Use farm yard manure to enhance soil fertility: Experts

Expressing concern over the loss of soil fertility and continuous nutrient depletion without adequate replenishment, scientists today recommended use of farm yard manure to enhance soil fertility.
The scientists were speaking at a function here organised by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) over soil health problems threatening food and environmental security in Punjab.
Scientists revealed that adoption of high yielding crops during green revolution era resulted in deficiency of several essential micro nutrients in the soil.
This with a host of other problems was causing stagnating crop yields, despite robust use of chemical fertilisers, they said.
The observations were made by PAU scientists Babu Singh Brar, Pritpal Singh and Satpal Saini.

They said that by reviving the age old practice of application of farm manure, the soil fertility can be enhanced and many of the essential plant nutrients can also be supplemented.
The scientists observed that easy accessibility of chemical fertilisers at subsidised rates had resulted in waning interest of farming community towards the use of farm yard manure in crop production.
Underlining the importance of farm yard manure, the scientists observed that long term soil fertility can be maintained only when chemical fertilisers were used alongside farm manure.