Manures and Fertilizers

Despite the considerable progress made in enhancing the capacity of soils to produce crops through the use of manures and fertilisers, there are yet a large number of ignorant peasants in many Asian countries, including India, who have been growing crops without applying adequate amounts of manures and fertilisers to their crop fields and consequently obtaining considerably less yields. It needs to be realized by one and all that soil, particularly in the developing countries, has to be fertile enough if their ever increasing huge population is to be adequately fed and clothed. Accordingly, knowledge of farmyard manure, compost, fertilizers and other agricultural by-products and their applications is indispensable. The present book is a sincere effort in disseminating information on manures and fertilizers. Primarily designed as a textbook, its wide coverage includes varied manures and their preparation and effects; and production and consumption of various fertilisers along with the detailed elucidation of their properties, uses, advantages and disadvantages. Application of both manures and fertilisers–separately and in combination–has been explained in depth in reference to individual crops of extensive variety. It analyses the applied aspects of fertilisers and manures in their entirety and suggests how to adjust them to particular soil and particular style of farming. The book is well supplemented with references and indexes which will prove useful study-aids to readers. Owing to its reader friendly approach to the subject, simple language and lucid style, the book is accessible even to average readers. While it ideally caters to the academic needs of undergraduate and post graduate students of agriculture science, it is a lasting valuable reference source for researchers and teachers, peasants, geologists and soil surveyors.