Question

What are the advantages of using manure?

Answer 1

Hint: Manure is an organic matter derived from the solid animal wastes. They are extensively used by the farmers.

Complete answer:
Manure is an organic matter that is used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. It generally consists of animal feces, or can also include compost and green manure. Manure increases the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen in the firm if nitrate and nitrates that are utilized by bacteria, fungi, and other organisms in the soil. It is a natural form of fertilizer and is cost-effective.

The advantages of using manure are –
- These are a good source of macronutrients.
- They Improve soil fertility.
- They are Cost-effective.
- Reduce soil erosion.
- It improves the physical properties of the soil and aerates the soil.
- It improves the water and nutrient holding capacity of the soil.
- It helps in killing weeds and pests.
- The burning if manure produces Methane gas as the by-product that can be used for heating purposes and cooking.
- The crops treated with manure produce healthy crops.

Additional information: The different types of manure include-
- Green manure- Green manure us nothing but the undecomposed green leftovers of plants. The plants that are grown for green manure are known as green manure crops such as sunn hemp, dhaincha, pillipesara, cluster beans, and Sesbania.
- Farmyard manure- Farmyard manure refers to the decomposed mixture of dung and urine of farm animals along with litter and leftover material from the fodder fed to the cattle.
- Compost manure- It is the rotten plant and animal waste used as manure.

Note: It takes about three months for manure to convert into compost under a hot and moist environment. If the conditions are not optimum, it might take a year for composting. Horse manure is the best form of manure to be converted into compost. It takes only about 4-6 weeks for composting.