Punjab promoting green manure

Tags: State News

The Punjab agriculture department is promoting the cultivation of green manure these days. 

• Punjab Agro is providing subsidy on the seed at the rate of Rs 2,000 per quintal, which costs Rs 6,300 per quintal without subsidy.

• The farmers can avail its seed from the block level offices of the agriculture department as limited stock is available.

• About Green Manure

• Green manure is a technique employed in agriculture to raise soil fertility. 

• It serves as mulch and soil fertilizers.

• They are normally incorporated back into the soil, either directly, or after removal and composting. 

• Types of green manure

1. Dhaincha

2. Cowpea

3. Sunhemp

• Also some crops such as summer moong, mash pulses and guar act as green manure. 

• Benefit of green manure

• It helps in enhancing the organic matter in the soil.

• it meets the deficiency of the micronutrients and reduces the consumption of the inorganic fertilisers etc.

• It is a good alternative to organic manure and it conserves nutrients, increases nitrogen content and stabilises soil structure.

• It decomposes rapidly and liberates large quantities of carbon dioxide. 

• Green manure crops naturally have the ability to suppress weed growth, hence preferred by farmers.

• It helps in improving the overall soil structure by providing porosity and aeration in the soil.