Punjab promoting green manure big time: what are the benefits, productivity

What is the News?

Punjab Government is promoting the cultivation of green manure these days. It is providing a subsidy on the seed at the rate of Rs 2,000 per quintal.

What is Green Manure?

Green Manure are crops grown specifically for maintaining soil fertility and structure. They are normally incorporated back into the soil, either directly, or after removal and composting.

There are three main varieties of green manure, including Dhaincha, Cowpea, Sunhemp. Also some crops such as summer moong, mash pulses and guar act as green manure.

Green manure varieties are incorporated into the soil when the crop is 42-56 days old.

What are the benefits of Green Manure?

1) It helps in enhancing the organic matter in the soil. 2) Meets the deficiency of the micronutrients. 3) Reduces the consumption of inorganic fertilizers. 4) It is a good alternative to organic manure. 5) It conserves the nutrients, adds nitrogen and stabilizes the soil structure. 6) It decomposes rapidly and liberates large quantities of carbon dioxide and weak acids, which act on insoluble soil minerals to release nutrients for plant growth.

Why is Green Manure important for Punjab?

Punjab’s per hectare fertilizer consumption, which is around 244 kg, is one of the highest in the country and is also higher than the national average.

Green manure can curtail this consumption to a large extent by 25 to 30% and can save huge input costs for the farmers.

Moreover, the PH level of the soil in several parts of Punjab is more than 8.5 and 9%. Green manure helps maintain it.

Source:  The post is based on the article “Punjab promoting green manure big time: what are the benefits, productivity” published in Indian Express on 10th May 2022.