plants. They function by supplying plants and crops with the nutrients they require to grow to their full potential and at a faster rate than would be possible through natural means.
Fertilizers are extremely cost-effective for farmers. They help plants grow faster and are quite inexpensive to obtain. Fertilizers also boost a farm's production. When we utilize fertilizers, the plants also have a better appearance, i.e. they appear greener and healthier.
Types of Fertilizers
Fertilizers are widely used plant nutrients. Fertilizers are used to provide nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to plants. They're used to ensure good vegetative growth, which promotes healthy plant growth. Fertilizers should be used in a scientific manner, with suitable doses and pre-and post-application safeguards. The following table shows the type of fertilizer and their nutrient availability along with some common examples:
| Fertilizer Type | Nutrient Availability | Common Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogenous Fertilizer | Nitrogen | Ammonium Sulphate (NH4)2SO4, Sodium nitrate NaNO3, Urea CO(NH2)2, |
| Potassic Fertilizer | Potassium | Potassium Nitrate, Potassium Chloride |
| Phosphatic Fertilizer | Phosphorus | Dicalcium phosphate, Single superphosphate |
| Complex Fertilizer | Two or more nutrients (N, P2O5, K2O) | Ammonium phosphate, Nitrophosphate |
Advantages and Disadvantages
Fertilizers are beneficial as:
- They restore soil fertility and provide plant nutrients quickly.
- They are easily transportable and portable.
- Fertilizers are quickly absorbed by plants.
- Many crops, such as wheat, maize, and rice, benefit from fertilizers, which boost and raise their yield.
The disadvantages of fertilizers are:
- They can be damaging to the ecosystem.
- They are made up of non-biodegradable synthetic compounds.
- They have the potential to pollute both the soil and the water.
- Fertilizers cause soil degradation by making the soil acidic over time.
Read More: Artificial Hybridisation
Difference between Manures and Fertilizers
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Both manures and fertilizers are used to increase soil fertility and boost plant development, although they are different in some ways. The following is a list of the major differences between manures and fertilizers:
| Manures | Fertilizers |
|---|---|
| Manure is formed naturally when dead plants and animals decompose. | Fertilizers are chemicals that aren't usually found in nature. |
| The plants gradually absorb it. | The plants may easily absorb it. |
| It isn't particularly nutrient-dense. | It's high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are all important soil nutrients. |
| It adds a significant amount of humus to the soil. | It contributes no humus to the soil. |
| They are naturally prepared in the fields. | They are prepared in factories. |
| These do not significantly improve the soil's physical qualities. | These help to improve the soil's physical condition. |
| When used in big quantities, it has no negative effects on the plant or the soil. | When used in excessive quantities, it has a negative impact on the soil and the plant. |
Also Read:
Things to Remember
- Fertilizers are nutrient-rich water-soluble substances that are added to soil to improve its fertility.
- Manure is described as biodegradable organic matter that is combined with the soil.
- Organic fertilizer is a type of fertilizer that is made from organic materials. They're also known as manure or biofertilizer. Bacteria, cyanobacteria, and fungi are examples of biofertilizers.
- Green manure is the cheapest manure since it may be generated from organic debris found in the environment.
- The majority of organic matter in manure aids in soil structure improvement. This entails enhancing the capacity of sandy soil to hold water.
- Animal dung is one of the most tried and proven homemade fertilizers for vegetable crops.
- Farmers and gardeners have been fertilizing the soil with chicken, horse, and cow manure for decades.
- Fertilizers cause soil degradation by making the soil acidic over time.
Sample Questions
Ques. Why is manure preferable to fertilizers? (2 marks)
Ans. Manure enriches the soil with nutrients while preserving its fertility. It has no negative effects on the crops and creates healthy plants. Fertilizers are substances that, when employed on a regular basis, reduce the fertility of the soil. They also harm the crops, making them unfit for human consumption.
Ques. What is green manure? (1 mark)
Ans. Green manure is made up of cover crops or plants that have been left to degrade in the fields. These serve as soil fertilizer.
Ques. What kind of chemical is added to fertilizers? (1 mark)
Ans. Ammonium nitrate, a good supplier of nitrogen, is a key component in fertilizer manufacture. Other macronutrients found in fertilizers include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Ques. Apart from increasing fertility, what else does manure do in the soil? (1 mark)
Ans. Manure also adds humus to the soil, improving its texture and allowing it to hold more moisture.
Ques. What distinguishes manure from fertilizers? (2 marks)
Ans. Manure is organic matter that is put into the soil to make it more fertile. Fertilizers, on the other hand, are chemicals that are put into the soil in order to boost its fertility. Fertilizers may harm the soil, while manure is safe for the environment.
Ques. What are some disadvantages of fertilizers? (3 marks)
Ans. The disadvantages of fertilizers are:
- They can be damaging to the ecosystem.
- They are made up of non-biodegradable synthetic compounds.
- They have the potential to pollute both the soil and the water.
- Fertilizers cause soil degradation by making the soil acidic over time.
Ques. What are the various types of manure? (3 marks)
Ans. On the basis of the type of biological waste material used, the manure can be classified as:
- Compost is a decomposed organic matter mixture obtained from garbage, sewage, vegetable waste, and other sources.
- Farmyard Manure (FYM) is a type of manure that comes from the farm. It's a degraded mixture of dung and urine from cattle, as well as litter and residual organic stuff like roughage or feed.
Green Manure is made by sowing seeds before cultivating fast-growing green manure crops such as Sunhemp, Horse gramme, Guar, and Cowpea.
Check-Out:
Comments