MANURING AND FERTILIZATION OF VEGETABLE CROPS

Plant nutrition

Plant nutrition involves providing plants with essential nutrients that enable them
to carry out important functions such as photosynthesis, growth and resistance to
disease and stress. Proper plant nutrition not only boosts crop yields but also
enhances the nutritional value of the harvest.

Essential nutrient elements

Plants contain more than 90 elements; More than 16 elements are recognized as
essential. Some of these elements are C, H, O, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn,
Cu, Mo, B and Cl. Besides these, another four elements viz, silicon, sodium,
cobalt and vanadium might be beneficial for a group of plants. Except C, H and
O, all the 13 elements are taken up by plants from soils and they are called
mineral nutrients. Plants obtain C, H and O from air and water. The nutrients can
be divided into two groups on the basis of the quantity required by the plants:
macronutrients and micronutrients.
(i) Macro nutrients: The elements which are required relatively in larger
quantities by plants in concentration exceeding 1000 ppm (usually above 0.1% on
dry weight basis) are termed as macronutrient.

(a) Primary nutrients: C, H, O, N, P, K are the primary elements which are

essential from seed germination and for primary growth. Out of these, C,H,O are
found abundantly in water & atmosphere where as N, P & K are either obtained
from soil or supplied through chemical fertilizer.

(b) Secondary nutrients: They are secondary in the sense that they are needed
only when the plants have started growing or they have grown for some specific
period. They are Ca, Mg & S.

(ii) Micronutrients: The elements which are required relatively in less quantity
by plants in concentration less than 100 ppm are termed as micronutrients.

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Plant nutrient and their sources

Macronutrients Micronutrients
Mostly from air and water From soil From soil
Carbon(C) Nitrogen (N), Sulphur(S), Iron (Fe), Manganese
Hydrogen(H) Phosphorus(P), (Mn), Copper (Cu),
Oxygen(O) Calcium(Ca), Zinc (Zn), Boron
Potassium(K), (B), Molybdenum
Magnesium(Mg) (Mo), Chlorine (Cl)

Fertilizer

Broadly, fertilizer may be defined as any substance (chemical, organic and

microbial) that is added to soil to supply element(s) required for the nutrition of
plants.

Inorganic fertilizers: Inorganic fertilizers are synthetic substances which are

artificially manufactured in the factories and added in soil to increase its
productivity with a view to providing one or more of the essential plant nutrients.
Or, it is an inorganic material, which is used to supply one or more essential plant
nutrients in concentrated form. E.g. Urea, TSP, MP, Gypsum, Boric acid etc.

Organic fertilizers: It may be defined as the organic materials of plant and animal
origin under varying stages of decomposition which are added to the soil with a
view to increasing the soil organic matter status, improve the soil health as well as
to increase the nutrient status of the soil. E.g. Cow dung, Farmyard manure, Green
manure, Poultry manure, Compost etc.

Bio-fertilizer: It may be defined as the preparations of containing live or latent

cells of different strains of N2-fixing, P-solubilizing and cellulytic microorganisms
used for application to soil, seed and composting areas with a view to increasing
such microorganisms or to increase the availability of nutrients in a suitable form
to be taken up by plants. E.g. Rhizombium, Azospirillum, Azolla, Blue-Green
Algae etc.
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Advantages of the fertilizer

1. Adequate amount of plant nutrients is available per unit of fertilizer.

2. It can be available in any amount.
3. It is sold with guaranteed nutrient content.
4. Concentration of plant nutrient is high.
5. It requires less equipment and labor for application.
6. Proper uses of fertilizer application decrease the cost of production by
increasing the yield.
7. It can be available in short time.
8. It should be applied in small doses.

Disadvantages of the fertilizer

1. It supplies specific number of nutrient(s).

2. It is costly and should follow the precautions.
3. Unnecessary application can hamper the plant growth along with soil.
4. It may have side effect on plant, soil as well as environment.
5. Huge application can make the soil toxic for a long time.
6. Efficiency can cease within a short period of time.
7. Skilled manpower may be required.

Manure

Any biological compound, which is used to supply one or more plant nutrients, is
called manure. Well decomposed substances of plants and animal origin which are
applied to the soil can promote crop production.

It may be stated as- animal waste and plant residues that are used for the protection
of soil fertility and as well as being used for the growth and yield of cultivated
plant are called organic fertilizer or manure. Cowdung, FYM, compost, kitchen
residues, green manure, ash etc are the well- known manure.

Usefulness of manure
1. It supplies considerable number of nutrient elements necessary for plant growth
and development.

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2. It adds organic matter to the soil, which improves the water holding capacity of
the soil.
3. It improves soil physical characteristics (soil texture and structure).
4. It increases aeration and beneficial microbial population as well as microbial
activity of soil.
5. High doses do not produce adverse effects on plant.
6. It reduces soil erosion.
7. It takes more time to turn in available forms of plant nutrients that plant can take
it for a long period of time. Even its effect may retain 6-18 months in soil, which
ultimately can help for the next crop.
8. It reduces soil temperature in summer and makes the soil favorable in winter,
that’s why root elongation of plant increases.
9. It also increases the activity of fertilizer as well as reduces the percent use of
fertilizer.
10. Low cost of production.
11. It increases the crop production, quality and shelf life of vegetables.

Limitations

1. Amount of plant nutrient very low compare to inorganic fertilizer.

2. It takes more time to become available form.
3. It is so much bulky that transportation is difficult.
4. Storage and handling loss is high.
5. It is not useful for short duration of crops.
6. It should be applied in high doses.

Types of manure

A. Common manure
(1) Green manure
It is made by growing several legume crops like dhaincha, cowpea, khasheri,
soybean, mungbean, blackgram etc in the plot and subsequently cutting (chopping)
and putting them under the soil at green tender stage before flowering or just after
flowering so that they become decomposed there and add organic matter to the

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soil. Any herbaceous plant may used for green manuring, but plants of the family
leguminosae are preferred because of the added advantage of getting fixed
nitrogen.
(a) Green leaves manure- Leaves and barks of mango, black berry, babla, koroi,
ipil-ipil etc. Ipil-ipil, leaves are the good source of nitrogen.

(b) Algal manure/ BGA manure: Anabaena ssp, Nostoc ssp, Osillatoria ssp,
Tolypothrix ssp

(c) Microbial manure-

(i) Free N-fixation: Azotobacter ssp, Chlostridium ssp,
(ii) Symbiosis: Liguminous plant + Rhizobium

(d) Azolla- Azolla should produce first and would be incorporated in the soil.

(2) Farm Yard Manure (FYM)

It includes the solid and liquid excreta of live-stock, generally mixed with a small
amount of straw, leaves, grasses used as fodder or bedding materials for animals.
(3) Compost
It is a mass of rotten organic matter made from the waste plant residues is usually
piled in layers. A thin layer of soil is placed in between each layer. The whole pit
is kept moist and allowed to decompose.

(4) Blood manure

It is powdered blood or granules made from animal blood collected from
slaughterhouse.

(5) Fish manure

It is made from sea fish.

(6) Bone meal

It is made from animal bone collected from slaughterhouse or meat shop.

B. Nitrogenous manure
1. Mustard oil cake
2. Groundnut cake
3. Til/tisi cake
4. Dry powdered blood manure
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C. P-rich manure
1. Dry fish powder
2. Bone meal
D. K-rich manure
1. Ash of water hyacinth
2. Wood ash
Determination of fertilizer requirement
It depends on the following factors-

(i) Types of soil

Heavy soils are more retentive of water and fertilizers than light soils. The light
soil provides little plant foods and therefore needs much application of fertilizer
than heavier soils.
(ii) Response of crops
Crops are not similar in their ability to take nutrient from soil. Leguminous and
cereal crops usually respond more to phosphetic fertilizers. Most of the vegetables
require all the three essential nutrients for good yield.

(iii) Climate
In rainy season more fertilizer should be applied than dry season because some are
lost by leaching and washing away.

(iv) Soil analysis

Fertilizer requirement depends on the nutrient elements present in the soil. So,
analysis of soil is essential for any quantity of fertilizer to be applied.

(v) Length of growing period

Generally higher doses of fertilizers are required for long durable crops than short
durable one.

(vi) Deficiency symptoms of crops

Different symptom is noticed for deficiencies of different element and symptoms
can be minimized by applying relevant fertilizers. Dose depends on the magnitude
and severity of symptoms.

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Methods of fertilizer application

(A) Basal application

Application of fertilizers before or during seed sowing/ planting is called basal

application.

(i) Broadcasting

It includes the application of fertilizers more or less uniformly over the surface of
the soil. Broadcasting as basal doses may be done
- Before the land is ploughed
- During ploughing
- Immediately before sowing / planting

(ii) Plough sole placement

Here the fertilizer is placed at the bottom of the furrow during ploughing. Eg.
Potato,
Care should be taken that there will no direct contact with fertilizer and seed tuber.

(iii) Drill placement

In this method, fertilizer are mixed with seed and applied in the field with the help
of seed drill.

(B) Top dressing: Application of fertilizer on standing crops.

1. Localized application:
(i) Broadcasting:-
Broadcasting is referred, spreading of fertilizer more or less uniformly in the field
on standing crops.
(ii) Side dressing
On standing crops the 2nd and /or 3rd dose of fertilizer is given as side dressing.

(a) Ring placement

It is practiced in the transplanted vegetable. In transplanted vegetables, primarily
root systems are damaged during transplanting. So it is used as a ring around the

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crop so that they can take fertilizer easily. Distance maintained from plant to the
place of application is 10-15 cm depth of application 5-6 cm.

(b) Ball placement

In this method, fertilizer is mixed with soil and forms a ball and applied in the root
zone.
(c) Band placement

In this method, fertilizers are applied in a continuous band. Single band or double
band can be practiced. This method is mainly applicable for wide rows vegetable.

2. Liquid application: Application of fertilizer in liquid form.

(i) Foliar application

In this method liquid fertilizer is spread on the foliage of the plant. Generally the
solution is prepared in a low concentration to supply one or more plant nutrients.
Foliar application can not exceed 15-20% of the plant requirement. Micronutrients
and small amount of essential element are applied as foliar spray.
E.g. Mg, S, B, Fe etc.

(ii) Through irrigation water

In this method straight or mixed fertilizers containing N, P and K easily soluble in

water are used. The nutrients are carried into soil in the field in solution.

(iii) Drip/ trickle application

Application of liquid fertilizer or nutrient with water at the base of the individual
plant drop by drop is known as drip method.