Evaluation Effect of Farmyard Manure (FYM) to Improve Cereal Crop Yield

Manure plays an important role in improving physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. Manures contain a low concentration of plant nutrients and they have a slow acting nature, organic manure alone may fail to tend the high nutritional requirements of crops. Organic manures including sheep manure, cattle manure and hen manure may be used for crop production as substitute of chemical fertilizers because the importance of organic manures cannot be overlooked. Organic farming has emerged as an important priority area globally in view of the growing demand for safe and healthy food and long term sustainability and concerns on environmental pollution associated with indiscriminate use of agrochemicals. Though the use of chemical inputs in agriculture is inevitable to meet the growing demand for food in world, there are opportunities in selected crops and niche areas where organic production can be encouraged to tape the domestic export market. Farmyard manure (FYM) is an important organic resource for agricultural production in livestockbased farming systems in the semi-arid regions. FYM refers to the decomposed mixture of dung and urine of farm animals along with their litter and fodder fed to the cattle. FYM is one of the components of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) as it a cheap and easily available source of organic nutrients. Integrating Farmyard Manure with inorganic fertilizer, scientists are getting a very good response to the crop. The application of this source of organic improves the physical, chemical and biological condition of the soils. FYM can supply all the nutrients required by the plant and it is prepared by using cow dung, cow urine, waste straw, and other dairy wastes.