4 Cattle Dung Manure Microbiota as a Substitute …
89
Table 4.6 Comparison of
soil properties with addition
of dung
Characteristics
Dung
Dung+Soil (1:3)
pH
5.1
6.5
OC (%)
37.1
40.2
N (ppm)
40.1
86.3
P (kg/ha)
121
135.3
K (g/kg)
0.276
0.997
Moisture (%)
68
71
Lab unpublished data. Values are mean of three replicates
of microorganisms prefer a neutral pH range 7.0–7.5 (Schnurer and Jarvis 2010). The
optimum moisture content remained in the range of 60–95% (Demetriades 2008).
Hollmann et al. (2008) examined the dung obtained from Holstein and Jersey cows
produced 5.80 kg/d of total solids. Similarly, Wang et al. (2007) estimated that 16.7%
dry matter content whereas Gautam et al. (2016) obtained the average dry matter
percentage in cow and buffalo dung in the range of 38% and 14%, respectively.
The manure or compost equally important for plant-soil-microbe interactions
and is safe for health and environment. To achieve enhanced environmental conditions, advocating the use of organic materials is indispensable (Bayu et al. 2006).
Studies revealed the significant effect of compost pig manure and cattle dung on the
enhancement of yield and quality leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, and cabbage
(Yamazaki and Roppongi 1998). Sharma and Bhalla (1995) also reported enhanced
growth and yield in okra with the application of fermented dung and slurry. In the
last decade, Jawale et al. (2009) obtained the highest yield and quality of spinach
with use of dung, urine slurry followed by sheep, goat, and buffalo. The improper
use of dung needs to be stopped and should only be applied in the farmland so that
the productivity and sustainability of soil could be maintained for the production
capacity of food treasure (Bhattacharyya et al. 2007).
Various workers reported advantageous effects of organic manure on plant-soil
properties (Adeleye et al. 2010), with reference to bulk density, water holding
capacity, and other soil physical properties (Fawole et al. 2010). Effect of organic
manure enhanced aeration, drainage, and friability of the soil (Schjønning et al. 1994;
Maheswarappa et al. 1999; De Silva and Cook 2003). The organic matter of manure
facilitates plants to use the nutrients for a long time, due to its slow decomposition
and reduces the loss of what is not utilized by the plants (Bhandari et al. 2002). This
property leads organic manure for sustained crop production through better nutrient
recycling and improvement of soil physical attributes, environmental conditions, and
public health (El-Shakweer et al. 1998; Ojeniyi 2000; Maritus and Vleic 2001). In
fact, amendment of organic manures in soil attained maximum and sustainable crop
yield, besides enhancing soil fertility and productivity (Sanwal et al. 2007).
Due to abundance, cattle and swine manure have been extensively used in agricultural fields in India. The composted form of these manure proved better in comparison to that of fresh manure because it eradicates the risk of loss of nitrogen by
89
Table 4.6 Comparison of
soil properties with addition
of dung
Characteristics
Dung
Dung+Soil (1:3)
pH
5.1
6.5
OC (%)
37.1
40.2
N (ppm)
40.1
86.3
P (kg/ha)
121
135.3
K (g/kg)
0.276
0.997
Moisture (%)
68
71
Lab unpublished data. Values are mean of three replicates
of microorganisms prefer a neutral pH range 7.0–7.5 (Schnurer and Jarvis 2010). The
optimum moisture content remained in the range of 60–95% (Demetriades 2008).
Hollmann et al. (2008) examined the dung obtained from Holstein and Jersey cows
produced 5.80 kg/d of total solids. Similarly, Wang et al. (2007) estimated that 16.7%
dry matter content whereas Gautam et al. (2016) obtained the average dry matter
percentage in cow and buffalo dung in the range of 38% and 14%, respectively.
The manure or compost equally important for plant-soil-microbe interactions
and is safe for health and environment. To achieve enhanced environmental conditions, advocating the use of organic materials is indispensable (Bayu et al. 2006).
Studies revealed the significant effect of compost pig manure and cattle dung on the
enhancement of yield and quality leafy vegetables like spinach, lettuce, and cabbage
(Yamazaki and Roppongi 1998). Sharma and Bhalla (1995) also reported enhanced
growth and yield in okra with the application of fermented dung and slurry. In the
last decade, Jawale et al. (2009) obtained the highest yield and quality of spinach
with use of dung, urine slurry followed by sheep, goat, and buffalo. The improper
use of dung needs to be stopped and should only be applied in the farmland so that
the productivity and sustainability of soil could be maintained for the production
capacity of food treasure (Bhattacharyya et al. 2007).
Various workers reported advantageous effects of organic manure on plant-soil
properties (Adeleye et al. 2010), with reference to bulk density, water holding
capacity, and other soil physical properties (Fawole et al. 2010). Effect of organic
manure enhanced aeration, drainage, and friability of the soil (Schjønning et al. 1994;
Maheswarappa et al. 1999; De Silva and Cook 2003). The organic matter of manure
facilitates plants to use the nutrients for a long time, due to its slow decomposition
and reduces the loss of what is not utilized by the plants (Bhandari et al. 2002). This
property leads organic manure for sustained crop production through better nutrient
recycling and improvement of soil physical attributes, environmental conditions, and
public health (El-Shakweer et al. 1998; Ojeniyi 2000; Maritus and Vleic 2001). In
fact, amendment of organic manures in soil attained maximum and sustainable crop
yield, besides enhancing soil fertility and productivity (Sanwal et al. 2007).
Due to abundance, cattle and swine manure have been extensively used in agricultural fields in India. The composted form of these manure proved better in comparison to that of fresh manure because it eradicates the risk of loss of nitrogen by