Problems of Green Manuring in Sub-Tropics

Abstract

Green manuring is an ancient recognised practice in India. Farmers have been using green leaves, twigs and loppings from trees wherever available in plenty for incorporating them in fields to restore soil fertility. The development in the field of green manuring using legumes has been associated with the incresse in sugarcane cultivation. On this account, green manuring has been practised in almost all the States in India growing sugarcane and also paddy, especially in the Southern part of the country.

The importance of organic manures in imporving the fertility of the soil has been considered an established fact all over the world. Indian Soils lack particularly in nitrogen and organic matter, containing on an average 0.0300 to 0.0700 nitrogen and 0.6% carbon. The problem of enriching our soils in these respects is of paramount importance. Among the organic manures, green manure was considered, till very recently, the only suitable alternative to farm yard manure, cheap and effective, to meet the manurial requirements. But inspite of all efforts by State Governments, the practice of green manuring has not been accepted as a regular crop production feature in the cropping schedule by the cultivators. This indicates that there must be some problems confronting them. These problems may be grouped under climate, soil, irrigation, seed, and economic factors.