Effect of green manures on soil properties and crop production

Abstract

High yielding varieties of crops introduction with high dose of chemical fertilizers resulted in the depletion of soil organic matter status and decline in soil fertility. The use of organic manures may pave the way for the development of organic farming in areas suitable for adoption. The concept of organic farming has assumed greater importance with the self-sufficiency in food production in the recent years. Therefore, effective management of organic biomass may help in buildup of soil health. Green manuring is growing in the field plants usually belonging to leguminous family and incorporating into the soil after sufficient growth. The most important green manure crops are sunnhemp, dhaincha and Sesbania rostrata. Application organics through green manuing favorably influence the soil physical, chemical and biological environment such as bulk density, water holding capacity, organic carbon, available nitrogen, beneficial microbial population. Organic farming favourably influenced the soil physical, chemical and biological fertility and for better crop yield and quality.