Question

What is manure? How does green manure differ from biofertilizers?

Answer 1

Manure is organic matter used as fertilizer in agriculture. It includes mainly the animal feces and bedding straw. Whereas, a green manure is slightly different from manure. A green manure is a cover crop, grown to add nutrients and organic matter to the soil. It is grown for a specific period of time and then ploughed under and incorporated into the soil when it is green. It is different from biofertilizers in the following ways.

• Green manure is a quick growing crop, cultivated and ploughed under to incorporate into the soil whereas, biofertilzer is a microorganism.
• Green manure provides organic matter as well as additional nitrogen (in leguminous plants) whereas, biofertilizers make soil nutrient rich.
• Green manure is helpful in maintaining aeration and hydration in the soil whereas, biofertilizer is not involved in such functions.
• Green manure protects soil from leaching and erosion whereas, symbiotic and non-symbiotic increase the nitrogen content of the soil. Cyanobacteria may be helpful in overcoming alkalinity and prevent soil erosion. Ectomycorrhiza may increase the surface area of absorption.
• Sunhemp, cow pea, sweet clover, lentil are examples of green manure whereas, bacteria, cyanobacteria (blue green algae) are examples of biofertilizers.