Ibrahimpur farmers set example for cultivation of green manure crops

Farmers of the village bring down use of urea by 30% this year to improve soil fertility

Siddipet: Farmers of Ibrahimpur village in the district have set a fine example for others in the State in the cultivation of green manure crops that has not only helped improve soil fertility but also cut down investment costs besides bringing down the use of chemical fertilisers drastically.

Speaking to Telangana Today, the Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO) of Ibrahimpur T Nagarjuna said that the farmers increased cultivation of green manure crops (Sunhemp, green gram and dencha) from 84 acres last year to 402 acres this year. Under the guidance of the AEO, the farmers brought down the use of urea from 1,250 bags last year to 800 bags, a drop of almost 30 per cent. This also resulted in savings of Rs 5.40 lakh including the government’s subsidy on urea this year, Nagarjuna said.

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Pointing out that organic carbon was declining in the soil while salinity was going up due to excessive use of fertilizers, the AEO said organic carbon in the soil must be maintained at 0.5 per cent to ensure normal growth of plants. Stating that the absence of crop rotation and excessive dependence on urea was increasing soil infertility, he said that taking all these into consideration, the officials educated the farmers in Ibrahimpur to cultivate green manure crops in their lands to improve soil fertility.

Cultivation of green manure in one acre adds 10 tonnes of biomass to the soil, he said, adding that each ton of bio-mass contains 7.5 kg nitrogen, 5 kg potash, and 2 kg Phosphorous which results in the maintenance of organic carbon at the desired level and restrict salinity. “Farmers who cultivated green gram had also earned Rs 16,000 per acre as they got two quintals of green gram yield.

Speaking to Telangana Today, Bandi Kistaiah, a farmer who cultivated paddy on three acres, said he used just three bags of urea this year against seven bags last year, saving a good amount. He also pointed out that his paddy yield was 79 quintals which is more than the normal yield.

Nagarjuna appealed to the farmers to cultivate green manure crops ahead of Vanakalam cultivation to increase soil fertility and also reduce investment costs to make the farming activity a profitable venture.

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