Biofertilizers: What is organic manure?

Organic manure is natural material derived from plants, animals, or microbes that is added to soil to improve its fertility and structure. Unlike chemical fertilizers, it provides nutrients slowly, enriches soil health, and supports sustainable farming.

Key Features of Organic Manure

• Made from natural sources such as composted plant material, animal dung, or decomposed crop residues.
• Improves soil texture and water retention.
• Enhances the population of beneficial microbes in the soil.
• Supplies essential nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and micronutrients.

Types of Organic Manure

1. Farmyard Manure (FYM) – Made from cow dung, straw, and other farm waste.
2. Compost – Decomposed organic matter from plants and food waste.
3. Green Manure – Certain plants (like legumes) grown and plowed into the soil to increase fertility.
4. Vermicompost – Produced using earthworms that decompose organic waste.
5. Bone Meal & Fish Meal – Animal-based manures rich in phosphorus and nitrogen.

Benefits of Organic Manure

• Improves soil fertility naturally.
• Reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers.
• Promotes healthy plant growth.
• Environmentally friendly and sustainable.
• Enhances microbial activity in soil, supporting biofertilizers.

If you want, I can also explain how biofertilizers differ from organic manure in a simple comparison table—it’s a common confusion among students and farmers. Do you want me to do that?